Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-15
PRINCIPAL Matters Under Consid.
GRAFTON by City
Council.
HAD A TW0.H0UR DISCUSSION.
81 Critical Moment Americans
switched on Measure and Failed
The Majority.

A new electric light franchise ana
ma padded grocery bill for the quar-
,ntne hospital were the principal mat
t,rs under consideration at the meet
Ing Of the city council last night. There
VAS a two-hour discussion on the franz
,hlse matter and at the last moment
lgo OF the American supporters of
he measure failed the majority and
voted for an amendment competing the
new concern to pay the city mini
mum bonus OF $4,000 per annum for the
franchise and. realizing that the fran-
chlse would not be acceptable to the
petitioners I'm that form, the leaders In
avor Of the franchise Immediately
made Il motion TO adjourn until Thurs
day night which was carried and thus
the two cOuncllmen who voted with the
imposition will be brought back into
line and The franchise Will be fixed up
10 suit the majority Of the council and
passed
IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS.
The franchise under consideration
was that Of J. $. Manley and l.. IL. Cur
It's for the construction OF an electric
lighting. power and heating plant and
system IN this city. Fernstrom offered
several important amendments TO the
franchise and In supporting them took
occa sion TO score several Of the coun-
cllmen for their Inconsistency in this
franchise matter He pointed out how
several Of them had opposed the ex-
tension Of the franchise 10 the Utah
Light & Railway company last year
when the city was to receive such great
benefits from the extension, and yet
they are now In favor of this franchise
which will pay the city practically
nothing as compared to the old fran
chises FOR a number Of years to come.
ONE WAS CARRIED.
Femstrom's first amendment was to
compel the holders OF the franchise to
organize a company IN this state in
stead Of under the laws of some other
state This, he oontended would mean
a great saving to the people in case OF
suit against the company. as they could
sue In the state courts instead of be-
ing compelled to try their cases In the
federal court. This amendment was
carried by a unanimous vote.
PROVOKED A STORM.
The next amendment offered by Fern
strom provoked storm of argument.
and was finally defeated. The section
as It appeared IN the franchise Is as
follows;
Sec, l. COMMENCING Jan. next af-
Ter the expiration OF one year follow
ing the granting of this franchise, the
grantees herein further agree. that from
40 q IN Il. ,af
electricity within the limits Of Snlt
Lake City, there shall be paid to the
treasurer OF said city, within SO days
after the end Of each year per cent
fpr the first fiye years, ~ per cent for
the next five years and per cent for
the remainder OF the life of said fran
chise OF said gross revenues, and for
the purpose OF determining tho amount
TO be paid, the books Of the grantees
shall be subject TO the inspection OF
ne city auditor and such amounts,
whether said percentages aggregate the
same or not. shall never be less than
N'oOO per annum."
$4,000 INSTEAD OF 5000.
The amendment of Fernstrom pro-
rlded that the minimum bonus to the
city shall be $4,000 per annum in
stead OF $1,000 In support Of his
amendment he lloored the supporters
OF the franchise by quoting from the
American party organs IN regard to
inc Ctah Light Il Railway franchise
Wnen II was under consideration year
ago At that time he said the ex-
tension OF the franchise to the old
company was considered by the
American papers as being worth
nom s5,0OO,OOO TO $50, 600. 900 but now
'hey don't consider this franchise
worth but $1,000 per year. This fran
cllse. he continued. viii bring the
city but $1,000 per year for years TO
come. Nse the old company Is now
paying The city IN free light and power
me total sum Of $4,000 per year. lie
could not believe that the city was
sHNB BACKWARDS under the great
american administration, hence
mere was no reason why franchise
lor ~ years should not now be worth
~ much as an extension of franchise
Tor ~ years was last year.
UNFAIR, UNBUsINEss-LiKE.
He denounced the present franchise
"a the most unfair, unbnsiness-
ma one-stded franchise which had ever
neeh granted In this city. He read
l,uo'at lons from the papers In which
MaIuh mad made great fuss over the
eNenslon of the franchise for the old
company and had declared II a shame
ahd disgrace 10 the council and then
charged Martin with not being con-
sstent by supporting this franchise
Whlch does not pay the city one-tenth
OF what It gets from the old company.
STRAIGHT VOTE AS USUAL.
Nells supported Fernstrom In his ar
sullent IN favor Of the amendment and
u,,.Ared that the council should not
vsislatc for these people and give them
an advantage over the old company