Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-01-20
AID. CLARK AND COL.
WALKER TALK FIGHT.
Hard Words Pass, Squalls
in the Air.
Council Meeting Last
Night Proved a Live
ly Session.

Things got lively at the Council
meeting last night. 1t came after
long discussion about municipal
ownership and the relations between
the city and the electric lighting COM
pany. The tension of feeling had al
ready grown quite intense as a result
of an animated debate between AL
derman Allen and President Walker,
when Alderman Clark arose to ex-
press his views about the proper po-
sition for Council to maintain in view
of the result Of the recent election.
The verdict of the people," he de-
clared, was for municipal ownership
despite the money that was spent by
the other side to try to carry the day
While he made no direct charge
against the lighting company the in
ference was quite strong that Aid.
Clark believed it had used money i'm
properly.
AS soon as he had finished his re-
marks President Walker arose.
Any statement that this company,
or that /, used money in the last cleo
tion," said he, ''is absolutely false"
Il did not say that you or your COM
pany used money directly, but money
was used improperly in that election
and you know it." retoreed Alderman
Clark.
Il do not know it, and any such
statement is entirely false" was the
answer from President Walker.
''It is true" said Alderman Clark,
without arising from his seat.
Come outside and 1 will settle the
matter with you," said President
Walker.
The alderman and the president of
the lighting company shot angry looks
at each other for moment.
IF you want it, you can get it." said
the alderman
Mayor Fielder raped for order.
That was the end Of the incident, at
least for the time being.
Later, after much further discussion,
Alderman Allen moved that the light
ing company be allowed to light the
streets Of the city by the month at the
rate of $42 light per year, payable
monthly" He insisted that the old
lights were not worth any more than
that, and that the company was only
to be permitted to light the streets on
sufferance.
President Walker at once arose and
stated that the company would not
light the streets under any such ar
rangement. Either the city must
make contract for some definite pc
riod or it would cut out the lights.
I'VE do not propose to be allowed
to light the streets for month un-
der any condition." said he, "and we
most positively will not light them for
anything less than the old rate-$65
a year per light"
Alderman Allen replied that II the
was not willing to accept
the resolution it could turn the lights
out. He for one was ready for the
issue.
Alderman Bolton poured oil on the
troubled waters. He thought that 1t
was no more than right to let the old
rate stand and to let things go along
as they had been going for the past
year or more. His views prevailed
and Alderman Allen finally agreed to
let things remain as they had been.
Petition Is Turned Down.
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council of Americus:
We, the undersigned citizens re-
spectfully petition your honorable
body to call an election as soon as
possible in conformance with law, for
the purpose of voting upon the ques-
tion of making contract with the
Americus Railway and Light Company
for the lighting Of the streets, the
pumping OF water and the building of
a street railway; said contract to he
revlsable every five years, and to pro-
vide that the payment for street lights
for the city shall be Withheld from the
Americus Railway and Light Com
pany for service performed during the
year 1910 and until such contract is
substantially completed and street
railway in operation.
We further petition that a contract
be entered into for the lighting of
the streets for the year ending Dec.
81, 1910.
The petition of the lighting COM
pany for a five-year lighting contract,
with street railway attachment, was
defeated and killed, on motion of AL
derman Bolton.