The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-10
Central Power Corporation
Also Rather Disdainful
of City Council
WANTS ELIMINATION
OF STIPULATION
Hints That Public s ! ice
Commission Might SAINT
What City Re es

! Crossed wires among the agents of the
Central Power Co., Inc, at this end of
the line injected a discordant note in the
proceedings OF the board of aldermen at
its regular meeting last night. Another
chapter in the petition of the company
for the right to extend its power lines
from East Middlebury to Barre was
written when Major f. b. Thomas, an
attorney, appeared before the board and
! surprised its members by opening his
rhetorical fire on the very points 50 con-
tentiously sought by G.. H. Thompson,
another representative of the power con-
cern, in his conference with the council
| few weeks ago. Atty. Thomas eased into
the council chamber unexpectedly and
| found the minute men with their guns
stacked. In the hours skirmish that fol-
lowed however, the aldermen found
plenty of opportunities for returning the
fire and just now it cannot be said that
the company's cause gained whole lot
by the majors visit.
Deferrinc to the wishes of General
Manager Thompson, who addressed him
ctiI W NHt oihtI iLtil III a
read after the departure of Mr.. Thomas,
the matter of granting or rejecting the
petition is held in allegiance for another
fortnight. incidentally, the most recent
developments, if they may be described
as such, serve only to bring out in bolder
relief the iockeying and horse play that
had characterized the action of the power
company's representatives ever since the
petition was presented late last fall. At
the outset there were certain points in
contention, although in preserving some
of the outstanding features of the ten
tative franchise as it Is now framed, the
council bowed to the wishes of the com
pany and was obedient TO suggestions
made by its representatives entirely
without solicitation.
A week ago when it looked as though
the franchise negotiations were stalemat-
ed the council ordered new draft in
which practically every concession re-
quested by the company was granted.
Heretofore the council had stood out for
an adjustment on middle ground. Now
comes Major Thomas, declaring himself
to be one of those in authority in the
new company, and proceeds to riddle in
the order of their coming the very funda
mentals inserted by the company's repre-
sentatives themselves. Moreover, in his
last stand, he says that the company in
reality does not care whether the council
grants the franchise, as the public serv-
ice commission. in all probability, will
see to it that the company gets what it
wants if consent is not obtained from
the city.
Categorically, the attorney objected to
The clause providing for forfeiture If
The line is not completed by 1920, object
ID to the clause which inhibits the com
oany from charging a customer for
meter installation, objected to the fea-
.ure which would compel the company
o indemnify consumer from loss oc-
asioned by service interruptions, and OBJ
ected to the clause which fixes 40 years
IS the life of the franchise. Any and all
Il these features, Mr.. Thomas conhded,
we're perfectly proper and would be tax
N at their face value by the company
+ they were left out of the franchise. In
he same confiding manner, Mr.. Thomas
tated that the power plants were being
eveloped on borrowed money and that
he bankers and financiers interested in
he project would not stand for such re-
trictions in any contract The company
,ould be "in bad" as the attorney ex-
ressed it.
As for the board of aldermen, why
hould the company worry? was the way
e seemed to mean to express il. There
as the public service commission, te
hich it could appeal at its pleasure. In
is opinion the commission would not
low the city to penalize the company
lould it fail to fulfill its unsought prom
e to be on the grounds and doing busi-
nss in 1920. The commission, he an
eipated, would not uphold the fixed rate
4 power which the company voluntarily
Tered to insert in the franchise. II, the
,mmission. would not cucumber. lumber
D. Mr.. Thomas called il, any franchise
ith the conditions imposed in the ten
tive draft submitted by the council TO
r. Thompson. Because-well, for the
ason that the public service commits
On has the power.
Alderman Hcaly broke in at this in
resting iuncture. He reminded Atty.
iomas that the company's representa-
res appeared at city hall. were asked
rat they wanted, got what they wanted
a more. He said il was folly to fool
7ay any more time in treating with
P company until II finds out what IL
tuslly wants in the way Of franchise.
the alderman opined that
was greatly mistaken in his estimate
the inaneiers il they expected to deal
IN company that could not settle on
definite policy.
Here Mr.. Thomas said he had every
son to believe that the public service
nmission would permit his company 10
.er Barre and sell electricity at a rea
liable rate. we don't care il you turn
petition down" he went on. "as we
! resort to the public service commits
n at any time Clerk Mackay there
m reminded the attorney that one cor
alton in Barre is required by law %
the CITY a certain percentage Of its
50 earnings and that the willingness
the council in permitting the Central
ger Co. Inc. % extend its lines in
ne for nothing did not indicate q pur-
. 10 deal harshly with the newcomers.
/, clerk also said that the same com
sion Whieh i ready 10 consider an ap-