The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-01-25
FRANCHISE DISCUSSED
tcontInued from page oae.l

Continued from page ons.l
charge 81 for natural gas. This, of
course, could be prohibited by going
into the courts and preventing 1t, but,
said he, the people didn't want to
take the trouble of doing that. The
time is past, said Mr., Morgan, when
long termed and almost exclusive
franchises should be granted to cor
porate interests.
Concerning the proviso requiring
the electric light company to pay
$4,000 for the franchise privilege,
Mr.. Morgan said that the petitioners
do not want that. Instead, they want
the privilege of reducing the rates
of gas and electricity and getting
their money payment in that man
ner. The present payment feature.
he thought. was nonsenslcal.
Company's Attorney Speaks.
John w. Davis. on behalf of the
clarksburg Gas & Electric Light
Company, then took the floor. He
said the views of the electric light
company had not been presented be-
fore, either in the newspapers, in
mass meetings or to the city council.
This was not because the company
was afraid, or DESTROYS of keeping
them a secret but because the com
pany realized that the council itself
is the body that must determine the
matter.
THE clarksburg Gas & Electric
Company needs a franchise said
Mr. Davis. 1T must have the right
to do business conditioned upon the
consent of the city and it wants 10
do business legally. Without fran
chise the company would have to tear
down its plant and property and the
price that could be obtained for the
second hand material, without fran
chise, wouldn't pay the cost of tear
ing 1t down and hauling It away. On
the other hand the city of Clarks-
burg needs the company and / am
rather Of the opinion that this Is the
most serious need Of the two. Elec-
tricity If not luxury but a neces-
sity. The luxury of yesterday is the
necessity of today"
The City's Need.
Mr.. Davis then pictured the results
If the company's plants should sus-
pend operations leaving the city IN
darkness and want, and reverdng 70
the time OF lanterns. Unless the com
pany is granted a franchise the city
must either get new company to
furnish electricity or go into tho
municipal ownership business. The
latter is absolutely impossible consid-
ering the present city Indebtedness
and out OF the question. DO you
know of any other company deserving
of more consideration than the
Clarksburg Gas & Electric Com
pany?" asked Mr.. Davis For TWEEN
ty years this company has gone
along furnishing electricity cheaper
than any other company in the state
and It's owners pay more taxes than
any other like number of citizens IN
the city.
A Drastic Measure.
at may be the idea that this fran
chise was prepared or is desired by
the electric light company" contin-
ued Mr.. Davis. Neither IS true.
This ordinance was drafted by the
council without consultation with the
applicant company and I Will say
that it is more drastic, onerous and
binding and full OF more checks and
balances than any other similar or
dinance in the state, and l have care
fully compared 1t with electric light
franchises OF ten leading cities OF the
state"
Mr.. Davis referred to what he cali
ed many ridiculous assertions made
at the franchise ordinance mass meet
Ing held in the court house recently
and said that not more than I'VE at
that meeting had ever read the fran
chise now pending.
As to the alleged possibility Of the
Light and Heat company buying out
the electric light company's property
and franchise, Mr.. Davis said. the
Light and Heat company already had
IA fifty year franchise, with no re-
.strictions as TO rates and it was silly
to presume that that company would
buy out another plant to do what It
has fun privilege OF doing so.
Short Term, Cheap Service.
Mr.. Davis said that short term