City Hall Battle Over City Wires
A fiery public confrontation between the Mayor and the City Council leads to the death of an ordinance designed to move unsightly and dangerous power poles underground.
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The passage of time spoiled a lurid newspaper sensation last Monday night. Men have fought duels with less provocation than the words that were hurled back and forth between the mayor and the president of the city council at its last session. The 'pole ordinance' was up for reconsideration, following a motion by Councilman Hedges. The mayor refused to postpone the vote, declaring the ordinance 'erratic, unreasonable and without purpose.' Dr. Hedges retorted, labeling the mayor a 'corporation man' and accusing him of thwarting the council's work for years. The ordinance was subsequently killed. The legislation had originated with union electrical workers who sought to remove wires from streets being paved. Critics argue the mayor's opposition favors utility interests, while the mayor claims the cost to the city and homeowners would be prohibitive. The result leaves the city's utility pole situation status quo.
“I want to tell you that I shall do with this bill as I intend to do with all bills that are erratic, unreasonable and without purpose. I shall veto it.”
Everett’s early 20th-century debates over public utility infrastructure and the influence of corporations on city hall remain a central tension in local politics today. The struggle to balance private franchise rights against public safety and aesthetic goals is a perennial civic challenge.
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