The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-07-05
CONSIDERABLY REVIEWED.
A Few Pertinent Thoughts Anent the
Bond Question.
EDITOR FREE PRESS:

EDIlOh Rec HRESS.
The Revie,o in it's issues of Friday
and Saturday would have the public
believe that it desires to be fair anG
honest in it's support of the bonds fol
lefty lights, and requests in its Satur
day issue all parties tosfreely use it;
columns in the discussion of the
same, provided they sign their names
to the article.
1t also in both issues aforesaid at.
tempts to throw discredit on the fail
and conservative article signed by
w. in the FREE PRESS of Thursday
evening, for the sole reason that the
writer did not see fit to sign his name
to the same.
The editor of the Reuieov knows well
that the writer of an article for pub
LEGATION, seldom if ever signs his name
te the same, not because he fears to
do so, but because he does not like
public notoriety; and I,have no doubt
if the same article had been given to
his paper, he would have willingly
published, it, without raising any
such fiimsey objection, but it appear
ing in the FREE PRESS was enough to
condemn it to everlasting perdition.
1t grieves me much to think that a
man endowed with so many good
qualities, should thus allow the bitter
animosity he holds against the editor
of the FREE PRESS to thus blind and
blur his better Judgment. Neither
personal enemity nor personal friend
ship should ever be allowed to enter
into any matter in which the whole
people are interested.
1t is claimed that there were I'M
warranted insinuations in said article.
l fail to see any grounds for such a
claim. Simple facts were given, every
one of which has been admitted to be
true, by the ReUieov. 1t is admitted
that the proposition to vote $4,000
bonds for lighting purposes, is decep-
tive and misleading to the voters, by
giving them to understand that a
plant can be put in for that sum,
when the editor frankly admits, after
the exposure made in said article, that
it cannot be done for any such sum.
1t is this attempt to deceive the
voters that l am opposed to, and
which should never be done.
The city council should have said
to the voters, you have elected us
on the issue of the city owning its
own lighting plant-the city charter
limits US to $4,000 plant-we can
not put in such plant as the city
needs for any such sum. We can sub
nit the proposition for $4,000 bonds
at this time, and then by clause in
said charter, we can submit another
proposition for such further sum in
bonds as we shall need to complete
such plant" That would have been
a straight, honest statement Of the
fact, just as they exist at this time,
and the voters could have then voted
intelligently upon the question.
/ claim that it will be much better
for the taxpayers, if we are to have
such plant, that bonds be issued for
the whole amount, on long time, at
low rate of interest, than to further
Cypress this taX-burdened people by
an additional levy for such purpose.
We have no general fund from
which to take such deficiency. 1t is
always expended long before it reaches
the city treasury, and we are paying
a high rate of interest to the banks,
or to individuals, as l am informed,
from beginning to the end of each
fiscal year.
Therefore / ask the taxpayers to
carefully consider this matter. Find
out first what they want, and then
know certain that they will get it, be-
fore voting further confscations of
their property.
A few words in relation to the arti-
Gle taken from the Independent of st.
Peter, and I will not intrude further.
That paper admits that their lights
cost the city $45 each per year, which
probably does not include interest on
nor wear and tear and
breakage on plant, nor does it state
the amount received from citizens for
light sold which must amount to at
least $3.50 per month, or $1,000 per
year.
Now estimating the number OF
lights to be 100 and adding the
amount received for light sold, the
total cost per year would be 81, 2O0-or
BIZ per light, which sum is for light
ing only until II o'clock sharp each
night. Add to such sum the addition
al expense of running all night,
which will be at least 30 per cent
more and we have the cost of each
light per year 500. go if no light is sold
TO citizens. with interest on cost and
wear and tear and breakage to. be adj
led. w.