Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-07-24


right away. We are willing to take
chances on contract from now un-
til the first of January.
We are not seeking to tic the
Council up with a contract after the
LIST OF January. We expect the new
Council to give US a contract. Before
we get through we are going to he
sustained IN the Dodson contract. Do
not let it worry you at all about
how much money we are going to
put into 1t. If We lose, all right, that's
our lookout
Alderman Eldridge: In regard to
the proposition of the Americas Rail
way & Light Company, l can see very
clearly why they want to be certain
that they will have a contract for at
least four or five months. Under
this contract We get a good deal
better lights than we are now get
ting for the same price. Mr.. Walker
stated that he would like to have the
matter settled at once, and with
draw my motion as to referring it TO
the Light Committee and ask that it
be passed on now.
Alderman Clark: | will make the
motion that this matter be tabled.
Mayor FavOrs Proposition
Mayor Fielder. Gentlemen, l cannot
see t osave my life why you should
not consider this proposition. We
are paying twice as much money as
We are getting light for. We have
the oldest system in the State of
Georgia today-it is out of date.
These people are doing this, basing
their hopes that the people will see
just what they can do and be satisfied
to continue the contract They can
not do this by the month, because
next month this Council may stop it.
They would be foolish to put in
these lights without a contract. The
people are our masters and have or
should have the right to say whether
we should have these lights or not
after January, and We should give
the better service to them. Certainly
the people have some rights in this
matter. We are not their masters.
My understanding is that we are
their servants. These new lights will
cost us no more than the lights we
now have. [ hope Council won't ia
bic this proposition.
Alderman Clark's Sentiments
Aid Clark Your Honor, they did
not want this before the election. The
people elected this Council on u
municipal ownership platform from
beginning to end. | am not one of
these kind of men that you can find
one way one day and then Hopping to
the other side the next l stand
on what | think is right. This thing
rifles in me, simply because it is
brought up in various ways by these
people. They have done everything
they can to make it appear that this
Council have been ready to cut the
Threats of the people of Americas.
That is the kind of people we have
been pointed out to be. We have
been hauled through the newspapers
of this city by them. We were elect
ed by a large majority of the people
and | for one am here to serve the
people just as long as | can. l tell
you the very object in this is nothing
more than to put those flaming arcs
in here SO that they can say to the
people you have been mistaken"
They want to destroy any hope or
chance for us to build an electric
plant here. | do not say we are
going to do it, but we are going to
try. If We are baked, the burden is
on you. When they put these lamps
in here, it is for the purpose of put
ting a Council in here that is favor
able to this Corporation. We know
that it is a public hardship at the
present time, but why look just for
the present? We should be looking
twenty or forty years ahead for our
town?
Mayor Fielder: Well, let's look to
the first of January and have good
lights for that long, anyway
Aid Clark: If they can get these
lights burning and flaming here, they
will say to the public, "everything is
going along smoothly. Let it stay
that way" If the people want to
change their opinion on next election
day, they can change it; but l will
never change. | am not responsible
for anybody elses opinions but my
own. If [ was to do this, l would
feel that I was a traitor to the cause
| worship. If I was to flop over
Just because sentiment is on the other
side l would lose my self-respect.
These fellows have showed you they
have a good thing and they don't want
cease fighting for a municipal plant.
Mayor Fielder: Let the people de-
eide.
Aid. Clark; The people did decide
at the last election, when they elect
ed three aldermen and a Mayor on a
municipal platform.
Putting 1t To The People
Mr.. Walker: | do not want to talk
too much, but l do want to say just
one thing more. We are not offer
ing to put these lamps in here for
the purpose of getting the people with
us. We have been begging Council
since last April or May to allow the
people to vote on Municipal Owner