Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-01-22

City Council, the city nghtlng con
tract was awarded tc the Annapoli:
Gas and Electric Light Company, not.
withstandng the fact that the An
apolis Public Utilities Company had
submitted an offer at much lower
prices, which would have reduced the
Annapolis tax rate approximately
/ 1-2 mills. thus beneftting dire city
every citizen of the city.
The above statement might seem
pretty broad. but it develops that
that is Svhat actually happened when
the Council approved of the opinion of
City Counsellor Melvin bearing upon
the contract with the company that
was drawn in December last. The
only justification whatever for this
action by the Council was that the
proposition of the old company had
been approved at previous meeting.
When the citizens of the town
awoke to the real situation of affairs
resulting from the Councils action,
they were keenly du4nbfounded. And
it is doubtful even if those members
of the Council who favored the new
company fully realized at the time
what was accomplished when the
viva voce vote on the motion to ap-
prove the Counselor's opinion was
taken. 1t was all done so quickly
and smoothly, that but few were
able to grasp the true situation.
The Counselor's opinion, in effect,
renders the contract with the Gas and
Electric Company binding on the city,
Notwithstanding the Mayor should
still decline to adix his signature
thereto. Here is the authoritative
quotation cited by the Counselor in
his opinion covering the question in.
volved
A contract is entered into be-
tween two corporations when one of
them By scme corporate act proposes
terms to the other and this other.
municipal corporation thereupon pass
es an ordinance embracing them; and
it cannot be objected to such a con-
tract that it is not signed by the
party to be charged, or that the ordi-
nance is nothing more than declara-
tion of intention.
i tie sum VI IL oil AlGdA1G lEtdL tue
Utilities Company, If it elects to
come into Annapolis for furnishing
light and power for commercial pur-
poses will necessarily be restricted
from competing for the municipal
contract for a period of five years.
No contract had ever been exc
cuted, however. and the old company
had continued to present bills to the
city al the old rate, nearly $50 per
lamp. This is the first opportunity
Annapolis has had for emancipation
from the control and abuse of control
from which it has suffered at the
hands of the Annapolis Gas and EIec-
trio Light Company for years in the
form of a proposition from a thor
oughly responsible company.
Mr.. George Weems Williams, coun-
sel of the Public Utilities Company.
stated to the Council and citizens
who were present at the meeting
that it was his opinion that the city
was not hound by any contract with
the old company. AS the result of
the action that had already been
taken by the Council of the proposed
new contract. The Utilities Company
offered to pay all the costs of any Iiti-
CATION in which the city might become
involved, if it would h)Id the matter
open and give the proposition of the
Utilities Company to do the munich
pal lighting, consideration, that
consideration to which matter
so important to the public of An
napolis was entitled. But it is not
too late for the Council to rescind its
action of last night and to ask fol
new propositions from both compa
nies and in justification to the taxpay
ers of this city, this action should bs
taken. The franchise which has beer
asked for by the Utilities Compan,
will it is believed, be acted Jpor
favorably by the Council if it has an,
consideration for the wishes of tn,
public. Although, unless last night
action of the Council IS rescinded i
/ will be impossible for the new com
pany to OBTAIN the municipal lightin,
contract.
Until the expiration of FIVE year
it will be empowered to do CONNER
eial and private lighting and fur
nishing power The people who ar
back of the Utilities Company ha
the courage and financial ability (
give to Annapolis and the State o
Maryland the best interurban railwa
in this part of the country and it !
safe to say that they are permitted t
supply electrical energy 10 the cit
and that it will be dore economical
as well.
1t is a question now whether th
company will have the courage to il
stall strictly modern lighting sy:
tenn at a great expense without an
advance knowledge whatever as I