Evening journal., 1911-10-31
DEFER ACTION
ON FRANCHISE
CONTINUED from First Page.

NOOnpnueQ from First PaRe).
will continue TO state that I am en-
deavoring to get them to purchase my
property, and in this connection l
will say that have never approached.
directly or indirectly, anyone with
view to sale. but that others in one
form or another, as well as Mr. Cros-
by and DIR. Scott, have requested me
70 name a price at which / would sell
or terms on which / would consoE-
date. All the overtures have beer
made TO me by the other side and de-
clined
4 trust that you will disregard all
the innuendoes, attacks and statements
that have been made as to the reasons
for which this franchise is asked and
TO assure you that II contracts are
obtained and the franchise is granted,
that competition IN the electric light
Ing business 70 the benefit Of the citi-
zens of Wilmington. will result.
Il believe that many who are now
unwilling TO sign contracts at the
lower price, will hasten to do so once
the franchise is granted, and that the
necessary contracts so greatly in the
interests OF your citizens and tax
payers viii be forthcoming
you need not be reminded that.
since the consolidation, electric light
ing rates and carfares have been
raised and It has been stated 10 mo
that whatever Independent lighting
franchises existed have been Secured
by the monopoly
1t seems TO me that the case is
now squarely presented as TO the re-
spective interests OF the people and
of the monopoly.
THE reason for not announcing at
the outset my interest in the electric
lighting franchise was that we hoped
70 avoid the very unfair charges that
have since been made as to our rea-
sons for doing so.
you are at liberty to give this let
tor all the publicity you desire.
Cordially yours,
"(Signed) r. Clarence Jones'"
'P. S.--I would state that Mr. Scott
called to see me on his own Initiative
on October 23rd, and the suggestion
made by him was. that purchase the
Wilmington and Philadelphia Trac-
ton Company. He stated TO me that
he acted on his own initiative in this,
although being a director of the COM
pany.
II told him that ] would not be
Interested in purchasing it at all He
then asked me what / would sell the
Wilmington Southern Traction Com
pany for. and ! told him the same as
would have told any other business
man, with whom ! had had the same
long years OF pleasant acquaintance
that | had with Mr.. Scott and | very
much regret that I was recently told
he was opposing"
Mr.. Scott Explains.
After the letter had been read Mr.
Scott stated that Mr.. Jones had Of
fered him the New Castle railway for
100000, in the presence OF Mr.. Wall.
Mr. Wall said Mr.. Scott had asked
Mr. Jones the price at which he held
the railway, and Mr.. Jones had said
$3O0,O00
! Mr. Marvel said he hoped tho letter
would be the last word on the rail-
way situation and also would cieaI
away the personalities and would en-
able the franchise to be considered
as a business proposition. He SAID
he realized the keenness OF the direc
tors 70 get the thing through with
but he reminded the Street Directors
that he had an obligation TO his
client and the directors had an equa
obligation to the corporation they re-
present-the city of Wilmington. Nc
matter how protracted may be the
hearings or how tiresome his argu.
ments. Mr.. Marvel told the directors
a. was their duty to be as patient as a
court. He said the last franchise
granted was before the Board for
four months, but the pending one has
been before them but one week.
1--WE ask that we may present propo-
sitions to you and you to us until
we reach some conclusion" said Mr
Marvel. 1T would be your duty to
come to my Office II you had any rea-
son to believe my client offered some
thing Of benefit to the city, Just as
much as it Is my duty to come to you.
Mr. Marvel said the high persona
regard the directors have for the of
/, hcials Of the present lighting com
pany. and which he had for them, to'
does not enter into the situation. "lol
ought to take no position to protec
, the old company as against any bene
, At that might come TO the citizens o
Wilmington he added He said il va
, not the time for the last word until it 1
, discovered that the Public Utlitie
Company can offer or cannot offer any
thing Of benefit to the city.
, To Correct Franchise Defects.
Mr.. Marvel said Mr.. Wall had ar
J rived last night at 2 o'clock and ha
conferred with him until late and iGe
agreed that there we're some defect
in the franchise that It would be wei
to correct to protect the citizens q
Wilmington. RE said Mr.. Wall desire
, to make some Investigations of hi
own and TO confer with Mr. Jones an
inform him Of conditions, and h
therefore requested that further con
sideration OF the franchise resolution