The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-08-11
r. D. LANDER, Editor.
MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

an PUlNuTldl III tbo hbhAbb - "e'
week.
The argument Of the Mayors card
reduced to few words Is this:
That as soon as the citv gets In
"condition" to do so, a university
course" should be added to our
public schools; that because the
Light Company has expended some
money on their own property, the
taxpayers OF Columbia should be
charged with 1t; that because the
tax rate has been excessively high
heretofore, nobody should complain
II like extravaganza is kept up IN
the future; and that people who
live on the outskirts of the city and
whose tax contributions to the gen.
eral fund amount to the merest
trifle, are entitled to the same, fire
protection as those who live in the
heart of the city and virtually sup
port the city government.
With all due Difference to the wis
dom and business sagacity of the
Mayor, his argument, OF which We
think the above fair synopsis, ia
the veriest foolishness.
Common schools were never in
tended to givs university course, "
and it is fragrant abuse of the tax
ing power to attempt it. 1t is rank
paternalism run mad. The Light
Company is entitled to no increased
rate for doing what they should
have been compelled to do years ago
it is their business, not the duty of
the tax payers of Columbia, t. keep
up the repairs on the Light C9mpa-
ny's own plant; and any advance
over the already eXorbitant rate,
was unwarranted, and we believe
unnecessary. And the vote catching
idea to give verybody fire plug
and electric lamp, is indefensible
from any economic, business stand.
point. The law itself provides
against this very thing, when it rec.
ognizes the right of the citizens OF
any ward to demand that the money
accruing from the taxes on property
in that ward, shall be expended i,
that lrdrd.
THE HERALD has favored ano
does favor a system of street sprink
ling; not where it might catch the
most votes, but where it might Civ,
the most comfort to the creates
number. The route the HERALI
proposed to have sprinkled, pays tn,
bulk of the taxes of the town. They
have u right. in law and morals, t,
have the benefit of their own money
1t is not fair to take their money anC
spend it on East End property 70
the personal good of few. II Eas
End wants lights and fire plugs, lie
them pay for it; that is the way tn
sup town streets, as the Mayo
chooses to term them, are compelled
to do, II these up town" street
were sprinkled, the public at larg
would be benefited. Who is bene
fitted by the money expended o.
East End, save the scattering fey
who live over there?
The up town streets, wher
nearly all the public revenue come
from, where crowds of people, o
foot and in vehicles are coming an
going all day and half the nigh
ought to be we'll lighted and we
paved and we'll sprinkled; becaus,
first, the general public would b
benefited thereby; and becaus,
second, the taxes these merchant
and property owners pay, EMIT!
them to all these comforts. II tn
East End people want or expeC
like luxuries, they should move "uI
town" and pay for them.
The town was getting on very we
with 10 lights; this Board increase
them to 50; the former price was sS(
the present price is $SS; the formt
contract was for one year; the pre-,
ent contract is for five. The contraC
has always been for good stead
light. The Light Company hS
never complied with their contrsc
Has this Board taken any addition,
security that they ever will?
What was the inducement to il
crease the number of lights an
price per light? What is the exit
s. for? Has the price of electricit
gone up; or is the wholesale price
lights greater than the retail pric,
o. do they charge more per year p,
light for five year contracts tina
they do for one year contracts? 1t
their business to build their plal
aud keep 1t In repair, not ours. VIII
/. the extra IS per light for That
thu question.
OF. friends have been very kin
this wee K In writing, telephone
aud =. .aing In local news in T,
s,,,,,-.. -. - ANIMAL Tor halr anrfu