The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-03-06
JOSEPH COUNCIL
GRANTS FRANCHISE
NEW LIGHT AND POWER COM.
PANY FAVORED-TWO OTHER
APPLICANTS.

Joseph, March 5.-The franchise
for the Wallowa Lake Light anC
rover company was granted las
hlght at a lively special meeting O
council, after Sc Jeral hours debate
The franchise of the McCully com
ANY, now supplying light and pow
er, has Az years to run, and MIR. Nc
Gully asks that it be extended fol
the same length of time granted the
new company. The situation is fur
ther complicated by a third seeker
for a franchise, Messrs. j. d. WalcR
and Geo. w. Hamilton, who ask fol-
20 year franchise.
The w. L. L. & P. company fran
chise was reported, favorably from
the committee on lights with the
recommendation that maximum
price to consumer be added. The
report was adopted and the franchise
passed to the third reading.
Messrs. Hamilton and Walcks re
quest for a franchise was then con.
! sidered. They expressly limited the
price to consumers, and offered to
furnish the city, at its option, lights
at a considerable reduction from pres
ent prices.
F. d, McCully stated he would
meet any limitations the council
would place upon all of the com,
panies or would retire from the field
The council discussed the various
propositions for two hours, finally
coming to the conclusion to give all
the applicants a franchise of equal
duration and uniform conditions.
Jay H, Dobbin spoke for the w. l.,
l.. & P, Co., opposing the PROPOSE
tion to limit rates in the franchise,
contending that it was contrary to
business principles, but finally pre-
sented an offer to limit their rates
to consumers to sum not exceeding
the rates charged by the. present
company. This was incorporated by
the council in the franchise as an
amendment. Councilman Eben made
q strong speech in favor of the fran
.je and Councilman Dawson op-
posed the same, on the ground that
its duration was too long, it's limi-
tations as to ely control and regula-
ton unsatisfactory, its rates indef-
mite and liable to lead to future mis-
understandings,
Upon the roll call the following
members voted for the 30 year fran
mise as presented by the new com
pany: Ed L. Berland, John A. Blev-
ans, Geo. F. Dawson, Ed Ehen, John
tumble, J. II. Thompson. None
oted against 1t.
The franchise now goes to Mayor
Fred McCully for approval and up to
the hour of going to press he has not
approved 1t,
The council adjourned to meet
March 10, to consider the other fran.
chises.
None Of the franchises carry an
emergency clause, hence 1t is pos
sible for the citizens of Joseph to
invoke the referendum on any or
all of them.
Mrs. A. l., HQwarth entertained the
teachers ef the public school to a
5 o'clock luncheon Thursday night. 1t
was the date of the 18th anniver-
sary of the marriage of Rev, and
Mrs. A. l.. Howa. tn.
Thursday. Mrs, Aubrey Smith ac'
companied her mother, Mrs. II. S.
Hunt, to La Grande. Mrs. Hunt goes
there for treatment and will remain
some time, Mrs, Smith returning Sat
urday,
Mrs. R. NJ. Erwin has joined her
husband, DR.. Erwin, who had been
here for several weeks, They hope
to go to housekee ping shortly.
S. P. Crow, merchant of Lostine,
was a business visitor over Thurs
day.
Mrs. H. B. Da ilhizer, who had
been visiting her parents. Mr.. and
Mrs. ]. L. McNlnnis, of Elgin.. has
returne
II. H. Gaunt and family have
moved to Joseph from La Grande
Mr.. Gaunt has opened tailoring es
tablishment in the long distance tel
ephone office in the Mitchell hotel
building, and he will also have charge
Of the phone, resigned by Mrs. Leslie
Leona Boner visited several days
with her sister, Mrs. Clark Amey,
Of Enterprise.
Rev. Owen of Alder Slope has be
gun series of meetings in the Pres
byterian church.
A. E. Tinsley and wife of Prairie
Creek left Thursday for Walla