Evening journal., 1913-04-15
TUESDAY. APR. I5. 1913,
BoARp IeNoREs puRLIC sENTnENT.

BOARD IGNORES PUBLIC SENTIMENT
+ GNoRING public sentiment in this community. the
4 Board OF Directors OF the Street and Sewer De-
parment refused it's meeting today to grant fran
chiso to the Peoples Light, Heat and Power Company
10 engage In light power competition here with
The Wilmington and Philadelphia Traction Company.
Tho vote against granting the franchise was unani-
nous, tho one Democratic member of the board vot-
ing with tho Republican members in their declar-
alton against competition. particularly unfortunate
Of the boards action was that it voted down
tho franchise Immediately following the receipt OF
letter from the National Progressive organization in
this city in which several questions were asked and
formal answers requested prior to final action by
the board II goes without saying that tho action OF
lhe directors has caused widespread dissatisfaction
and that the summary in which 1t was done IN the
tacc of the written request OF the National Progress
syes for definite information, will accentuate the III
feeling and popular discomfort
Members OF the Board OF Directors of the street
and sewer Department cannot he ignorant OF the
fact that public sentiment in Wilmington is over
whclmneiy in favor of the granting of the electric
fighting franchise that was applied for by the
Peoples Light Heat and Power Company They may
wish that il we're otherwise, but they cannot deny
what is such a patent fact Were they to attempt
to do So even a most casual poll of citizens or
any considerable number OF them, would give
ample contradiction to such denial.
Many of those who favored the granting of the fran
Ieoplcs
peny did il because they believe sincerely In the beneh
cal effect Of competition Many others favored it be-
cause they know that the lighting monopoly in this
city not only has refused to accept regulation but
actually has combated and defeated it, and therefore
they feel that a monopoly that will not accept regu-
ation should be compelled to accept competition In
short they look upon competition as the only possi-
BILE measure for public protection.
There are partsans OF the victorious lighting mo-
nopoly who say that it already is regulated through
the Board of Directors OF the street and Sewer Dc
partment That is a fallacious contention The Board
o Directors regulate its rates, its service or
its securities. IL maintains complaint bureau; It
has no meter inspection service, and apart from few
non-essentale It has absolutely reguatiye power
that goes to the heart OF the matter. The public is
at the mercy OF the lighting monopoly and the Board
Of Directors the Street and Sewer Department has
no reguaiive power that Is worthy the
Has the Board OF Directors OF the Street and Sewer
Department the power to regulate the service Of the
Wilmington and Philadelphia Traction Company re-
CARDS the operation OF its railway and lighting
tems7 Not at all.
Has the Board Of Directors Of the Street and Sewer
Department the power 20 regulate charges for
vice so long as the Wilmington and Philadelphia Trac-
tion Company keeps within the maximum prescribed
by law? Not at all.
Has the Board Of Directors Of the Street and Sewer
Department the right to prevent unjust discrimna-
tons in charges and to to that the meters are
sumer? Not at all.
Has the Board OF Directors the Street and Sewer
Department the right to prevent the watering Of se-
curities and the infcton thereby Of unjust burdens
upon the people, from whose pockets the money must
to meet the dividend payments on the stock and
the interest payments the bonds? Not 40 40
The simple truth is that there now. and har 5een
no regulation in SO far regulation should affect
the very sitals OF public service which are rsfe tsf-
vice. securities and inspection.
And hear the plea that the fsrsIrr lena
OF the application Of the Peoples Comazag rss
justified that steps might be taken 10 ostza
regulation. How, when and whcrc7 The eeoft tss
been made, and it has failed why2 Becsass te
State Senate opened its to the voice q lta Irfi-
ing monopoly lobby and closed II 10 The voice o fte
people. Those who solcitous for ne vel
fare of the lighting monopol. that defeated rsr1ia-
ton suggested that the franchise Of the Peoples Ight
Heat and Power Company be denied and that further
steps be taken to obtain regulation wheng Two years
hence7 What assurance is there that two years
hence the same lighting monopoly viii not and
the State Senate In the favorable attitude toward
and ita aggressive lobby and in the same
attitude Of antagonsm toward the people and their
proDosed regulsriVe legislation? Absolutely none
The popular impression is that the lighting mo-
nopoly did much more 10 regulate the State Senate
than the State Senate did regulate the lighting mo-
uopoly w hope that todays events viii not create tho
Same popular impression with respect to the Board Of
1feetors Of tho street and Sewer Department