The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-01
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
WHY the CITY should own its own
Plant.
tFor The rlmes.l

]
former Il the least unpopular. for one some
times hears Of people wishing 10 die, but no
one ever yet heard Of anybody wishing 10
! pay taxes; and besides. when one nas made
one payment to death that il the end Of IL,
while the payment OF taxes recurs with
each revolving year.
Now those who succeed in diminishing
the lesser evil are called beneIact0rs, but
how much greater beneiactors must they be
Who lessen the greater evil, taxes The
reputation If 'henefactOr" il little 10 be
coveted by the most exalted. but fortunately
we have not 90 20 far 10 find those who are
in a fair way Of acquiring this enyiabe rep
utatiOn. Not that we are on the eve q the
adjustment OF all taxes, for no man nor
set Of men can DC expected TO abolish or
even % reduce all taxes, which, from Fede-
raj 10 township axes, are OF almost as
many kinds as there are fingers on the
hands that earn the taxes; but it will be
fame enough 10 diminish only one kind OF
taxes. and these. however, will be totally
abolished il what is proposed be carried out
20 It's logical conclusion.
TO come down 10 business. our city IA.
theirs. through its Committee on Llsht, re-
commend that the city 20 into the business
OF selling electric light for profit. The
suggestion is most admirable one. for not
only will the need for taxes be reduced by
the amount of the profits gained, but it -
e.hadOWing Of what may be done IN
many other WAYS towards making money,
thereby reducing thu necessity for taxes.
ana finally. by carrying out the sug-
ge-ti0n fully. for obviating the necessity OF
miuicrpai taxes altogether.
This action IL highly credtable to the
wisdom Of the committee. but it is hoped
and believed that the city will not stop at
electric light but will proceed % engrOss
other branches Of business quite as impOr-
taut and quite as profitable.
The city is already largely engaged in the
water and gas business. which IT finds cX-
tremely profitable, but rs there Is no special
divinity hedging around these two articles,
there IT, no reason why il should not assume
control Of other branches Of business, which,
even if not already profitable, can be made
sd hy the exercise of lis legitimate prerOga-
tive Il i0rbiddmg competition.
Although the city fathers have not hither-
tO hcsitated in investing any large sums IN
water and gas plants, IL is thought tuat for
the present 40 least. as their treasury j.
petty dry IL will bc prudent 10 cOniine the
new money-making project 10 those kinds OF
business which require little capital hut
much brains in which respects our city
fathers in tine new departure will feel per
foctly at home.
IIIE CITY A Wholesale AGENT.
The business promising the most profit Is
the agency business IN all It's many
branches. That the business is not only
profitable bat extremely SO is proved 10y
th. vas. increase IN the number Of agents
within the past few years. The agents,
however. must not be naughty IL their call
ing is the first selected. because il is design
ed tO take all Kind OF business In hand I'M
go In "a
ali necessity for taxes.
Thus the Council sLoul pass an ordi-
nance forblddiug any one acting as agent
lust as 10 does in the matter Of $ ana wa
Ter. and as 10 should d0 in the matter OF cleo
ctri' light. and should set up an Agency
Bureau for IL self. The head Of the bureau
should he elected hy the pcO le Just as The
City Collector l., and Dee should appoint his
leputics-one for life and one for lire iusur
lucp one for building aud loan companies,
Two for real estate, and one for miscel a.
ne0l- and uucnumeiaied. These deputies
should Dee supplied with an ann" corps ot
clerks. and al should be handsomely paid.
the cost. OF course. would bee something.
lut 20 would De tribe compared with the
profits f'eLt largein ihe aggregate made al
lr. SENT rV a.l the various agents, ana me
uot. lr0. .d, covered into the treasury would
.o far towards reducing The present rate
0l >I4on every thousand Of assess ,d va us-
ton.
a GROCERY Bt REAU.
A-fac city grows in wealth and business
experience it could extend its operations
ud absorb oilog calling,-,aY. iQrcNample.
groceries, which are fairly profitable even
Iul.r present keen competition. but which
would DE extremely profitable with compe.
ili0u prohibited.
GTNEEAL BUICHEKY AND BAKERY.
ThU-Af,es- people will object 90 the city
engaging iu business f.g iAe purpose oi
making money io order % reduce and, final
Iy.t0ab1..,l municipal taxes. ON the plea
hat This irterieres with private rights and
Interests. and that besides the city always
conducts business iu Wasteiul AID I'M
efficient manner. But in view Of the taos
this is uD argument 40 ALL Isn't the cry
already in i1e wafer business, and by Tor
bidding add others tO engage therein, doe,
4 interfere any more with private rights
auI interests than by engaging in
.n.rrprory. dry-glod-. or any other business.
,nd making AN others keep out. Aud
isn't the city already in the gas business
ml hf Keeping you aud me ont does 10 in-
aff.r- any more with our rights and inter
-si- than il would interfere with butchers
and bakers ID in WAS To- become general
butcher and general baker and SAY To all
others knives 1h and feet OUT No The cay
hl, iu.ta much right 20 absorb yonror my
business and forbid competition AS 1t has 10
ougr0-, the watering and lighting of the
$4,000 people within It's gates, and 10 object
to one and not to the other is childish.
ava sure ,ha. all those who approve Of the
CITY m1nopoliliug water and gas and next
electric liehts viii NOT rebel. viii not even
r.piuc at the city taking possession o. their
business ald dNctng the profits towards
reducing and especially towards abolishing
iha greatest c.il, taxes, that now Expresses
lis. All honor then 10 the committee on
Lights for ITS wise recommendation that
the city engage in the electric light busl-