Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-18

the ordinance through Council, and
because of the short interval remain
ing in which to do the work and the
uncertainty of the weather the light
company proceeded under the pre-
sumption that the matter was settled
and that the work ought to be done at
the earliest possible date.
The long distance telephone was
used in placing contracts for standards
and in arranging with the New York
ONCE to finance the proposition. Yes
terday men went to work stringing
wires into the conduits already pre-
pared in the river wall and with
preparations for the installation of the
standards as soon as they arrive. Both
councilmen and the company were
complimented by hundreds of people
upon the promptness with which the
work was being done.
Then came this mornings unjusti-
fable attack, with the charge that
counctlmen are mere tools of the light
company. The whole story as told in
the newspaper mentioned is from be-
ginning to end a fabrication of false
hood evidently put forward at this
time under the mistaken impression
that it would fool the people and make
political capital for the minority COM
missicners regardless of the fact that
the minority councilmen appeared to
be as heartily in favor of the light
company's plans as were the other
three and therefore are as open to the
accusation of having been unduly in
ftuenced as are their colleagues.
But the scheme is not to be allowed
to halt the work, which is the impor-
tant thing, and it was roundly con-
demned to-day by everybody familiar
with the lighting plan
Falsehood Apparent
AT the very moment the story was
being concocted Mayor Royal and Com
missioners Gorgas, Taylor, Bowman
and Lynch, with Robert w. Hoy and
other representatives or the light COM
pGny, were making a tour of the city
lighting system and planning for the
extension of the system. Notwith-
standing that Mayor Royal and Mr..
Gorgas rode in an automobile during
this inspection of the electric lights of
the city in company with an official of
the light company, not one word of
criticism or objection was raised con-
cerning the preliminary work along
the river and Second street, in which
the company is now engaged, and
which is made the subject of criti-
cism. Indeed, 1t has been generally
supposed that both of these council
men favored the plan, for the reason
that otherwise they would have raised
objections when 1t was first proposed.
The newspaper story further stated
that Commissioner Taylor was at that
time attending a political catherine in
the eastern part of the county when in
| truth he was one of those who made
up the light inspection party. This ia
or par with the rest of the libelous
tale.
Will Push the Work
Commissioners Bowman, Taylor and
Lynch who are heartily in favor of fin
lshlng the work said this morning that
they intended to do everything in their
power to push the work
Easy terms of settlement have been
made by the light company. For the
present, each of the fifty-four lights
along the river will cost $40 for the
six summer months while those in
Second street will be lighted at the an
nual rate of S24. The full cost of in
stallatfon, maintenance and lighting
on the wall for five years is S9,5s1.60.
payable monthly on the basis of ST.
1852 annually. The full cost of in
stallation and maintenance for the 2S
hghts along Second street to State is
S7,SO3.4b, of which 81, ,450 is to be naid
at once and $1,270.69 annually. This
lnstalment plan gives the city the
| ilghts at cost of purchase and installa-
ton without profit to the company.
| When Council made up the budget
for the 1915 expenses an appropriation
was made for the installation of addj-
eio,e'i Sldhu1i Us SO tnat 10 that extent
at least Council is on record as favor
ing the work now being done by the
company.
Light Company's Position
In an interview this morning Robert
F. Hoy, speaking for the light COM
pany. said: II am astounded at the
unfounded newspaper attack on the
light company. The plan, as anyone
can readily see, was designed to give
Harrisburg at cost what it would 9TH
erwise have had to wait several years
for. The light company, after re-
peated solicitation. agreed to put up
the lights, string the wires in the con-
duits already provided, give the people
the lighting system in time for the
! coming celeb cation, finance the opera
ton for the most part and accept pay
ment when the city is able. The COM