Evening journal., 1910-12-20
DEFER ACTION
ON FRANCHISE
Wilmington ASSemblymen
Send Letter About That
Amended Electric Grant

That the Wilmington members or
the next Legislature, regardless OF
party. are deeply interested In the in-
creased cost Of electric lighting in
Wilmington. and wish a full inquiry
made into the proposed new fran
ohise of the Wilmington City Electric
Company. now pending before the
Street and Sewer directors, became
known today.
The Wilmington Assemblymen have
sent 20 the Street and Sewer direc-
tors n communication asking that ac-
ton be deferred on the pending fran
chise until il can be thoroughly look
ed into. This communication was not
read at the public meeting OF the
Street and Sewer Commissioners this
morning, but they considered IL pri-
vately and then deferred action on the
franchise
Reading of the franchise for the
third time was started and then was
deferred for one week This action
of the Wilmington legislators Is sig
nificant, inasmuch as there is a gem
eral feeling against the greatly in
creased cost of electricity under the
new schedule OF the Wilmington and
Philadelphia Traction Company.
Whether this attitude on the part Of
the Assemblymen is a forerunner OF
action to be taken by the Legislature
to regulate the charges for electricity
could not be learned today, but Il Is
intimated that legislation 10 that end
may be introduced In the new Assem-
bly,.
Took Action Last Week.
The Wilmington members OF thu
Legislature have formed an organi
zation, with Senator Thomas NJ Mon
Afghan as chairman, and Representa-
tive Alfred b. Moore as secretary. A
their meeting on last Wednesda,
evening when the subject of proposed
legislation was being discussed some
body spoke about the great increas
in the cost Of electric lighting In vii
mington since the Wilmington an
Philadelphia Traction Company too
control of the local companies. Ther
was some talk of the new franchis
the Wilmington City Electric Com
pany, a subsidiary of the Wilmingto
/ and Philadelphia Traction Compan,
is seeking, and II was unanimousl
agreed TO send a letter 10 the Stree
and Sewer Commissioners requestin
them TO defer final action on the pre-
posed franchise until the extent Of II
amendments might be inquired int
thoroughly
2 When the letter was not read
the public meeting OF the Street an
. Sewer Board to-day a report got OF
4 about it. The directors said they ha
B. received a letter but II had been dil
cussed by them privately Senate
;, Monaghas and Representative Moor
p admitted that the letter had been sen
!. but they did not consider they wei
the ones to make II public. The Sire
and Sewer Directors told generally
the contents of the letter, but a col
Y OF it could not be obtained up TO ear
this afternoon.
Colonel George W. Sparks, preside
4 Of the Board, said the letter was y
v read publicly because II was regard
/ as a private communication 1T wi
r directed to us personally and not
the Street and Sewer Board, as / n
derstood 4, said Mr.. Sparks 1T WI
handed to me by Senator Monaghl
: and Representative Moore PERSONAL
and | supposed II was a private le
!, ter. There is no attempt to hide It al
there is nothing TO hide. There seen
!. to be a whole lot of mystery beii
q made out of nothing Senator Sparl
said he would consult the other d
- rectors about making the letter pu
. lie.