The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-01-16
Council Must Also Bide Its
Time in Connection with
Settlement of the Fran
chise Questions.
PRIVATE MEETINGS
OF BOARD FAVORED
Resolution to Settle Water
Works Question Before
Gas Franchise Matter, Had
a Brief Career. @

"A EcsOlutlous pFOVlOln8 INSl COuuCl1
first settle the water works franchise
matter before taking up the matter OF
giving = gas franchise to the Light.
Heat and Power company, presented
by Councilman Vessel at the regular
meeting Of council last evening caused
quite stir. In the discussion which
resulted over the presentation Of the
resolution Attorney Wilfrod Jessup,
who IL connected with the legal de-
partment OF the city, vehemently de-
nounced the passing of such = resoiu-
tion, saying that ii council did 20 that
1t would prove to the public 40 well ~
corporations that there IL discord be-
tween council and the board OF public
works. s,Fz
The mayor waxed eloquent In speak
ing Of the conference between tho
board and the attorneys tor the Light.
Heat and Power company, which 10
seeking = new franchise at the pre-
sent. albeit its present franchise does
not expire for more than three years.
In a statement to council the mayor
said that he was in favor of proceeding
with the work ON another gas fran
chise, and declared that he 10 In favor
Of star chamber" sessions. excluding
the public and the press until every
thing is cut and dried"
Withdraw Resolution.
Several councilmen seemed displeas-,
ed ut the mayors statement. hut AFT
er Attorney Jessup had made his,
statement that such = resolution would
indicate conflict and rntaund0rstand.
ing between the board and council the
resolution was Withdrawn. Jessup ex.
planned that the board OF works ID
powerless to do anything with q fran
chise, other than getting bids and sub
hitting them to council. He declared
that franchise cannot be made until
ratified by council, and that the board
cannot put anything over on the legis-
lative body. He declared that the
same principals are involved In the gas
franchise as In the water works fran-
chise. and that council could better
handle both at one time than consider
ing each one separately.
Attorney Jessup stated that the pre-
sent gas franchise contains no clause
which fixes the price or standard Of
gas. He said that John Beasley, Of
Terre Haute, attorney for the COM
pany which controls the Light, Heat
and Power company. asked that he be
permitted to submit . tentative pre-
position on q gas franchise.
k4 L. Ia - IS hms
twelve franchises at one time was the
statement of the mayor. He asserted
| that 1t IN a small matter to take up
both franchises now-the only things
to study in the gas franchise being the
kind of gas, the price Of gas and tho
privilege of using the city streets.
THE L. H. & p. company II not ask
ing anything unreasonable" the mayor
said, although the price which the
company stipulates in its proposition
! is high. The board would never favor
franchise forcing consumers to pay
80 cents for gas. But can tell you one
| thing, and that is the board OF works
will submit proposals to council be-
fore the three years are up. because
II we can get a reduction in the price
of gas we win do 10 and why not se-
cure the reduction before the three
! years are up?
The board OF works will have .
clause placed in the bids submitted for
the franchise to the effect that In case
the legislature fixes lower rate for
gas, or gives more authority to cities
in lowering gas rates, that this will be
done"
Councilman Vessels resolution also
asked that the present bids on the wa
ter franchise be not rejected unless
! the board Of works II positive 1t can
secure lower rates on water ~ pro-
vided in the present bids. There was