Evening journal., 1907-06-08

Former Senator Anthony Higgins to-
day issued statement in reply to the
objections Of the mayor and city So
ncitor Townsend regarding the renewal
OF the proposed franchise by the street
and Sewer Directors for the CONNER
cial, Light, Heat and Power Company
At the end OF the statement, Mr.. Hig-
gins scores severely the present Re-
publican city organization, declaring
that the city officials are dancing to
tho piping Of the old gas company"
The statement Of Mr.. Higgins fol-
lows;
regret that the mayor does not SEQ
proper to place any confidence IN the
personal assurances have given him,
"that this resolution is presented in
aood faith, and that Immediately upon
its adoption the business Of this COM
pany will begin"
He says he would welcome a COM
petitivo company, but that the failure
Of the "instigators" Of this company,
Of whom / happen 20 be one, TO take
him into their confidence, eompels him
10 veto the resolution. The public will
not fail to perceive and appreciate that
this is a gas fight. From the time the
Wilminaton City Gas Company was
sold TO its present owners, the public
have been writhins under conditions as
70 the character and price OF gas, from
which they had no glimmer OF reuef
until the Commercial Company obtain b
cd this franchise. Il has met naturally
enough, with the insidious, as we'll as
open and strenuous antaaonism OF the
aas monopoly. Il is, to my way OF
thinlina, the deepest Of misfortunes TO
this community, that Il has control
over the present Republican city or
uanization, and that the city officials
are now dancing to its piping. The two
directors, who have bravely sustained
this franchise, need no Vindieaton al
my hands, but II will be doubtless &c
them a profound satisfaction that, ~
the course they have taken, they are
overwhelmingly sustained by the opin'
ion Of the good people Of this CITY wn'
lhave no interest in the securities OF th'
GAS company, and who did not erina
TO its lash.
AT the outset It is singular that IN
city solicitor is so rich IN objection
10 the franchise OF the Commercia
Company al this time, inasmuch as
/ when before submitted to him for hi
] approval by the mayor he returned
, without any objections.
The objections may be summarize
i'm two classes. First, those that ma.
be said to be objections to the iesa
lsuficiency of the resolution OF conseh
lor co-called franchise and the secon'
lobiections are that the terms on Whlcl
lthe power is granted are not iaVoraDi
enough 10 the city
Taking up the legal objections'
/. THAT consent Is given not only L
1.-The Commercial Company TO ope
. and dig up the beds of the streets pu
also to the lessees and vendees Of sue
company. and that under this provislo
{ the Commercial Company can gran
b, nernits 10 any other company to ope
=, tho streets at will The objection car
rios its absurdity upon its face. II ia
b Commercial Company wanted TO SCI
4 it's privileges there are two easy way
In do A. without resorting TO grantin
lits pover TO another company IL coul
soil its stock 20 other holders or
3 could merge It's existence with anothe
a icompanv. which company would nav
Ian the powers granted to the CONNER
ciai Company This is permitted unde
our General Incorporation Act In
e provision concerning the lessees an
vendees is to be found in the only othe
: franchise hitherto granted by th
n street and sewer Department namely
!. the Universal Conduit Light Heat an
Power Company .s..
IL Is also in the resolution, heretotof
adopted by the street and Sewer dc
nartment. the resolution, after its sec
, ond reading having been submitted o
the department TO Robert c. harma'
then city solicitor, and returned VIII
his approval endorsed thereon y
- exception has ever been taken 90
pntn now and 1t is clearly nlothln
!, INIT cautious. To say as the CITY :.
ucitor does. that under this consent N
/, commercial Company could grant ~
j rirht OF way TO the so-called 'Dela
ware water Company to lay its lplp'
tbroueh the city is preposterous' i'