The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-28
REFUSES TO
Be BUNKOED
West Hammond Adopts a
New Motto on Eve of
the New Year.
JOLLY BOARD SESSION
POpulaee Attends Meeting to See
Markham Ousted and Failing,
Makes Best Of it.

With the close of the old year the
village of West Hammond seems to
have adopted a new motto which reads
When you think anybody is trying to
hand you a gold brick hand him a
lemon in return"
The villagers and the board mem
bers. with the exception Of Green and
Langbein. thought that the WeIsbach
Lighting company of New York,
through its agent R. w Bingham of
Chicago, was trying to hand them a
gold brick when Mr.. Bingham tried to
induce the board to accept his COM
panys lighting system in West Ham
mond. giving them 100 lights for s2.8O0.
The regular meeting Of the West
Hammond village board last evening
was a business meeting in the full
sense of the word. Every chair in the
city hall was occupied and standing
room was at premium. The best of
feeling obtained, although at times it
was given vent in disparaging ap-
plause and jeers to Peter Max, the will
age president, Samuel x. Marksman,
the village attorney. and r. W. Bing-
ham, the representative of the Wells
bach Lighting company.
To SpecIaHties Scheduled.
Those who attended looked forward
TO two interesting matters which had
been scheduled to come UP. The first
was the ousting of the village attorney.
S. X. Markham. and the second the dis
cussion of the lighting question.
President Peter Max, who has been
posing in the role of the reformer dur
bide his time until unfinished business
should be taken up. The he intended
to oust Markham. but he was balked
when Trustee Langbein moved that the
charges against the attorney be re-
ferred to the ordinance committee with
instructions to report at the next regu-
lar session. This motion was sup
ported by every board member with
the exception OF Wieklinski. The ex-
citement expected through the outsing
OF Markham was a frost and those who
wish to see his final disposal must
come again.
Lighting Question Helps Some.
The audience was. however. richly
repaid in the discussion of the light
ing plant and the installation of a new
one.
A resolution was introduced recon-
mending the Welsbach lighting system.
and Trustee Green seeing the advant-
age that Welsbach lights would have
in West Hammond over those that are
now furnished by the village plant, en-
dorsed the system. His words were
few, but decidedly in favor of the new
company.
John Brehm. former village clerk,
being present grasped the psychological
moment and asked permission to speak.
His speech was extemporaneous and log
teal. SO at least 1t was considered by
the audience behind him. He admitted
that the present village lighting sys-
tenn was poor and explained that this
was due to series OF cases Of bad
luck and poor and old engine
Instead Of paying out nearly $4,000
for a hundred lights that are no SO
bright as ours when they burn let
us invest the money In new engine
and thus prevent a flrmer grasp or the
South Shore Gas and Electric Light
company of Hammond. The Welsbact
company says 1t is independent OF the
South Shore Gas company. 1t IS SC
far as furnishing the system goes but
the company in Hammond Will fur
nish the gas. gentlemen
Brehm's remarks were greeted with
rousing applause
Bingham Gets Scant Courtesy.
r. W Bingham. the Welbach's rep.
resenttative, then stepped UP and trieC
to defend his company's position, It:
system etc. But his words were inter
rupted by Kisses and Jeers. Mr. Bing
ham pleaded for a fair deal and askeC
for the liberty OF speech. and for thi!
appealed to Peter Max. The presiden
answered: stranger. you see the feel
ing against you here and 1 would ad
wise you not to press your claim an!
further Trustee Rohwedder theI
arose in defense OF the much decriet
village lighting plant and advised tha
with proper management and econom!
it could produce good service.
When the resolution came to a vot,
Green and Langbein voted for 1t an,
the remainder against Il.
In the early part OF the evening tn,
annual statement OF the committee OIL
finance was read It showed that a
the close OF the present year the vilIag
has debt on outstanding bonds. judg
ments. light and repair bills amount
ing TO s22. 2.1sS.67.
The board adjourned after the bffs
that had accumulated during the pas
two weeks had been passed upon