New-York tribune., 1899-09-23
CONVENTION ADJOURNS.
SESSIONS OF THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN
MUNICIPALITIES FINISHED.
THE INVESTIGATION OF MUNICIPAL AND
PRIVATE LIGHTING PLANTs-CHARLES-
TON THE NEXT MEETING PLACE
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Svracure. ~ Y Sept. 22-The leaders Of the
League Of American Municipalities made an i'm
pCrtant modification to-day Of the proposal Of the
National Electric Light Association to pay half
the expense of investigating the cost Of operat-
ing municipal lighting plants in contrast with
those now operated by private citizens. The
electric light association had proposed 10 name
an expert acceptable TO the league. The league
amends this proposal by suggesting that il name
one expert and the electric light association an
other This change in the agents 70 make the
investigation the league thinks. will better as
sure the public that the investigation has been
an unbiased one.
The Committee on Resolutions introduced the
following resolution on the subject which was
adopted without any opposition from those rep
resenting the electric light companies:
Resolved That the offer of the National Electric
Light Association to pay one half Of the expense,
b not i0 TO- be be apPond by the said
citation, be accepted on the following conditions:
one investigator and the president Of the National
Electric Light Association another; these TWO, with
report on all points OF agreement ana OF Disagree
Sccond-That the investigation extend to the
charges for commercial and street lighting. the cost
companies whose conditions as similar as may
be TO those OF the public plants examined The
presidents Of the two associations In conference
with their expert investigators to select the plants
TO be examined. both public and private In case
OF disagreement this point half Of the public
and half OF the private plants to be selected by
each president.
Third-That in view Of the regular dues Of the
league being inadequate for even ordinary running
expenses the money for this investigation shall be
secured by our treasurer from special dona tions
and the acceptance OF the offer under consideration
shall be conditional on the raising Of this money
for which end hereby request all those interest
ed 10 contribute literally.
The league treasury is not we'll filed: there
fore only by a popular subscription can its
$500 part of the 5000 fund necessary for an
investigation OF the cost Of lighting be obtained.
PAPER BY PROFESSOR BEMIS.
Professor e w Bemls read the opening paper
at to-days meeting OF the league his subject
being The Municipal Ownership Of Public Ser
vice Industries" 1t In favor of cities ac
quirng public utilities. He said that in Eng
land there healthy rivalry between cities
operating public utilities and those cities which
left TO private persons the management of such
utilities. Comparison could thus be made be-
tween the two systems. He favored such rival
ry in this country; ii would be OF benefit to the
country. He defended the acts OF the Detroit
Gas and Electric Commissions, maintaining that
1t economically conducting It's affairs with
the exception Of possibly employing too many
men I'm handling its coal The opponents OF
municipal control contended that the cities in
making up their accounts did not charge off
anything for the depreciation Of their plants.
but he would call attention to the circumstance