The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-12-25
AID. BRANDED INVESTIGATES
Believes Best Interests Of
City Will be Served by
Giving Franchise.
Commonwealth Power Co. Should Not be
Hindered in Giving City Electricity
in Any Quantity at Reas.
enable Price.

II am In favor or granting IRAN
chise to the Commonwealth Power
Company" said Alderman John H.
BRANDED yesterday, because I be-
lieve we need just such a company
here. l shall record my vote in the
council for the franchise, not to be
given at some time in the distant
future, but now. | should not be
doing my duty by my constituents if
1 did otherwise.
II have nothing to say against any
other company" continued the al
derman "The company doing busi-
ness here now is doing its best to
serve the public, but we must have a
strong power and lighting company
here if our hopes for future grow
tn of the city are to be realized. We
must have company that can sup
ply our city and our merchants with
firstclass service at reasonable rates,
a company that manufacturers will
believe in when we hold out induce
ments for them to come to Owosso.
II am sorry to say that at the
present time electric lighting rates
are unsatisfactory. If there are any
who doubt this let them walk
through our business streets after
nightfall. Some of the places of
business have electric lights in the
display windows, or back at tAe desk,
while many others have none at all.
| The people of the city will bear me
| out in the statement / make.
Il dislike to say word against
any man or any company, but | am
not now acting in private capacity.
Besides, after all, I am only stating
| a condition which is known by every
business man in the city to exist, and
which is freely commented upon in
private conversation. This is no
time to split hairs.
Suppose for any reason, the o. &
| c. E. company should suspend oper-
atoms. l hope the day is far distant
but suppose it should? I am in favor
of competition in public service, and
want to see it here, but l am not
willing, as a member of the council
to take the risk Of having our city
streets without lights. I shouldn't
like to look my constituents in the
face if such a thing should happen
| knowing that it might have been pre-
vented. l am not going to take any
such risk. / don't represent Brande
in the council I represent the peo
pie who sent me there.
''I said, a moment ago, that | was
in favor of competition. That is one
reason why believe the Common
wealth company should be given {
franchise now. / am informed tha
the franchise must be passed now j
the company is to compete for th'
city lighting when the present cit!
contract expires. Such delay as few
are now in favor of might cost tn
city thousands OF dollars. AS bust
ness man and as humble represen
tative of the people / have, I believ'
looked at this matter from ever,
point of view, and l am certain tha
l can best serve the interests of tn
people by voting for the franchise q
the next meeting of the council.
believe it to be my duty to do So"
"The franchise asked by the Com
monwealth company is almost a cop
of the new one recently passed a
Saginaw. 1t is a modern franchise
and if we want more liberal term
for the city we can get them. ] hav
talked with good many bushes
men on this subject, and find tina
what / have stated above is not ger
! 1ty nnHnrctnnh N L a
vote for the franchise, as l have a.
ready stated, but I am going to Sc
that Owosso gets all that is possibl
for her to get. i believe that all th
aldermen who favor the franchise
feel the same way. They are goin
to get all they can for the city whe
this franchise is granted.
81 am doing quite a lot of bus
ness with the o. & c. z. compan!