The daily Alaskan., 1907-09-23

committee was named to take care Of
 the lighting matters iu the future, and the committee was given full power to
 act in all matters. Previously to the
 naming of this committee I had de-
 clined to act. Since that time 80 ac- count of the proceedtngs of that even ing have appeared in The Daily Alas kan and I have been asked by several taxpayers why I refused to act On the committee. h order to explain myself
 and be placed iu 8 right light before
 the public I have decided to publish this sJatemenu
 The Public Works and Public Prop erty committee advertised for bids for
 the lighting of the streets Of the town. The committee received bids from the .N. ". L. &P. Co. and also from the r. G A. Ky. < N. Co. Both bids were 50 much the same-eacb bid being the
 same iu prlce-that the committee de cided 10 re-sdyertiss for bids. The sec ] ond time bids were called for only one
 was rendered. It came from the N. W. L. E P. O. and was exactly the same as the frst one. After carefully look 1 ing over the matter the committee came to the conclusion that there was ! hodup being attempted by the compa- uies, and they made a writteUreporl to 1 the councl to that effect at the meet
 5pg of the 3rd. Notwithstanding his, however. lhe council voted that Ihe city mus. have lights and, tt the cleo. ,rlc light companies had combined to rob ,he city. we simply had 10 submit
 The council was shown that we were being held up for 75 cents light more
 than we paid las, year and, further
 that there was DO reasonable excuse ou the part of the companies in making the raise,-a representative of one Of . the companies having made 8 statement to the undersigned that last year his complny, having had only portion Of
 the lighting, made some money out Of
 it, but that if his company had the en- tire lighting of the city, be could m se
 good money out of the contract at the last year price. Despite this showing i. the council voted to have the lights put in at once. The fact was the lights
 must oe had and the city had DO other resource. The companies were notified
 of the action of the council, and it was then up to them to carry out their part
 of the terms or the contract under
 which they were each to light ooe-halt
 of the city, aDd which carried with it
 the right upon the part of the city to.
 cut out lights where they were not needed and to put them in where they were necessary. The N. W, l.. & ?, company replied it vas satisfied to com
 ply with the orders of the counci.
 However, the P. x A. Ky. & N.. company declined to submit to the councils orders. In a letter written on a letter head of the W. P. S Y. R. R. to the council it was stated by the com
 pany that if the city cut out any ligh's
 they had last year they would have to
 pay for them anyhow, and that if any
 change WAS made in the location Of lights the city cOuncil would have to pay the charge of changing them. In other words, the company, imagining
 they had us ciuched, was going to keep Us so as long us possible. The council thus far has made no move to counter
 ac, this high-hauded abuse and make a
 stand for its rights, and unless the tax
 payers insist that the council do so, the
 holdup may continue; therefore, can
 any fair minded resident or tsxp yer
 blame me for refusing to have anything
 further to do with the lighting Of the streets of Skagwsy under such cord.-
 lions. Respectfully, Chris C. Shea.