Evening journal., 1906-08-06
MAYOR OPPOSES
PROMOTERS SCHEMES
Declares Commercial Fran
ChiSe Can Be Used As Was
Universal Franchise
'FAVORS CHEAPER GAS
In THE RIGHT WAY

Mayor Wilson. whose veto of the fran
chise Of the Commercial Light. Heat and
Power Company came as a surprise tc
many who had hoped that in the fran-
chise in question the citizens Of Winnings
ton saw a chance for escape from the
burdens of heavy gas bills, has seen nc
4 reason to recede from the stand he has
taken in the matter. and if he deems il
advisable may appear before the Street
and Sewer Commission at its meeting To-
morrow and explain. TO the commissioners
in detail some points OF the franchise
which they may have overlooked.
Defends His Action.
The Mayor at the risk of being misun,
. derstood by many and Of being placed II
. the position OF seeming alliance with tho
4 public service corporations now mulctina
\ the city and the public out Of goodly
4 sums, has good reason for his attitude.
Me said this morning: mo one woulC
welcome more eagerly than I, any plaus-
4 ible plan by which the city would ge
cheaper gas and the bills would be re.
s duced to the consumer, but we have had
4 for years a condition Of affairs which
4 desire to save the city from again hav.
ing.
The Wilmington Coal Gas Company
had an express provision in its charter
requiring a reduction in the price Of ga'
after the profits of the company exceeded
4 y per cent. per annum. A merger how
ever. was effected with the Universal Con
duit Company and since that time th'
4 gas company has been known as the Will
mington, Gas and Electric Company. an
4 other organization. and has evaded tn,
y per cent. requirement by acting under
the Universal franchise, and the people
4 are helpless.
Il wish TO state for the benefit OF
those who do not know. that with tn,
exception of Section Z in the franchise
the Commercial Light Heat and Power
franchise is identical with the infamous
\ Universal franchise.
Some Of the Dangers.
"The new company, whose hackers. bl
the way. 1 cannot learn. could within
three months merge with any other com
pany and choosing TO act under the lat
ter's vitiate and repudiate what seems
TO be an excellent set of inducements.
Until I can see franchise by whicl
the people will get an increasing incom'
from its operation. both as to cheape
gas and a fair percentage as income [,
the city, do not propose 70 lend my con
sent to every scheme that comes along
I'VE had here some time ago the bes
proposition for gas the city has seen, u
the Otto gas franchise. a company witt
a recognized financial standing made az
investment Of $4,000 in Wilmington rea
estate, offered 30 cent gas and per cent
of their gas receipts 10 the city for
franchise. That franchise was in the SAM
stage exactly as the Commercial fran
chise and 1 cannot see why it should no
have been used If the object Of the Com
mercial Company was to benefit the peo
pie.
About the Bonus.
The $4,000 bonus means about $1,000 in
come. The Otto offer meant an increasing
income in excess of the $4,000 cash offe
Of the Commercial even. to start with
and until am convinced that the peopl
will be benefited and the city reall,
helped, and 1 am open to conviction b.
anybody who knows and will tell, 1 sha
continue to oppose any and all such pro
motion schemes"