The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1920-08-20

On the eve of that election the COM
mittee reported that it had tried in
several different ways to secure cur
rent from Cincinnati and Dayton, but
had been informed that the companies
in both cities had no current to sell
Hamilton The committees report
made it plain that there was an under
standing between the outsiders to put
the squeeze to Hamilton, compel it to
abandon its plant or sell it to the out
side concerns, and then have the Ham
ilton citizens at their mercy when it
came to fixing the price for electric
current. The committee approved the
action of Mayor Smith and urged the
people to get out and vote the bonds
Organized labor, through Trades
Council, was called upon to rally to
the support of the bonds and throttle
the scheme of the corporations. Or
ganized labor got out and did every
thing in its power and the bonds were
voted through.
The schemers seeing that their nice
set of plans were about to be upset,
came along last week with a PROPOSE
tion to furnish the city with current
at rate less than the city can make
it for, and the funny part Of it is that
the contract got in before the bid.
Some one besides the company must
be very much interested. And that
some one, two or three, are on the
home grounds. Anyway, the bid like
a bad vaccination, didn't seem to take
for 10 and behold, along comes another
bid, this time from a different titled
to furnish current at still
lower rate.
The first bid is from the Union Gas
and Electric Company Of Cincinnati,
and the second bid is from the Ohio
Gas and Electric Company, said to be
none other than the Hamilton Utilities
The Hamilton Utilities
Company has been taken over by the
Hamilton Service Company, and the
attorney for the Utilities Company
says he believes the Union Gas and
Electric Company men are interested
in the Hamilton Service or Ohio Gas
and Electric Company It Is long
way around, but the big companies
have the money to meet the expense
and they usually Get what they start
after.
These matters We're all brought to
the attention Of the delegates Of
Trades Council at a special meeting
held Tuesday evening, and much In
dignation was aroused that the city
would consider any of the
outside propositions when it is plain
to be seen that it is only being done
to get control Of the city's utilities
after which Hamilton people will be
made to pay The delegates We're
also surprised to know that the
bonds. voted by the people, had not
yet been sold, and wondered why
start has not yet been made on the
new plant, especially after being told
nearly a year ago that quick action in
the matter was imperative
After much discussion the delegates
the following statement be
issued:
The Cooperative Trades and La
Dor Council of Hamilton is opposed to
a contract with he Union Gas and
Electric Company, Of Cincinnati, for
electric current for Hamilton Some
time early last spring, Trades and
Labor Council received a letter from
one Of our city officials asking us to
support a S650,000 bond issue for the
of erecting municipal cleo
trio light plant At that time our
did support this bond issue
and Trades Council went on record as
the same The mayor ap-
pointed a committee to investigate the
electric current situation, which COM
mittee, we are told, reported favor
ably upon the building and the main
of a municipal electric light
plant. But now we learn that some
Of our city officials are in favor of
our city plant and con
tracing with the Union Gas and
Electric Company for current. We
want it known at this time that our
are still in favor Of muni-
cipal plant and are opposed to a con
tract with the Union Gas and Electric
Company or any other outside con
Germ"
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