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

n EIII1bn the 1drrlSDurB LlBnt
i Y and Power Company nor the
Republican members of City
Council should permit the yawpIng OF
a few unprincipled, peanut politicians.
and their scandal-mongering spokes-
man from proceeding with the work
of extending the ornamental lighting
system along Second street and the
River Front. There Is no reason why
1t should be delayed and many reasons
why 1t should be hastened, yet for the
sake of a stupid attempt to deceive the
public and thereby create political
capital for two Democratic politicians
whose short-sighted policies have
doomed them to defeat even before
they open their campaigns ror re-eiec-
ton, an effort is being mace TO pre-
vent the city from enjoying the new
lighting system during the coming
municipal improvement celebration.
The whole attack Is unJustifiable.
More than that, it is outrageous.
The River Front wall and path call
for an ornamental lighting system.
The path has been lighted in part. but
lack of money prevented the COM
pletion of the improvement. There
is only small fund on hand with
which to place lamps along the river
wall. At this critical stage comes the
light company, with commenda BILE
public spirit, and offers to place the
standards and have the system
ready for use by the time of
the celebration and wait for the
larger part of its pay untIi the city
finds itself in possession of the money.
Thus the city is to have the cement of
the lighting system that is provided
for in the plans for thu -fa;I and the
burden of the expense rests with the
company. Otherwise, the wall would
be without lights for a year or more
at least.
This offer of the company was not
only fair, but so generous that It at
once received the endorsement, OF the
Democratic and Republican commits
sioners. There appeared to De nothing
in the way of the improvement except
the formal action OF council, so the
company took time by the rorelock
and began preliminary work looking
toward the completion of the system
in time to turn on the current on the
date promised. The working interval
is brief at best and with a possible
continuation of the uncertain weather
that has prevailed this summer no
time is to be lost If the lignJs are to
be ready when the people want them.
At all events, If the ordinance were to
fail of passage, the company would
be the loser and not the city, which is
protected at every turn.
The whole attack is a patchwork
Of easily riddled falsehooc. AS an
example of the utter disregard FOR
truth displayed by those responsible
for 1t may be cited the assertion tnat
Commissioner Taylor was attending a
political party in the eastern part or
the county last evening, when as a
matter of fact he, with all or the otner
members of council, Democrats and
Republicans alike, was going over the
city with representatives or the cleo
trio company making an inspection OF
the city's lighting system ana planning
for its extension. 1t is also significant
that neither of the Democratic mem
bers who were with this party ana
who occupied an automobi:e with an
official of the company during the in
spection trip raised the least objection
to the advance work which is TO-DAY
made the subject of criticism.
Neither council nor the city can af-
ford to pay any further attention 70
this ridiculous play to the galleries
coming as it does from those whose
minds are constantly so full of scandal
that it bubbles up and overnows on
their shirtfronts every ume the
thermometer shifts degree or two
Let the work proceed.