The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-01-26
AGAIN THE LIGHT.

that paper caYorts calls for sympathy
and commiseration. The spleen eX-
hibited against the fourth ward al
derman is well understood, as indeed
it is against Aldermen Pitcher, Widell
and Bashaw. These four men were
elected to legislate in the interest of
the city, and not to obey the behests
of the accidental mayor in his splen
attic efforts to Cesarize public affairs.
| The power behind the throne is clear
| ly the ReUaeaC editor. When he pulls
the string the mayor responds with
bound that would do credit to mod.
ern jumping jack, and between the
antipathy entertained by Mr.. Wea
yer toward Mr.. Patterson, and the
grudge of old standing entertained by
the ReUieaO toward Mr.. Hubbard, no
no opportunity is missed to jump onto
everything that will show their con-
tempt for these gentlemen or for those
who may desire to see even-handed
Justice dealt out. 1t is unfortunate
that men in public affairs cannot rise
above personal, petty jealousies and
reach that higher plane Of transact
Ing public affairs in a business like
way. The FREE Press believes that
the four aldermen named are quite as
honest as the two remaining ones; and
yet the ReUieaU has no words uf censure
to pass upon Aldermen Fowler and
Peterson. They are probably not de-
deserving Of its castigation; but so
far as the public is concerned the four
who have won the contempt Of the
mayor and his faJher-in-law are just
as honest, just as capable, just as con-
scientious and just as faithful to pub
lie interests, as the two who have the
favor of the contentious contenders.
Alderman Higgs is quite able to
maintain himself and his position,
and the FREE PRESS does not presume
to stand sponsor for him. 1t does.
however, believe that his letter was a
Straightforward, manly expression of
a public servant who conscentiously
desires to do his whole duty, and the
figures he gave regarding the city f.
nances and those published in the
FREE PRESS are susceptible of proof,
despite the efforts of the RevieaD to
discount them. The Juggling of fig
ures and clumsy compilation INDUCED
by our neighbOr, are wholly mislead-
ing; but even with these the statisti-
clan of the ReUieaD acknowledges that
the city government must run on
credit next year.
No sane man with a grain of infor-
nation will contend for a moment
that Mankato can put in complete
electric light plant for S20,OO0-and
anything less than thoroughly
equipped plant, of sufficient size to
supply private as well as public con-
sumption would be a farce and a
waste of public funds, But whether
the plant costs twenty or one hundred
and twenty thousand dollars does not
affect the solution of the question. If
this city cannot get private parties to
contract for lighting at price which
may be considered reasonable and ad-
vantageous, lblic sentiment will de-
mand city ownership.
How is this fact to be determined?
1t can be done in no other way than
to follow the policy laid out by the
council-get the lowest propositions
possible from private parties, look
carefully into the cost, maintenance
and operation Of city plant and &C
cept the solution brought out between
the two.
There seems to be burning desire
on the part Of some to ''dOwn the
Electric Light Co.. without stopping
to consider the force and effect of
their action. There are not three men
in Mankato who have done more to
build up this city than Messrs. Hub
bard, Meagher and Patterson. Nor a
like number of citizens who stand
higher in the commercial world. They
are among our heaviest tax payers and
best business men, and are entitled to
reasonable consideration. We do not
understand that they ask more and
certainly cannot be accorded less.
They are not suppliants begging for
aims. They have not heretofore bad
the reputation of being highwaymen
crouchiDg in dark places to fitch the
pockets of some struggling victim
who chances to pass their way. The
FRFE PRESS does not understand that
they are against the city owning it's
own plant if it so elects. They simply
ask for just consideration of their
claims. A plain business proposition
and nothing mere or less.
THE SUGAR DUTY.
In voting to put sugar on the free
list and cutting off the bounty direct
lV the DomOcra hava ctrnoI> on