The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-16
CONTRACT AWARDED
MOBILE ELECTRIC LIGHT FRAN-
 cHIgE IS GRANTED.
Machinery Sales Company of Cincinnati is Given Plum After Long Contest is Fought in General
 C0Uncfl.
Advertiser Bureau.

Mobile, Nov. IS.
 One of the longest-drawn out and most interesting sessions of the Gen. eral Council was that held tonight, dur~ ing which more eloquent oratory was dispensed, together with heated argu- ments. some of which narrowed down to personality, than has been witness cd and heard in that body for years. Present at the session were the entire membership, except Councilman Hale, detained through illness.
 The first and really important mat ter brought up was action on the mes- sage of the Mayor relative to the issu- ance of the $35o.000 of gold bonds Of the city, for the purchase of the Bien- vile Water Supply Company's plant, warranted by a vote of the people at the polls in August. { The issue was or. dered by unanimous vote in thesreports of committees. s7E scr
 When Committee No. II was reached. majority and a minority report was read from this, the Electric Lighting committee. This committee is made up of Counciimen Hughes, Kaver and Inee, Alderman Tebb ana Mayor Pat ]. Lyons The reports were for and against the awarding of electric lighting contract or franchise to the Machinery Sales Company of Cincinnati, the oppOsition or minority, faVoring tis~ award being given to the Mobile Electric Company The majority report was signed by Als derman Tacon. Councilman Kaver and Mayor Lyons, Councilmen Hughes and Inge signing the minority report in favor Of the local firm.
 It was known there would be bit- ter fight in this matter. and a large humber of interested citizens were pfes-' ent in Council Chamber. They were not disappointed. After the two re- ports had been read, the discussion was on. By permission, Attorneys Joseph H. Lyons. for the Machinery Sales Com pany and Harry T. smith for the Mo- bile Electric Company were allowed a half hour to speak for their clients.
 As against a. monopoly in any enter prise, MT. Lyons urged that his clients had given the best bid and would cons form to every letter of the contract. The prices had already been printed in this naper. Mir. Smith urged that the Mo bsie Company was able and ready TO cary put the contract, but doubted the ability of the competing company to make good on the proposition. In re- bIfttai. Mir Lyons urged the Machinery Sales Company would give bond 0f $50, 900 to have the plant in operation in twelve months, and comply with the
 Members of the General Council then had a few remarks to make, Chair" man A. s. Lyons, who had called Coun" cllman Craft to preside, spoke caus- tieally of the growth of monopolies. and declared the best interests of the clty could be subserved by accepting the majority report. He cited the re- suit of municipal competition In the water works problem, the Council just having ratifled the acts of the people at fine polls in the purchase of the Bien- vile plant. and wrestling power From a monopoly. .,.-
 He referred to another instance wherein the people had been proteetea by monopolies.
 Then Councilman H. T. Inie9 spoke for the Mobile Electric Company and arraigned the opposition with ungloved hands. He said they had given no as- suranee they would give a safe bond. He cited the experience of the ely m the first asphalt contract. He spoke of the ice monopoly. Making a hing at the previous speaker. he urged ms patriotism and loyalty to the city or Mobile, and In championtng the Mobile Electric Company, did so without Tear ot favor. He had no political ambi- fions, further than faitnIuI duty performed to the people.
 In reply, Chairman Lyons said be felt the people should be protected from monopolieS, and in event the SouhcA should not support the majority report they would sound their death kneils in politics. As to the price of ice the previous years, he said competition brought the price down. After further discussion, which was heard, the minor lty report was defeated by the follow ing votes:
 Ayes--Aldermen Carroll, Faith, F. Inge, Ward; Councilmen Hughes, Fl. T. Inge.
 Nays--A1dermen Lyons, Norvilie, Ia con; CounciInen Smith, Grotz, Craft, Cashin, Kaver,
 The majority report was adopted by the same vote, tho contract being awarded to tho Machinery Sales Com pany of Cincinnati Considerable other routine business was disposed of, the Board adtouFninB after il o'clock.
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