Evening journal., 1906-08-07
PASS FRANCHISE
OVER MAYORS VETO
After Stirring Session Com
miSSiOnerS Gray and Mel
win Say "Aye"
GRAY TELLS WHAT
FRANCHISE MEANS

AAAAN0AaAAea NAN@thAN2
Commissioners Gray and Melvin, OF
the Street and Sewer Department. to-
day passed, the franchise Of the Com
mercial Lid Heat and Power Com
pany over yor Wilson's veto, after
heated dist sslon. in which warm
words passed between the members OF
the board
The rooms Of the commission were
by citizens, officials and rep
resentatlves Of the various public SER
vice corporations, who were Interested
in the action Of the commissioners upon
the mayors veto Of the franchise OF
the Commercial Light Heat and Power
Company.
Those who came expecting a lively
time were not disappointed. for the ar
'guments waxed warm and the commits
sioners and some OF the spectators got
into flnging wordy epithets at each
other
When the letter from the mayor was
read Mr.. Melvin moved that II be ac-
cepted and spread on the minutes. This
was done. Mr.. Gray then moved that
the vote on the franchise be reconsid-
cred. Mr. Melvin then seconded the
motion. and President Johnson called
for remarks.
Mr.. Gray Defends the Franchise
Mr. Gray rose. and. taking the
mayors letter as a basis for his re-
marks, said that when the mayor was
elected he, Mr. Gray had said that no
would try 10 support the mayor in har-
monious action for the city's good. But
here was an instance where the mayor
admits that the people need relief "He
can't deny that this franchise grants
relief This was primarily an electric
franchise. The gas plant is only an
auxillary for that purpose. bat IN order
that gas must be made and stored there
must be some use for the gas other
than emergency for gas engines 10 sup
lplement water power.
II fought for six weeks In this board
Ito get a concession from the present
gas and electric company. I asked 10
per cent. OF the gross receipts They
said I was unreasonable. I asked
per cent. then. They refused. aslt d
s II 1-2 per cent. They refused. I then
said that inasmuch as they offered the
lefty absolutely nothing but electricity
LAT no cents per kilowatt an hour.
lwould not vote FOR their franchise. but
would hold myself in readiness to give
any company which offered the city
more a chance 70 compete. That is
why voted as did then. That is why
I Aote as I do now.
"That franchise was granted on the
condition that from 1907 to 1912 the
lcity shall get one per cent OF gross
lreceipts and two per cent. thereafter.
This company offers three per cent. on
Electricity to start with, in addition to
the other concessions.
"The mayor makes a great point OF
the conduits and Of the prohibition re-
gardng the erection OF poles The
mayor now says he favors municipal
Ownership OF the public service corpo-
rations. 7 am glad he does, but I must
say that he ran against a man who ran
upon a municipal ownership platform,
land until this time has had nothing 10
lsay I'm favor OF Il. If he does favor
municipal ownership. he takes a poor
way TO show II. Private property can
not be taken without Just compensa-
ton Every conduit built means more
value to condemn in the event OF the
city owning the subways. The wires
had better stay on the surfaces until
the city builds its own conduit system.
and then rents the compartments to the
/ companies TO whom franchises are
granted. This would be a source OF
revenue to the city. and would bring us
nearer 20 the dawn Of municipal owner
shin than we have ever vet been.
'This franchise gives the city the op-
portunity al the end OF any five year
period to purchase the street elec'rc
lighting equipment. in addition 70 getting
the lights al S25 cheaper per lamp than
we are now paying. This proposition be-
fore us means great deal 70 the city
and the people. We pay sii,H25o for light
ing our streets. We have 3i5 arc fights
which cost us under the present COM
pany S6492 each per year, OF a total OF
So 2397lO. We have 63i gas lights which
costs us si975 under the present contracr
TO maintain, or si262L50.
1--WE have 4S2 incandescent lamps which
cost us under the present oontrac. N'.N
per lamp per year. total Of ssse3.6l-
"The city has 1911 lights. OF which 1000
, are little incandescent lights We can
spend under this commercial franch Sc the
same amount Of money and have 1000 arc
lights, or 500 incandeseent lights. Those
1000 arc lights would cost under the old
company S55.OO0 per year, under the Com
mercial. Si0OO0-a saving Of S25coo. The
reduction Of gas from Si.O0 net to 90 cents
rst means saving TO the consumers OF
$4,000 on present prices. Those are cnly
two items IN which the Commercial fran
chise exceeds the present situation.
"This is also the only time when the
city has put value on the franchises for
the use Of its streets.
The Dear Public Gets Il
Il wish TO say that the fidelity with
which the public service corporations
keep step with the public officials is evil
dent to my mind that the dear people are
getting It heavy every turn.
"The press and some Of the citizens
have the idea that when the franchise h
granted that II is gone beyond recall. Yes
it is II the conditions are lived up to. ex-
cept that under the general corporati ton
act this board can tax or resclnd or reg
ulate or control the Corporations using
the streets under the franchises
J IT am making this fight for the roo,ls