Evening journal., 1907-06-11
PASS FRANCHISE
OVER MAYORS VETO
By Vote of Two to One, the Street and Sewer
Directors Make New Grant to the
Commercial Company

At this mornings meeting OF the Street
and Sewer Directors. a resolution was
adopted by a vote Of to 1 granting a
new franchise to the Commercial Light,
Heat and Power Company over the veto
of Mayor Wilson.
After Mayor Wilson'S letter explaining
his reasons for vetoing the franchise as
passed was read. former Senator Anthony
Higgins, representing the company, read
the following letter bearing upon the sub
ject:
New York. June s. 1907.
Hon. Anthony Higgins, sS4 Market street,
Wilmington, Del.
Dear Sir: We beg to advise you that
we have undertaken the financing and
construction Of the gas plant for the Com
mercial Light, Heat and Power Company,
in Wilmington, lei ware.
"All of the points of differences in our
contracts have been eliminated save one,
and that is the passage of the gas fran
chse Of your company in Wilmington.
This franchise should be in accordance
with our previous understanding. We re-
gard the changes in this franchise as i'm
peratlve and beg to advise you that un-
less these changes are made we shall
sever our connection with the enterprise.
However, if the franchise should be
passed over the Mayors veto on Tuesday
morning next, we are prepared to pro-
ceed with the financing and construction
OF the new plant. You may assure your
friends that when this franchise is passed
they will have available for use satisfac-
tory cheap gas within a reasonable time,
as our plans and specifications are COM
pleted and the work will be pushed TO
completion at as early a date as poss bic.
1--WE shall do nothing further in this
matter until we are advised by you on
Tuesday next that the franchise has been
properly passed.
I'VE are. dear sir. faithfully yours,
'R. e. Robinson & Co"
Ready to Purchase
Mr.. Higgins, in addition to this. stated
that if a new franchise was granted the
company would proceed at once 10 pur-
chase land and begin the work Of build
ing a plant and laying gas pipe lines.
Moved for Adoption
Mr.. Cray moved that the matter Of a
new franchise be reconsidered, such ae-
tion being taken on the affirmative votes
of Messrs. Gray and Melvin. Mr.. Gray
then moved the granting Of the new fran
ehise as asked for by the company. Again
Messrs. Melvin and Gray voted in the af-
firmative. Mr. Sparks voting against the
measure In giving his reasons for voting
against the measure Mr. Sparks said:
Mr.. Sparks Opposition
AT a recent meeting of the depart
ment when this resolution was undel
consideration and passed, the state
ment was made that ii was eimply a
resolution to correct a flaw in the for
her grant; and one member of the
board stated that he believed it so tc
be. and that he was always willing ia
correct any flaw in a title previously
given by him. This may be true and
n is not for me to question the intent
of the act; but / find in so doing you
make some material changes; the reso-
l.-.Ion passed August z, 1906, required
Hftv thousand dollars to have been eX-
pended by February z, 1907, or the
grant to become null and void. The
resolution passed January /, 1907 you
extended the time for this first expen-
hiture to October 1, 1907, or the grant
10 become null and void.
No Penalty, he Says
IN the resolution under considera-