Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-21
COMPANY
PROPOSAL Gets
BY OPPOSITION

When the ordinance governing the
procedure Of drawing up contracts for
the purchasing Of energy from the
Red River Power company for the
operation OF the municipality pump.
ing and lighting plant was brought up
for the second and final reading at the
adjourned session Of the city council
last night, only three votes were cast
In opposition, 10 in the Affirmative
and one absentee reported, resulting in
Its passage. 8.@
The contracts which have already
been drawn up Will Observation-Disclosures
to asconnmitteet fortperfecting and will
than be turned over to the board of
directors of the Northern States Pow
ter company fer consid ,ration. After
being viewed by the power officials,
they will be signed by the mayo and
returned to the,council for approval.
called promptly at, 8 o'clock last night
with only Alderman j. D. Turner alb
sent. Two petitions handed to City
Auditor w. H. Alxander q. few minutes
before the meeting was called, were
read. One hundred and sixty.six
names had been affixed TO the. prayer
that the council reject the power com
pany proposal and submit the propo-
sit1on to<a vote Of the people a
Alderman Sanders was given sthe
floor and asked If there happened to
be any man present who had signed
the petition. At the time there were
81 visitors. MI. Cosgriff replied that
he a signed and was then asked if
he was familiar with the proposition.
Mr.. Cosgrif stated that he had been
told by the distributor Of the petition
that he men who were in favor of en-
gaging the power company to furnish
power for the plant, were all stock
holders in that concern. This was the
only reason he said that he could give
and claimed that he was not familiar
with the contracts or the terms there
in. n
Alderman Sanders then asked Mr..
Cosgriff if he had been informed by
persons opposed to the proposal. who
We're influenced by parties whoshave
had and who desire to obtain coal con-
tracts from the city. Mr.. Cosgriff said
that he did not know but did not
II anyone opposed to letting the con-
tract had proposed that in case-of
the rejection Of the proposal, obliging
the city to purchase 1000 tons of
coal at a price more than double the
price paid over a veal ago. from some
coal corporation, be submitted to a
vote of the people. Again Mr.. Cos
grfff answered in the negative.
No Stockholders.
1t was quickly proved that there
are no stockholders of the Red River
Power company residing In Grand
Forks, unless they be members of the
firm and directly connected with the
plant hare. Mayor Dinnie then called
upon others TO speak but the invita-.
ton received no response. The peti.
tions were the ordered placed on file
and the council launched into goutfne
business matters.
When the order OF business brough,
up the ordinance, 1t waS read by Cit5
Auditor Alexander. The council Their
requested the reading of the contracts
and City Attorney Bangs was giver
this task. Alderman Sanders Their
presented the motion for the second
reading and final passage of the aordi.
nance and Whitman offered the sec.
jond. When Mayor pinnie asked foi
remarks, Attorney #. 3. Feetham tool
the floor. He commended the con.
tract n declared that he could find
no flaw in 1T. He saidshe would offe,
only onet recommendation, and that
Ito bind the power company for II
years with an agreement which nigh
be nullifed atthe end OF any year; bu'
would continue unless action to the.
lend Val taken by the council;tfnsteas
LOT the present clause. which necessi
tates action at the end of zach yea
pm the part Of the city to keep the. con
tract alive Attorney Feetham ais,
that the contract be accepted
if Tor no other reason than to aid ii
the conservation OF coal.
Details relative to the agreef1en
land future plans of operating til,
plant, threshed out Repeatedly q
former sessions OF the council. werl
again brought up by various aldermen
2 visiting tax layers ana were agall
dlseussed at length. The vote wa
then called for Alderman
FNeg the FIRST negative vote bu
WIS lafer supported by Thomas Gr5f
3tng and j.. Es Smith Alddrfna Il XII
seys 2 Smith, Andrew yeitch, d
tLocknan or Sanders. W Whit