Evening journal., 1913-03-08
RAILWAY CO.'S
In ELECTRIC
LIGHT FIELD
Bill That Passed Both Branch.
eS May Affect Situation
in Wilmington
GIVES FRANCHISE; NO
CHARGE LIMIT FIXED

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del, March S.-There has
passed both branches Of the Lcgisla-
ture and Is now ready to be submitted
TO Governor Miller for his action
thereon a bill that may work great
changes In the electric lighting field
In Wilmington, aud take the electric
lighting business from under the re-
gulative power Of the Street and
Sewer directors as to prescribing
maximum rates that may be charged
for current and other restrictive
features. 10 Is the Senate bill to en-
power railway companies to engage
In the sale and distribution OF elec-
tricity for lighting and power In
cities and towns of the State.
The bill passed both branches un-
animously, Il having passed the House
on Thursday afternoon. Yesterday
shortly before noon Representative
King moved for reconsideration OF the
bill He declined to defer action until
two O'Clock at the request OF Repre-
sentative Cooper and pressed for re-
consideration. The vote was 10 for
]
majority. and three against recen-
sideration. Speaker Holcomb with
held his decision as he said there was
question in his mind whether or not
a two-thirds vote was necessary to
pass H.
Speaker Holcomb at the afternoon
session ruled that the proceedings to
reconsider the vote on the Senate bill
H.. ...I. ~
bill was not before the House at the
time. it having been returned TO the
Senate after it had been passed by chs
House Thursday. The Speaker said
he was ignorant Of the fact that the
bill had been returned TO the senate
when the motion for reconsideration
was put He then announced that
without objection all record OF tho
motion to reconsider would he strick-
en- from the Journal. and, this was
done
Under this bill either the Peoples
Railway or the Wilmington and New
Castle Railway Company can engage
In the electric lighting business in
Wilmington. no further franchise be-
ing necessary but permission to plant
additional poles must be obtained
from the Street and Sewer Depart
ment. Railway companies also could
engage IN the lighting business In
; towns like New Castle and Delaware
! City which they now touch.
, The bill was passed along with the
Senate bin to enable the Peoples
!, Railway Company TO lay its tracks to
q Fourth street wharf, as a compromise
q between the Peoples Railway and the
! Wilmington and Philadelphia Trac-
tiOn Company representatives. alsle
= bin TO authorize railway companies TO
= sell and distribute electricity in cities
u and towns would confer an electric
business franchise by State statute,
9 should IL be signed by the Governor
d without such business. being subject
+ TO tho rcgulative powers of the street
o and Sewer department in Wilmington.
{ or town Council in town, excepting
3 as to the requirement Of permission
j. for the planting Of additional poles.
I Representative King said his OBJ
r iect in trying to have the bill recon-
sidered was to inquire into it further
: and possibly have some amendments
made 70 IT,. which he believed neces-
. sary.
A rumor got around that some or
}, the railway or electric companies had
! found the bill much broader in the
: rights Il conveyed than was FIRST sup
IL posed and that 1t might open the
8 door TO some other unexpected rail-
9 way company TO enter the Wilmington
lighting field.
Another report was that some OF the
members fearing a merger OF the
r Wilmington and Philadelphia Trac-
ton Company and the Peoples Rail-
way Company. by the former pur-
y chasing the latter, desired to amend
the bill to prohibit a merger Of cleo
trio lighting companies in Wilmington,
IL possible, and put in some other re-
y strictions.
{ The bill prescrlbes no maximum
a charge that may be made for current
hy a railway company entering the
a electric lighting field. and II II
H. should use the same wires for COM
4, mercial lighting as IL uses for con-
(, veying current to operate the rail
4. way, the wires could be taxed for but
"a one purpose. AT present the Will
- mington City Electric Company in its
franchise. granted by the Street and
~ Sewer directors. has specified a maxi.
n mum charge for current ana Is re-
- auired 10 pay two per cent of rs
n gross receipts annually TO the city
y There is nothing to prevent the vii
ne mington City Electric Company
Ut should the bill ready for the COVER
nor's action. become law. from absn
IT. doning the franchise requiring II Il
nd pay two per cent. OF its receipts e
sr- the city and fixing a maximum limi
ne charge for current, and then operat
be ing under the new law in the name o
the Wilmington and Philadelphii
Traction Company. under which Il
could escape the two per cent pay
-. ment to the city and also charge what
~ ever il might deem it for current
u ~ The Peoples Railway Company was
70 greatly interested in having passed
KS the bill to give railway companies the
AZ, right to sell and distribute electricity
40 but its benefit If any, would apply 10
ne any railway company.