Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-12-08
LOCAL COMMENT.
lII;l11I1 Isl1iIcI llEl1laAAHMNE

In fact the ordinance is costing the city
at the present time almost $500 per
month and the revenues derived there
from do not equal one-half this sum-
The three Scale men are paid salaries OF
$40 per month, a special ofilcel sup
posed to Keep tab on the coal men to see
that they obey Its provisions is paid a
like salary, and the fuel and lights for
the scale houses are another item OF
expense The city has over $1,000 in
vested3i in scales, while the revenues. ac-
cording toEthe reports of the weighnas-
tiers. range from S12 10 $50 per month
One thing is certain some means must
be found whereby the ordinance Will
pay its own way or else it must be
wiped off the law books of the city.
The city council 1T Is feared, is max
ling a mistake In the methods being par
sued In the collection of facts and fig
lures relative to electric lighting rates
charged in other cities of the state. In
|stead Of various city officials gathering
|tHis evidence for use in the defense of
the suit brought by the MarshalltOwn.
Light, Power &; Railway Company. II
looks to a man up q tree as tho some
tiisintefested person should have been
Idalegated with this duty, fnr the rea s
T son that 1t is doubtful il a law court Will
accept of these figures on the ground
that biased official secured them. As
the city attorneys have Informed the
council that the light company will Win
liif q definite showing can not be made
to- the effect that the rates in the Har-
Iris ordinance are not lower than those
lcharged in other cities of similar size,
/ 1t is important that the figures be adj
United as evidence. If they won't stand
what's the use of tha people paying for.
Ijunketing trips by the city officials?
The T.-R. Is convinced that the pri-
lvate libraries of MarshalltoMsn citizens
lcontain many ancient rnusty, rusty.
thumb SCARED. rare old books. Since
1.-THE publication in these columns few
weeks ago of n story concerning an old
book there has been much evidence
Tangible, hearsy and all other kinds
that ere are other books. The first in-
lsnocent item seems to have caused all
persons who possessed a book the pedi-
gree of which was unfoigotten to dig to
1.-THE obscure recesses of their libraries,
land the r. -R. columns since that time
It'll the editors are now willing to con
cede that the first item was of no inn
lsportance and a mistake was made III
fore mentioned have any old books ii,
take their word for it and let it go al
THAT.
who attend public concerts and applaud
applaud until the wonder is they dc
mot knock the hide from their palms
fought to go down to Cuba and remain
awhile. There they would cultivate
inorc discriminating tastes, as the pat
ronss5of public entertainments pay for
1.-THE time they remain in attendance. In
other words. if a two-hour performance
lis prolonged to three hours, the pat
rons pay for the extra hour If such a
Iplsn We're adopted here some of those
ian otherwise long and excellent pro-
'ldience. would be as quiet as Indian cigar
signs.
The figures submitted by Councilman
Fisher in support of his contention that
Islectricity from an independent plant Ii
Ian eNtravagant power for the sewage
Iaisposal plant have attracted consider
able attention and caused more or ess
Icomment among business men and tan
payers. One gentleman we'll posted Gu
Lefty affairs said they We're the most con-
vincing yet conservative array of fig :
ures he ever saw presented on a public
lquestion before the people of Marshall
town The showing has convinced mary
that the practical members of the coun-
J.cil are right in their contention that the
Installation of an electric plant by the
lseity is q useless expenditure Of public
funds And now. seeing that other
members of the council are inclined to
the same view and that the scheme Is
liable TO be baked by refusal TO ratify
4 the contract withsthe ST. Louis electrical
lconcern. the mayor is reported 10 have
signed contract as mayor and to hold
/ That II Is binding on the council. alti1c
/ previously admitting that it Should
4 come before the whole council ard
promising to present q contract for an
i prevail. The objection registered by the
ST Louis company because OF an all
legged mistake of 800 in the figures is
/ looked upon as nothing more than /,
scheme to hasten the council to ratify
the contract on the basis of the first fig
l ures-and incidentally to give the may
or an opportunity to go on record as re-
luslng TO make q concession to the com,
pany. No big business concern that
does business on business principles is
going to bubble over 800 on a Sc, 900 d.
ana 1eopardize the closing of the con
tract. If the truth Were Known thai
electric company Is really anxious "a
have the contract closed up and to hayt
the whole council approve Members 81
the council have advised its representa-.
tives to secure such approval before ex-
pending a cent, and the city ATTORNEY
would advise them to the same effect
/ We're he asked to give an opinion. II is
hoped the matter Will be settled one way
4 or the other at the council meeting neyt
Monday night-but the fur may tiy be.
fore 1t is settled.
People who are not versed in watt
hours. ampheres. etc, in ascertaininr
the comparative cost of electricity and
25-horse power gasoline engines
should remember that such practical
men as Councilman Fisher. a tnechan-
ical engineer by trade and an inventor
of marked success, Kreutzer, Benson
N ts,H,,