The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-05-14
PANTUCKET
Proposes TO Grant Exclusive
FpanchIs0s for IS Years
People Believe There is No Call
for H!Sts.. Kindly Sermon

According TO reliable reports, 'ne oiuA-
nance committee OF the city council, TO
which was referred the compromise agree
ment between the joint committee on
street lights and the officials OF the Paw
tucket Gas company for investigation as
to the legality OF the proposed contract
Will report the same back 10 the meeting
of the city council Wednesday night and
recommend it's adoption.
II Is further reported that the city cum
Gil will act favorably on the resolution
recommended by the committee on street
lights. In other words, the city councii
will pass the resolution granting the com
pany an exclusive franchise for period
of 10 years.
While Il Is concedded by many that
long step has been taken towards the re-
duction Of the price OF gas. IL Is con-
tended by a large number OF taxpayers
that undue haste ought not to be taken,
particularly i'm A matter of such import
ance which affects the whole community.
While due credit should be given TO the
members OF the Pawtucket Merchants
association and to the members OF the
committee on street lights for their faith
full efforts to bring about such a reduction.
yet IL is thought that a further agitation
might result I'm obtaining perhaps even
more liberal terms from the gas company.
The agitation for cheaper gas has COW
cred a period OF three years and. after
many conferences. resulted last year IN
the gas company proposing to give tho
consumers gas at the rate OF 81 Is for the
first period OF five years OF an exclusive
l5-year contract. A.1o for the second
period and slG5 for the last FIVE years
This proposition did not appeal favorable
TO the public and negotiations were again
resumed by the committee on street
lights. with the result that the following
compromise was reached: The company
TO have an exclusive franchise for Is
years In return for which the consumers
were to have gas at 81. 10 for the first five
years. Sl.05 for the second five years and
800 fiat for the remaining five years The
company was TO pay 10 the city per
centum on the gross receipts. and Is 10
maintain the quality of gas equal to that
furnished in any other part OF the coun-
try.
IL appears to he the general opinion
that the city council ought TO postpone
decisive action until the taxpayers and
consumers can have an opportunity TO
express themselves at a public hearing.
similar TO the one granted last year and
which brought about a more liberal propo-
sition from the company
To many IL appears rather peculiar that
the company. enjoying an exclusive fran
chise as IL does today, should make the
demand for a 15-year exclusive franchise
a specific base on which TO build all its
negotiations. Some people are OF the
opinion that once granted by the city
council the general assembly may come
10 the compsny's rescue by making the
franchise a perpetual one. thereby for
ever shutting out competition and a stnl
further reduction when conditions war
rant them
However, II the present contract be-
comes a law, the people will have
gained decided victory IN obtaining
cubic feet At the same time the ap-
parent duty OF the city council, judg-
ing by the expressions heard through
Ing before il gives the sub committee
power to sign the contract on behalf
OF the city.
AGAINST COMMERCIALISM
At the Sunday evening service OF the
Church OF the Advent. Rev. James f.
Barbour. in a sermon on "The Era OF
Commercialism," gave plain talk. IL
Illustrated by many striking facts, sto
In speaking OF commerciafism as seen
today. he said that IL had penetrated
every walk OF life. and not even the
OF them dare not give full expression
and protests to present conditions. for
the reason that they may lose their
practically commercialized. but even
though they are, they are the most
mesPek sPPeakns ns 9 OF the rate fa Sii
now before congress. he said IL would
have become useful law wit II not
FOR the ort ts hnys +
for the benefit OF the whole public. He
hoped the time would soon come when
a college professor would develop into
something more than commercial
''"' IIFELEss IN BED.
Sunday morning Peter Tally. one OF the
best known residents OF the East Side.
was found dead in bed by Mrs. Peter
Moley, with whom he boarded. Medical
F,xaminer French was called and, after
viewing the remains, said death was due
to natural causes
The deceased was bQrn in Ireland and
was 20 years OF age. He was resident
OF this city for the past 60 years
INTERESTING ADDRESS.
At the 4 O'Clock meetin og the Young
Mems Christian association Sunday after
noon. John y. White. one OF the most
noted lecturers OF tho west, gave an in
trestirfg address on THE Dignity OF
Labor" The speaker was introduced by
former Governor l.. r. c. Garvfn. rM
White Eah that each and every man
should own In proportion 10 what no
produces and when that ceased to he a
fact it was simply a matter Of chattel
slavery.
In concluding he said: "rt Is the power
which gives occasion TO the rise OF the
labor question. BY our laws we have
divorced the sons and daughters from the
earth. and as a result labor can not pro-
duce until earth's owner gives consent.
ON this one question one great country
has been revolutionzed
SEVERELY INJURED.
At II O'Clock Sunday morning Frank
Blacknnn. an employe at the stable OF
". NJ. Arnold a Son. wac severly injured.
his leg being broken by kick from a
horse He was taken 10 HIS home. 30
North Main street. IN the police ambu.
lance. whore he was attended BY Drs. T.
". Murphy and W. r Wilson
REMOVED To HOSPITAL.
Thomas McRurney. who suffered n
severe fracture of the leg Saturday eve
Ming az his home, was removed to st.