New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-22
DENVER'S MAYOR CHOSEN.
ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE
OF AMERICAN MUNICIPALITIES.
THE DISCUSSION OF CITY OWNERSHIP OF
FRANCHISES AGAIN OCCUPIED THE
AT SYRACUSE.


RY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE
Syracuse Sept. 21.-The League OF American
Municipalities to-day elected Henry V. John
son. Mayor Of Denver. and pronounced advo-
cate Of the municipal ownership Of waterworks.
telephones. electric light works gas works and
street railway systems as its president for the
coming year. This was significant since good
many representatives, OF corporations have beer
in Syracuse. some Of them as members Of the
convention. who have been making earnestly
expressed arguments in favor Of cities abstain
Ing from engaging in such enterprises as the
manufacture Of gas or electricity. or the run
ming Of telephone exchanges or street railway
lines. So determined have been the representa-
tves of corporations TO bring forward their
Views on these matters. that 1t is natural to IN
fer that the owners Of present city franchises
are apprehensive that the cities may enter into
competition with the companies and thus deprc-
cate the value Of the latters franchises.
TO EXAMINE COST OF PLANTS.
AS one means Of warding or this attack, IT
can reasonably be inferred. j p. Cahoon Of
Emra, the vce-presldent Of the National Flee
trio Light Association this morning read the
following letter to the association. containing
a proposition to have an expert examine into
the cost Of constructing and operating municipal
electric lighting plants The letter was as fol-
lows
League OF American Municipalities.
Gentlemen: The National Electric Light Associa-
tion approaching the great Importance TO the tax,
ownership OF quasipublic corporations. and under
standing that your honorable BODY Assembled IN
convention at Syracuse do propose TO discuss thor
ough.y this very pertinent question both for and
against. and believing II to be Of mutual benefit to
arrive the facts. does. through its officers and
Vested Win NH aIthoritv HEREBY ofer to bear one
OF s.
municipal electric lighting plants above sum will
permit
The properties to be examined shall be selected by
the eague and said expert shall be selected and ap-
pointed by the president OF the National Lighting
Assoca'Gn and nppgoyed by me pfes'sb bs 81 '
the form OF report sworn TO before notary
public
II this proposition meets with your approval the
representative OF this association. by whom this Is
presented is authorized TO attend 70 all preliminary
details Respectfully. :. T CARNES. President.
New-York Sept. p.
f. G.. Pierce. Mayor Of Marshalltown Iowa at
once suggested that private plants should he
included for purposes Of comparison. and with
this change agreed to by Mr.. Cahoon, the in
vitaton was accepted. Mayor Pierce later
moved that the National Electric Lighting AS
ISOLATION be requested to formulate a system
Of bookkeeping by which cities shall he enabled
TO understand what the profits of these private
corporations are. This request Will also be
granted The league and the electric light
company mentioned will therefore expend the
following year. 5000 70 ascertain the cost Of
constructing and operating both city and pri-
vate electric lighting plants.
MAYOR MACVICAR'S ADDRESS.
The chief address Of the day also was upon
this subject Of Municipal Ownership Of Public
Service Industries"
This address was delivered by John MacVicar.
Mayor Of Des Moines. who later nominated
Mayor Johnson Of Denver. for president Of the
league on the express ground that he is an adj
vanced advocate OF municipal ownership Mr..
MacVicar said. in part:
We are all aware what the subject Of municipal
ownership involves. The question is: Shall the re-
sponsihility 81 furnishing 70 a community these
public necessities such water. street lighting
gas electricity and possible street and railway
service be assumed by the municipality. and
Quoted with O view 20 eliminating the element Of
profit % the end that these services. so necessary
t. the life. health and comfort Of the public. shall
be furnished at the lowest possible price. or shall
this privilege he left TO the individual corpora
ton 70 use as means OF acquiring princely fort