Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-07
LETT THE CITY COUNCIL DECIDE.

Il
If our CITY Council should be impru-
dent enough TO consent 10 submit to the
neonle the question Of leasing or sell
ing our gas-works. the advocates OF the
nroposition would start ont with the
solid body Of colored voters in their
favor. Then it would only be necessary
for them to secure q moderate percentage
of the whites. and the proposition would
be carried.
Furthermore. the voting strength
brought out and combined i'm favor Of
lease or sale might be sufficient to carry
the election of members Of the City Coun-
ell COR many Of them, Mayor Common
wealth s-Attorney. etc.
In short. the question could not be
submitted without double danger to the
city. The Council would, therefore bet
fer decline TO entertain the pending
propositions, and pass resolution de-
claring in favor Of municipal ownership
as Richmond's fixed policy.
And. as we have said before. the ten
dencv of the day in Europe and Ameri-
ca is in favor Of municipal ownership
Of gas-works and observation-disclosures
too. AT this very time the great city
of Vienna is preparing TO establish It's
own gas-plant, and the city OF Milwau-
kee. Wis. will spend $4,000 TO estab-
lish a plant for manufacturing its own
electric-lieht. Municipal ownership IS
considered TO be the best policy. Doubt
less public opinion has been influenced
in this direction by the interference OF
the gas-works bosses in the politics oil
some of our great cities. In Brooklyn
after hot fight, these bosses have just
succeeded In electing one of their men
as president of the Board of Aldermen.
In New York city there is a great con-
test going on between the people and
the gas companies, and the indications
are that the new charter will either
provide for municipal ownership of gas
works and electrc-light-plants or Will
furnish some other remedy for the evils
now complained Of.
In Richmond, we are fortunately
sitrated at present. The city owns and
onerates its own gas-works. and with
good profits Gas is sold at 81 per thou
sand cubic feet. But our electric street
lights are furnished US by contractors.
Whenever we find that We cannot get
e;ectrjc-lights furnished us at reason
able prices. we can fan back upon the
use OF street-lamps. But we have more
than once had competitive bids for cleo
tric street-lighting. and will probably
have them again. So we have been able
TO get those lights upon satisfactory
terms. Moreover, the electric-hght COM
NAMES here know that, if they should
demand Of US prices that We would not
no willing TO pay. the City Council would
order an electric-light plant TO be es-
tablished. Thus, we are in position
10 hold the electric companies in check,
but suppose we were 10 part with our
sas-works. and suppose the lessees or
new owners Of the gas-works should
choose TO combine with the electric
companies TO exact such a price as they
might consider profitable TO them? Then,
where would we be?
But we shall be very much surprised
IL our City Council is so short-sighted
as to put our city in any such position.
The safe way for the Council TO act
would be 10 reject all propositions look
ing TO the city's parting with the gas
works. No vote Of the people is neces-
sary. The city Council IS competent TO
pass upon this question finally. and ought
not TO hesitate to DO so.