Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-13
ORDINANCE, ACCEPTING RED RIVER POWER
COMPANIES PROPOSAL, PASSES ITS FIRST
READING; COUNCIL HOLDS STORMY SESSION.

y; CUUNCl hULDO
the second reading, withathe appropri-
alton for the operation Of the pumping
plant, estimated under the conditions
prevailing with electricity as power,
n not dissenting vote was cast. :
Mayor Dinnie entertained the mo ,
ton and called for remarks. His In
yitation was answered. land for over
rour hours one OF the warYnest dis
cussions- ever held in the council
chambers In this city followed. Every
Detail was asnin taken up, the con-
data was uncovered to show that ev-
erything was above board.
Exchange Of Views.
George Coger, who formed the OPP
the first to attack the measure. His
arguments were based on general
principles and little resulted from the
stand which he had taken. due to the
tact that he was greatly confused as o
reports and contracts.
a. 9. sorlie Yves the next speaker
and inquired as to which %appropria-
to- would be made In regard to the
operation OF the plant. The idea was
material for another long discussion,
which resulted in general misunder-
standing on the part OF many and a
subject that was often referred back
70 during the general tansle OF AZ
fairs.
George schwam supported the OPP
position and intermingled his discuss
sion with q few humorous stories to
picture che point he wished to con-
vey. Mr., Schwam declared that IT,
was no use to talk of the second read
Ing, as It shouldn't pass the first, and
he said he did not understand why
ated as cheaply as It would be possible
TO purchase power. He said that he
could not believe the power company
was working for the benefit Of the
city.
Ills IDEAS brought several tax pay
ers to their feet to enlighten him.
Leslie Shnson, H.J. Lander, K.C. Hun
ter and others took up the discussion
and Tor a long period general confu-
sion OF subjects. with a dozen or more
offering explanations, followed.
Brown Wants 10 Withdraw.
When Alderman Whitman attempt
ed to bringNth ordinance to an early
vote with adefinition Of his Views and
declaring that the council could not
consider a few individuals when SO
important a proposition vas at hand,
~" ~. I1uAAlSA OALSIOu dLESpAyt gWIiACIi
organized those supporting the meas
ure and new zest was injected into
the arguments.
Attorney Tracy r. Bangs brought
the discussions to q climax and finally
brought the arguments to a point
from which action could be ,develop-
ed. He again went into detail on the
proposition, showing where the city
was protected at every angle n Of
the advantages that were being offer
ed. UpNto this time w. H. Brown,
general manager Of the Red River
Power company, was attempting to
gain the floor to withdraw the power
company proposal. but associates and
taxpayers restrained him and induced
him to withhold his action.
The Mayor Explains.
which seemingly closed the argument
as far as the opposition was concern
ed, Mayor James A. Dinnie called AL
derman Thomas Griffith to the chair
and delivered q short talk In his own
defense. He stated that he had been
accused of trying to turn he munici-
pal plant over to the power company,
the aldermen to tell Of any statement
he had ever made or action he had
ever taken, to induce them to consid-
er the proposition favorable to the
power company. Later the alderman
voting In the opposition said that Mr..
Dinnie had been fair and square on
the proposition at all times and had
never brought the matter up in dis
cussion or even attended any commit
tee meeting held for the purpose of
considering the proposal. Every man
on the council v~indicated the mayor
of the charges alleged to have been
made against him.
Dinnie Has No Apologies to Offer.
Mr.. Dinnie also told of the ill-feel-
ing that had arisen, of which he has
been made the object, and claimed
that il the proposition went through,
THAT he would be mobbed. He plain
ny and briefly told Of his stand In re-
gard to the proposal, and offered no
apologies for any step he has taken
at any time since the power company
first made his proposal. The opposi-
TONS representatives supported MN
in his statements.
The coal situation was given con-
siderable discussion and It waS point
ed you by GOAL dealers that 1t may
not he possible to obtain fuel ct any
price this winter, and even though q
sufficient supply is obtained, It will be
at a higher price than $3.50, which
was the estimate used in comparing
IL A4V aSSoS5s ~ EEE.#H.e1
Dean squires Favors Proposition.
Dean Vernon p. Equires, who said
he at one time opposed the PROPOSE,
ton, now came out strong in favor OF
the acceptance, and gave his reasons
for changing his mind. A few other
arguments were made and finally ths
vote wss called for. Kelsey, 4. J.
Smith. A. g. Lockman, Orr Sanders
w. s.. Whitman, John M. Gillette and
j. y. Turner voted yes, fayoring gtv'
ing the ordinance the first reading
Pyes, Veitch, Thomas Grtffiths, J. r
Smith. w. II. Bird, Andrew Peder-
son and Louis Kieven voted the mega.
tive, keeping the vote AT to z tie. A
vote of S was needed to carry he mo.
ton without the vote OF the mayor.
Lander Demands Explanation.
No sooner had the vote been taker
than b. j.. Lander leaped to his fee
} and demanded to know the reasons
why the seven aldermen voted no. IT.
said that he had heard that politics
was mixed up In the deal. and II sucf
was the case he did not believe 1t fail
Ito the taxpayers TO trifle with o bua,
mess proposition like this. Alderman
Whitman demanded another vote Il
Ibe taken, II such was possible. Othel
speakers and constituents demanded
an explanation from aldermen fol
their negative vote. Arguments cam,
thick and fast, and finally Alderman
la. F. Smith offered TO explain.