Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-11-16
CITY OFFICIALS
IN A 'FRAhE,UP
RUMORS OF A "BIG DEAL FLoAT
AROUND THE CITY
HALL
MAY DROP The recall
If Franchise Matter Is Arranged sat
isfaetorily the Proposed Recall
May BE Pigeonhoicd.

With Mayor Frank Wooden and
Commissioners Downing and Forsythe
all out Of the city yesterday II was
again necessary 20 postpone the reg
ular commission meeting at the city
hall. Two regular meetings are sup
posed to be held each week, but tho
absence of some OF the officials has
caused two postponements this week.
A large amount of important business
IN In the hands OF Auditor Cline and
other urgent matters are waiting the
consideration of the commission. The
whereabouts of Mayor Wooden could
not be learned at the city hall yes
terday.
The Sand Springs electric light
franchise, which from the very start
has been the subject of much dissen-
sion and postponement at the city
hall and Commissioner Conneeley's
threatened recall of three OF the city
officials, ara the real causes for a
'frame-up," II is being widely rumor-
ed.
Most every one who keeps posted
on municipal matters In Tulsa knows
that all of the city officials and es-
pecially Mayor Wooden. had vigorous
ly opposed the granting of franchise
to the Sand Springs company, that
would necessarily mean competition
in the electric light business here and
seriously cut down the revenues Of the
Tulsa corporation, which at present
has a clear field in that line.
Even City Attorney Ramsey oppos-
ed the granting of such franchise.
AT first he said the franchise, as pre-
sented by the Sand Springs company
WAS preposterous and made
about hundred separate objec-
tions to Its provisions. Finally all Of
his objections were met with changes
In the draft Of the franchise and then
after the commissioners had been
practically forced to approve of its
style. the city attorney boldly, assert.
ed that II was not In the power OF
the city officials to grant franchise
by ordinance, although the attorney
for the Sand Springs company con-
tended that the constitution of the
state clearly gave municipalities this
right. However, the Sand Springs
people finally consented to let the
matter go to a vote,
That was where the wire pulling"
began. About that time Commission
er Conneeley, who had been made the
official city hall goat" ever since he
on or hA
antics of the big three" composed
of Mayor Wooden, Commissioners
Wilson and Commissioner Forsythhe,
that he asserted his. independence.
He announced far and wide that he
would personally superintend the
work of circulating petitions, asking
for the recall of the big three" on
the grounds of incompetency, etc. He
even went so far as to say he might
tell some city hall and election Sc
crets and It must me admitted that
his talk threw n considerabl fright
into the camp of the mighty trio.
The city attorney wasted all the
time he could consistently account for
in getting prepared the ordinance call
ing an electlon on the franchise. That
was about three weeks ago. Matters
OF much graver Importance" how
ever, took up all the spare time of the
commissioners and they We're fore
ed" to postpone consideration OF the
franchise ordinance for several meet
ings.
Early this week II was announced
| positively that the franchise would
be taken up at last Tuesdays com :
mission meeting. But when the hour
arrived for holding the meeting, It
was discovered that "Hizzoner." the
mayor, had suddenly departed for
Texas. Therefore Mayor Pro TEN
Wilson declared that there could be
no meeting.
And yesterday the same thing was
repeated.
ThOaa are fha "outwa r1p Faafu -