The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-10-24

mains. Last year even with the reduction
mentioned above, the works were not only
self-sustalnng but in addition to giving us
free water for fire protection, Mater for
flushing sewers and for contractors on
street work, and also for flooding skating
Kinks In the winter time, we had surplus
of $5.3100s nearly per cent on the en-
tire Investment. You can readily see that
We now have pumping capacity Of A.,
100000 gallons per day.
We do not own our lighting plant; we
rent light from the Fargo, Edison Com
pany at $59.ss per year for 1000 c.fp.
arc lights, all night and every a ght SER
vice. Prior to my election as mayor in
1896 the council had made a contract for
ten years. The Supreme Court declared
that contract void, the council having ex-
ceeded its power in making iG Our
charter prohibits the making of any con-
tract for more than one year, It also pro-
hibits us from granting amy franchise for
any public utility for a longer period than
twenty years. These precautions are ex-
ceptIonal for a new western state. 1t pre-
vents the mayor and council from giving
away valuable franchises, for an tndehnate
time Many cities who have done so have
had cause to regret the same when too
late. We have been too anxious to secure
conveniences and have by so being given
away millions OF dollars that belonged to
the tax payer. se..
l would like to make a suggestion, that
If you deem 1t worthy YOU can take into
consideration. From the establishment of
the first water works until the present day,
and in all countries, the system of collect
ing water rents at stated intervals has
been in vogue. That applies whether they
are under private or municipal ownership.
Don't you think it about time to make
change Every thing has improved in the
past fifty years, why not try an improve.
ment in that? Why not give free water to
every inhabitant of your city who wish to
make connections with your mains? Water
is one of the necessities of life, as much
so as is air; it should be had not only OF
the best quality but in abundance. There
should be no restriction in its use, out
there should of course he no waste. The
idea that you can only sprinkle yOnr lawn
at certain hours of the day when at the
same time it may be burnin; Up with
dreuth, Is to say the least preposterOus.
A nice green, well kept lawn is not ouIy
Il thing of beauty, but Its sanitary benefits
are worth to the city and the citizens
many times more than 1t costs to pump the
water to keep it green.
To secure free water 1 wou,l suggest
that a general tax be levied on al real
and personal property subject 20 taxation
in hn ait ~ f,. han
general purposes are levied. 1t would not
add to exceed three and one half mills to
the taxes in cities OF from 10000 to $4,000
and less than that in larger places that
would include free water for nsa Of the
citizens as well as for fire protection ard
for other purposes. 1t may he claimed
that by so doing you will DO injustice to
large Office buildings and large commercial
houses. | do not agree in thlC She tax
pail is worth all 1t costs for ere protc.-
ton, IL nothing else. Under Ihe present
system the classes OF buildings referred to
do not pay enough, and the deficiency Is
made up from the rates charged 20 the
householder. The other way it would
equallze it mucn better than under the
present system.
",
but time will not per nit going INTO It any
farther at this time. l am a firm believer
in the public ownership of all the natural
monopOlies, think they should he owned
and controlled in the interest of the public.
By so being it would stop all charges of
corruption that are so often made and re-
greet to say are at many times proven
against city officials. By the IN miclpali-
ties owning the same 1t would be lmpossi-
BILE to corrupt any one; city cannot cor
lupt its own citizens; there world be no
incentive to do so. | am forced however,
TO admit that so long as we pursue the
present method Of changing our officials
and appOintees with each change of ad-
ministration, 1t will possibly be a failure,
but II civil service is adopted, 1t will prove
as much Of success here as 1t nds proven
in Europe No man who makes a good Of
hcer In any Of the departments above
named should feel that his retention de
pended on his support, or opposition to any
man or party. He should be free to SUD-
port or oppose whom he pleased and be as
Independent as Is the clerk or bookkeeper
who differs practically from his employer
Not one Of you would think of dlscharglng
one Of your trusted employees because he
dld not vote as you did or support the
man or party you did. There is no reason
why he should be dismissed from public
position for the same offense. IN fact TO
my mind, 1t Is All the more reason WHY h
should be retained.
will not admit that because n man Is
elected mayor, or secures an appointment
ri tLnr
or a moral right to punish ma1 who Is
ehlcient by dismissal simply because he
differs from him politically The old cry
that Ito the victor belongs tn" spolls."
must be eliminated from municipal affairs
II we are to have what the citizens de.
mand, and are entitled to receive. viz
an honest and economical administration Of
public affairs. ~
| believe in the municipal ownership of
public utilities. may not live to see the
day when 1t will be firmly established in
the United States, but there are many with
In the sound Of my voice who will live TO
see 1t. You may as well attempt to stop
the revolution Of the earth as to attempt
to stop public ownership of the natural
monopolles that Of right belong to the pub
lie only. I will not admit that what has
been successfully accomplished in nearly
every country in Europe cannot be accom-
plished here. In fact when we take hold
OF 1t In earnest we viii do II so much bet
ter than 1t has been done in Europe that
they will send delegations over here 10
study our municipal governments, as they
are now doing with our manufacturing,
banking, farming, and other American
business unafhods ana fnd,st.t