Evening journal., 1906-08-04
Mayors Action Cuts Off Hope
For Anything Better Than
We Now Have, Say Many
may BE PASSED
| ABOVE THE VETO

That the veto of Mayor Wilson of
he franchise granted to the CONNER
ial Light, Heat and Power Company
by the majority vote of the Street and
Sewer Commission a week ago last
tuesday is a disappointment to many
you'd be putting it mildly.
The terms offered TO the city by the
company exceed by far anything yet
offered to the city and put the present
)ublic service corporations in the light
II robbers and it was hoped that this
opportunity could be seized by the
public spirited men of the city as a
means of relief.
Corporate influence has been working
hard to defeat the franchise. The pres
. snt lighting monopoly has been con-
Quoting an active lobby in the board
ooms of the commission and in the
corporation owned newspapers Of the
.,ity in an endeavor TO frustrate the
wish of the people to put an end II
monopoly and secure something for the
.,ity for its franchises.
Gray Says Outrage"
Commissioner Gray when asked this
morning by a representative of the
Evening Journal what he thought Of
he mayors veto, said:
1T is the greatest outrage ever COM
nitted in this City. The present COM
oanies are giving the city practically
1othing in return for monopoly which
makes money for them. Here is a COM
oany whose offer was to return to the
'rity something for what they were
granted and the mayor says, We shan't
accept IL because it is not enough but
we VIII fall back upon the old condi-
+ ions and receive no benefit at ALL"
"The mayor declares he 'does this
tor the benefit of the people. Then
+ say the Wilmington City Electric. the
Wilmington Gas and Electric. the Will
+ Nmington Light. Power and Telephone
Company and every other public SER
vice corporation that is bleeding the
people of this city together with a
newspaper whose thought and policy IS
dictated by those corporation officials
has been seeking in every way possible
+ 10 secure the result the mayor has
+ achieved by his Veto I must say thai
,the mayor. If his is consistent, has
4 |m.ghty strange bedfellows. Never ye
,have the peoples interests and those
4 |ul "a IlhllDIAA1 DttM lAElAlidl.
"And wish to say further that con-
1stantly since the day that franchise
resolution was introduced representa-
ltives of those corporations whose in
3terests lie IN having no competition, II
getting all they can out of the city
and the people. have haunted the doors
4 Of the home and Office of one member
+ Of the Street and Sewer Commission
seeking to persuade or beguile thai
member into voting with the one mar
on the board who declared publicly
that monopoly was "A good thing tha
. the city was better off with one light.
ing company. one gas company ant
one street railway company"
Mighty Strange Bedfellows.
"The mayor gives as his reason foi
the veto that the terms are not enough
VIII that veto bring any better termi
from a company who now have th'
. franchise? I say again the Mayor fl
. his fight for the peoples rights hai
taken with him some mighty strang'
bed fellows"
what do you propose to do regard
4 Ing the franchise at the next meeting
Of the board?" was the question thel
put to him.
DO" declared Mr. Gray. II believ
that Mr.. Melvin and I will pass tha
franchise over the mayors veto"
Former Senator Anthony Higgins
4 counsel for the Commercial Heat, Llgh
and Power Company said this morn
Ing:
"This action of the mayor is a grea
surprise to me. talked with tn
mayor about the matter. Told him tn
whole situation. Nothing was sal,
about any better terms wanted or an,
conditions being changed"
Il have known that every corporate
inhufence in the city which would hav
to meet the competition of this com
pany has been exerting every effort T.
defeat the franchise. I am not in
position to say what the company will
do. ] do not see. however. that by veto
Ing this franchise. there is any chanc
Of the city getting any more than /
did under the old companies"
In vetoing the franchise the mayo
says:
The Mayors Views.
There is in my mind no doubt but wha