Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-05-15
F PAPER OF FERGUS COUNTY.
THE DEMOCRAT SEES OCIOpuSts.

IuI JILL Ottof totS'
Our contemporary in his last issue
uses over a column of space in denoune-
ing the action of the city council in
granting tw~enty-year franchises to the
electric light and telephone companies.
In true Populistic style the editor deals
in such terms as ''soulless corpora
tons and ''octopuses, rs If II were a
new thing for cities to grant franchises
of this character. Surely men who in
vest their means in such enterprises are
entitled 20 protection inthe transaction
of business, and that is what these
ordinances give them As To the term
of years, we do not believe II longer
than usual in such cases. What would
Ice the object in asking or granting n
'fve-year franchise" The franchises
are not exclusive. They do not bar
other companies from entering the field
in competition, and their control AS re-
CARDS the streets and alleys are abso-
lutely within the power of the city gov
ernment. In larger cities fifty to ninety
nine year franchise are frequently OBJ
tanned.
As to paying for the privileges, that
is something quite unusual if ever
exacted, especially in new municipali-
ties. ON the other hand. a bonus is
frequently offered to induce capitalists
to invest in these enterprises. Men
who make such investments usu-
ally have to wait several years before
they realize a dollar on their money
and it is no more than just that certain
rights and privileges he granted them.
In doing what it has we believe the
council has subseryed the best interests
of the city. 1t can now have lawful
control over the operations Of both
companies as regards the streets and
alleys and the placement Of poles and
wires.
The abuse of the members of the city
council will harm no one except the
writer. The men who compose il have
long been identified with Lcwistown
and Fergus county. Several of them
have given literally Of their private
means to advance the upbuiliing Of the
city and are not likely 10 do anything
TO retard its growth or work Il hard
ship upon the citizens. One or two
men on the board, it IT, true. own n lit
tie stock in these companies. ofcourse,
that is next to a crime in the eyes of Il
Populist. blessed be- nothing. Is his
motto.
The editor of the Democrat, serene
and well satisfied of his own righteous
ness, volunteers the following: 1T was
only the letter ofthc law that kept this
good Republican council from making
it nm exclusive franchise
How does the editor Il the Democrat
know th.s9 In the above he admits
that the franchise +, not exclusive but
thinks il would have been made such If
not for the law. This is not only a re-
Election upon the good Judgment and
integrity OF the members of the council
but at the same time prctentions To
mind reading that is truly remarkable.
Our contemporary says; what the
people should do nowhere they to do
the right thing-would be to order
every electric light taken out of their
offices and houses and swear to live by
lamplight until this franchise he re.
voked, and the same should be done
with the telephone"
Well. rs the editor of the Democrat
has both in his office, why doesn't he
start the ball by ordering them out?
The people of Lewistown have the
best telephone and electric light service
of any town of its in the country and
thc rates are very reasonable in com,
pagison with those in the east. every,
thing considered. There is NO attempt
at cxtortion and we do not believe thai
an unjust request was made for q
twcnty-ycar franchise. The city gov.
crument should nut-and. we believe
will not-stand in the way of any com
pany that may wish to come here ant
establish plants. Capital will come il
it secs a chance for profitable invest
ment. Otherwise it will not. II In,
field is well supplied and the people arr
satisfied that is all that can bc desired
When the people are dissatisfied tn,
remedy lies ntheir hands. The hot ali
emitted by the editor of the Democra.
has alarmed no n