The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-06-25
MAYOR QUERIES AND TIL
CITY COUNCIL.

the city officials and the attorneys in at
tendance.
Pending for consideration was the
agreement between Mayor Queries and
Mr.. Morris, president and general man
ager of the Shreveport Gas, Electric
Light and Power Company, which had
been approved by the committee on
lights, who recommended its ratification.
Opposition to the agreement was man
festcI as soon as the reading had been
concluded, when the question Of legality
was sprung.
1t was contended that the council
could not accept the agreement without
first advertising for bids.
City Attorney Pleasant and Mr. John
D. Wilkinson, representing the light
company, assured the council of the le
gality of the proceedings, when Mr..
Currie moved that the council re-adver
tise for bids.
Instead of the motion to readvertise
for bids, it should have been to receive
the agreement and postpone its consld-
Grafton until the next regular meeting,
or to later date. The mayor could
not have excepted to this action, as the
Council has the right and the authority
to inquire into every agreement or
contract before it is accepted officially
and finally. Indeed, the Council should
not pass on and approve any contract
or agreement, especially when long
terms and great amounts are involved,
until they have deliberated thereon
carefully and conservatively. On this
score there can be no dissent, since in a
proposition so plain and fair is recog-
nized principle which safeguards the
interests of the people.
On a call of the roll the vote stood
on Mr. Currie's motion:
For-Busbey, Currie, Dickson, 1nger-
soil, johnson, Peyton, Tusten-7.
Against-Allen, Bernstein, Conger,
Deal, Lowenttal, RANDI.
While not implied Or intended, the
vote, 7 to E, was, tacitly, rebuke to
the mayor, who, under the circumstan--
ces, properly rendered his resignation.
It was his only recourse, dictated by
self-respect He would have discredited
himself and his official position if he
had yielded passively to this direct dis
approval of his action.
In a moment the council realized the
gravity of the situation, and when the
commoton arising from this unexpected
resignation had subsidized, Mr.. Currie
urged that the resignation of the mayor
be declined. Then, after explanations
had followed, and the agreement be-
tween the mayor and the light company
had been accepted by majority of IL
to I, Mr.. Johnson being in the minority,
the mayors resignation was reconsid-
cred and recalled.
This action of the mayor was con-
sistent, honorable and manly.
In this proceeding of the council was
evidenced want of forethought.
Had the council re-advertised for bids,
the agreement between the mayor and
the lighting company would have been
nullined.
1t was urged in opposition that the
term of the contract was too long and
should have been abbreviated. but this
should have received consideration when
the conferences were being held between
the mayor, the Merchants Association
and the light company. 1t would have
been and was in the province of the
light committee to have raised the point
but it was not, and therefore, when sug-
gested, if carried by majority, would
have had the effect OF neutralizing the
agreement which Mr. Morris could have
withdrawn consistently.
The settlement of the light question
may be viewed with satisfaction even
il the rates obtained are not as low or
close as were figured as being obta;nable
under the operation of a municipal
plant. 1t is fact which can not be dis
puted that the rates obtained by Mayor
Queries are more favorable for the
great number of consumers than were
suggested by the association and others,
and it may be said in all candor that the
solution OF the lighting question was
predetermined, although there was no
apprehension in majority in number
and in amount being favorable to nu-
nicipal ownership. ...
In securing municipal ownership of
the light plant from $4,000 to 100000
would have been involved. It would
have required fixed amount of light
being used by the people to secure the
municipal plant from loss. So, amidst
these uncertainties and other perpleSi-