The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-11-20

discussion. In ORDER that the matter
may be more clearly presented TO
those who may feel inclined to give
careful consideration to the matter,
and who may have the patience to
read this article, ! submit this atate-
ment, fully conscious. however, OF the
fact that my views are not fAfailibIe,
and I accord to those wii tidy diff
fer with me all credit fofe iionebt diff
ference Of opinion.
The only contract between the
Southern Public Utilities Company
and the city that was submitted to
me for suggestion Or approval was
the White Way contract. This con-
tract had been drawn by the city at-
tornsy, Mr.. Sullivan, and / think that
1t was at his suggestion that he and
Mr.. Orr came together TO my office.
We went over the contract as Il had
been drawn. approved It without
the change OF o word, 80 far rs II
remember. and It was signed by both
parties. Mr.. Orr then stated TO me
that AZ an Investment for the corIs-
pany. he did not favor the eoi'tract,
which required at the beginning nm
expenditure OF nearly ten Thousand
dollars. but that he realized II wOiid
be a great advertisement for the city
and that II the citizens desired Il he
thought It the duty OF his company
to cooperate in furnishing IT, 1t 10
not my purpose or prerogattye to pass
upon the question as to whether the
city can AFFORD this White Way or not.
] think It will be conceded, however.
that no or.s thing has syer been done
which has contributed 40 Mneh 10
ss7 ssSsssI -
aiice OF the city, both to itgS own pep-
lple and 10 the outsiders, Sn6 the ss-
Establishment OF the White Way. It 80
q great thing for @ ctss to have its
citizens build handsome and expen-
sive homes. places OF hueiness and
public buildings when their means
Justify 1t. It is an equal advantage.
II not a greater one, 20 have ifB
streets thoroughly and beautifully
Lighted, sincs nothing IS q greater aid
to comfort and safety. nor greater
4 enemy to crime, than light II feTera
occurred to me that the contract for
| the White Way was invalid, nor DO
/ I now think II IL invalid gf y had
had any doubt about the matter 7
should have made it known to my
client before 1t signed assontract and
before It expended It's money, and
would have felt an equal obligation
to make the same statement TO the.
representative OF the city, though
did not represent It., IL believed
the city was aigning an ILLEGAL con-
tract. II through lack OF knowledge
IL had approved an illegal contract
whose terms had been voluntarily.
agreed to between my client and an
other should advise my client TO
fulfill its part OF the agrsRmant at,
whatever cost, pafticnlati 81 the
other party had already ppeiis Al large
sum Of money In carrying out sitg part
OF the contract. .ss - S53:
with reference to the old franchise
land contract with the Anderson Wat
er, Light and Power Company, IL
should be remembered that the ii6ht-
ling contract and franchise rave thu
exclusive right TO the CON pany 70
furnish not only the public iiahtinE
of the streets and other public places.
, lbut also the exclusive right 10 fur
, Inish and sell electrical current With
: lin the city for all purposes Tor a
period OF 20 yearg This franchise
= waz given by the council without q
: vote OF the people, and was never
|. al iiestioned by act OF the city cotincil
ioi by the courts, although &c was ax-
!, lclusiye. The water francAsee eoIi-
! tract, though not exclusive in terms.
was exclusive ia sfsSs5stt, sfss5st bfrhii3e the
lefty stipulated that itwptid use tho
3 water fnfnishsd By sS.se con for
4 o period of S2b yeaks IN tAs water
z jcontfact, It was provided that the city
Bnouid HayG Ine yIgnt 70 pufcnk.t5 gIfe
Q system at only the expire Ton a0f the
l95 yeers, as by living NOTICE OF In
teDtion to do 30 6ne yss1 lcrs % the
expifatioIi Of said tine. xEAEe N1.s
2 no right given the city - NfafcAaes
{ the lighting pians at any ti..1es s.sS
! The frknchise ana contracts viii
! 1.-THE Southern Public Utilities eCosn-
! pany make some very eicc1 end
: sweeping changes In favor oe tue
Z lefty. In the first place, 50 must bG
z observed that e is rot Id any SENSE
: an exclnnive franchise &c &iyea the
!. fright to the Utilities Coinpany To FUR
!, lnie!i water and lights to the city and
ITS citizens for d period of ze years
s lwhicf at first vlaw, might fAain TO be
Ia long period. Coupled With this
!. lrighf. however, IS the Rsgllt to tbs
4 lefty 60 7ereltnee the wnser Dtanf -
{ any zr0sntNt s. may desire 10 as 20.
4 IIt cpuld DafShase st totnoffoH and
vlnnt the fuhffef yJf les Company oiil
!. iof bAsifesa no far SIS slfp Netef sge-
4 Hem fs concerned. aud tho pliee s. mo-
4 i7aft 10 the Dtiiitiok COMP batFs NRsce
]. tis noe Asloved 10 iixsSse tlcz NE.