Evening journal., 1907-06-11

ton you again extend this requirement
to January l., 1908, and entirely elimi-
nate the penalty clause for nom -compli-
ance. II like manner the payments
due the city are extended to a corre-
spending length of time. These points
desire to make in refutation of the
claim made at this previous meeting,
that the passage of this resolution was
simply TO clear the validity of title in
former action.
"But, Mr.. President. there are other
points fully as Objectionable, IN my
judgment. to this grant We are con-
templating the expenditure Of about
four hundred thousand dollars for the
betterment of the streets, and in the
face of it giving permission to a COM
pany composed Of know not whom, to
tear them up at will (the only restric-
ton being that they shall not at any
time open or cucumber more Of any
streets or alleys than shall be neces-
sary). The whole city at once, if they
so desire, or as much thereof or any
section thereof as they may see fit, and
this department, appointed to preserve
the rights Of the people, look helplessly
on. let the causes be what they may
for no specification is made as to what
shall be the judge Of what is neces-
sary or whether these openings shall
be made i'm the roadbed or the side
walk, as the grant gives them the per-
mission to enter the streets.
"Many Objections"
Again. should this company fail to
restore the streets to the condition in
G.
possible, for I believe it as recognized
by all Of us that II is impossible to re-
store many If not all styles Of street
paving TO Original condition, the city is
Unidentified to the extent Of twelve
thousand five hundred dollars, and
specifically set forth in the last lines Of
Section 3. that no further or other bond
shall be required of said company in
addition to the said bond provided
hereby; in other words. Mr.. President,
should twelve thousand five hundred
dollars become exhausted the city is
entirely unprotected
There are many other objections that
might be raised but these are sufficient
10 convince me that the franchise Is
too broad and greater latitude given
than should be allowed TO any public
! service CORPORATION. and in considera-
I ton thereof vote NO
At the conclusion Mr.. Sparks asked
/ that his reasons be put on file as a
matter of record.
Mr.. Gray Indignant
Mr.. Gray replied in an animated
manner. objectins to the placing OF
J Mr.. Sparks remarks upon the records
of the department. "They are an at
tempt to discredit the acts Of those di-
lrectors who voted for the franchise
There has been much said about
the matter both in and out Of this
board" said MT. Gray, "but have
never been able to fathom the objection
TO an offer of cheaper gas to the city
and to its citizens. I have felt that
this acriinous opposition is but an en-
deavor to fight off any opposition to
the conditions which exist here at pres
ent. What does the Wilmington Coal
Gas Company owe the city to-day II
that franchise is unreasonable?'
Mr.. Gray was especially severe or
those who had criticized his actions
and took a fling at some newspapers
for the views expressed relative TO the
proposed franchise It am surprised
that the papers should criticize me fol
standing up for a concern which prom
ises to give us good results" he said.