Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-01-21

The introduction of this resolution
at the meeting of the City Council on
Wednesday night precipitated one of
the saltiest of the rows that marked
that hot tamale meeting of the Ameri-
Gus Fathers.
AS soon as the resolution was read
by Clerk Hawkes., Alderman Allen was
on his feet to support and explain it.
Alderman Aliens Views.
"As I understand it, and am fully
convinced said he, these people
have no rights by franchise. They are
simply existing here by our suffer-
ance. They have no more rights 70
the use of our streets than any pri-
vate citizen has. Mr. John w. SILVER
came to me the other day and, perhaps
j0ldngly, told me he wanted to put up
a line of poles and string wires from
his plant to his house so as to light
it by electricity. l told him I had 10
objections, that so far as l could see
he, or any other citizen, had just as
much right to do that as the Walker
crowd had. Now, as these people have
no franchise giving them this right |
insist that they should be made to
come before Council any time they
want to put up a pole, so that
we cagsg5@zsSate them and see that
tPa.4 ls4iot cucumber the streets with
uS6fess poles as they did when they
stuck up a lot of poles around town
for an alleged street railway"
President Walker quickly replied
to the alderman. He insisted that Mr..
Aliens knowledge of the franchise
rights of the company were about on
a parity with the aldermans knowl-
edge along some other lines"
This brought Alderman Allen again
to the floor. Il was told by the Messrs
Harold when we were examining
their books" said the alderman, "that
while they had franchise for the gas
business they had none for the electric
lighting business That's my author
ity."
Means More Court Fights.
President Walker then notified
Council that it had better investigate
as to the legal status of his company
sa far as it's electric lighting priyi-
leges went before taking such a step
as was contemplated. under the law
and the decisions of the courts our
franchise as an electric lighting COM
pany and the rights and privileges we
enjoy cannot be set aside by Council
in such a way as this. If you adopt
and endeavor to enforce this resolu.
tion of Mr.. Aliens it simply means
more law suits against the city and
more trouble for you and for us. We
know our rights and we intend to
maintain them. We are not to be
hluffed out of them or frightened from
the protection of them. We are csTi-
zens and property owners of Ameri-
Gus, and as such expect proper treat
ment at your hands. Any lawyer will
tell you this attempted action is abb
surd.'
Mayor Fielder made a plea that the
resolution go over until the city at
torney could look into the matter and
report back to Council. Council fail
ed to sustain this view of the mattec
On the final vote to adopt the resolu-
tion there were apparently but two
voting aye, Aldermen Allen and Clark,
Brown voting nay, and the others ap-
parently remaining silent. The resolu-
ton was accordingly declared adopted
Arrests Looked For.
1t is regarded as hardly probable
that the lighting company will abide
by the resolution. The outlook seems
to be that it will proceed with its
work as heretofore, that some arrests
will be made, an injunction applied
for. and the citys rights in the mat
ter. as we'll as those of the company,
tried out in the courts.
cvDTtNc rUpEE TO TTRKEY