The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1906-01-09
GRANTED THE FRANCHISE.

The Council did-Eight Votes for. and
one Against Bill not yet Signed.
At a meeting last night, the city
council, by a vote of 8 to I, gave
to A. WEIGH, a representative of
Eastern capitalists, an electric light
and power franchise for a period
of 80 years, and turned down an
offer of P. Avery of $4,000 for a
similar light concession. The
franchise does not take effect
until the expiration of the Porter
franchise. That is to say. as soon
as one of them ends, the other be-
gins. The advantages Corvallis is
to gain from granting the fran
chise, were explained to the city
council by Mr. McNary, of Salem,
attorney for the people represented
by WEIGH. Mr.. Porter, one of the
holders of the present franchise,
and who is interested in getting the
extended 80 years franchise. also
explained to the members some of
the benefits of a 80 years conces-
sion. IL =t-
The only opponent on the floor
of the council was Mr.. Avery. He
made several speeches against the
measure. He claimed the best way
to get cheap lights in the future
is not to be tied up with fran
chises when the Porter grant ex-
pires eight years hence. If then a
new franchise steps in as is propos-
ed by the measure, there will be
no bidders to offer cheaper lights.
He finally offered the council the
sum of $4,000 or $500 per year. if
they would grant to persons whom
he would name a light fran.
chise for the period proposed.
In his address, asking for the
franchise, Mr.. McNary, the lawyer
for the corporation, stated that his
company owned light plants at
WOODBURY., Silverton, Salem, AL
bany and Eugene. He explicitly
stated that his company had nc
purpose for the present, of building
an electric road to Corvallis, and
that it must be understood IN ad.
vance that no such promise is held
out. The belief of many people is
that the corporation in question
will ultimately get in its grasp all
the light plants of the Willamette
valley, and become a gigantic mon
opoly under which the people will
suffer many an exaction in the
future. 81.
Councilman Covell made
speech in advocacy of the franchise
He said Corvallis has lain dormant
too long already and that she should
start out fol progress, Councilman
Wiles expressed some doubt as te
the long period of 80 years, but
thought that if a small per cent O
the gross receipts could be provid'
ed for when the new franchise be-
gins, that the dose might be easier
to swallow. The mayor said, that
in view of Councilman Avery's Of
fer of 81, 400 for the franchise, anc
Mr.: Wiles' suggestion, he might
have to veto the measure even il
the council passed it. One membe1
promptly insinuated that If the
mayor dared to veto it, that the
council would have something t.
say afterwards.
After some discussion a commit
tee was appointed to put in thu
Wi1es provision which provides
that two per cent of the gross re
ceipts shall be paid to the city on
the new franchise. OF course thu
lawyer for the company promptly
accepted the change.
The provisions Of the franchise
were explained in the Times las
week. The only change made sine
is the two per cent draw down the
council gets after Porter franchise
ends, The rates now in effect
both for city and for private use ar
fixed as maximum, above which
any new rate may not go. Thee
dinance has not, SC far, been signe'
by Mayor Johnson. Z