The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-05-23

not grow as it ought without one. He
hoped that the suit would not thwart
the plans for securing one. He
thought that everyone was indignant
over the suit. We are fortunate in
having street railway proposal.
While we feel indignant at the suit,
we should go cautiously and carefully,
but in one united mass to attain the
end which we are here to attain.
G. N. Andrews was called for and
said that he had just returned to the
city, but that he supposed that this
was an Indignation meeting, and if
80 he shared in it. There Is great
danger in the situation from legal
and moral standpoints-the ultimate
legal outcome, and the immediate
moral effect on the capitalists of such
move. It should be determined
whether Mr.. Meagher represents him
self only as taxpayer or the lighting
company. If the former, committee
from the meeting might make repre-
sensations to him, his interests being
identical with ours. If he under
stood the feeling of the community or
if misunderstanding were removed he
might be induced to withdraw his
suit. This would be an act Of courtesy,
and should precede sterner actions
If it is true that his larger business in
terests prompt him to the move, we
could take action with freedom and
} spontaniety that would follow. The
railway project needs no words, as the
city has risen with unanimity in sup
port of it. I am in favor ON principle
of municipal enterprises Of this kind,
but I have felt that in this case it
! should be made to contribute to the
!. larger movement for the general good.
, would have no hesitation, if the
railway enterprise goes aground, to
build up a municipal owned plant. II
the electric light company's attitude
was continually hostile, we would be
justified to treat them, as com.
munity, relative to their service and
them, as their hostile position would
warrant.
J, w. L. Comstock said that the meet
ing augured well for the future Of
, Menkato This was the first neetins
he ever remembered to have been helt
to discuss matters of municipal inter
est, and he hoped that there would b.
many more. The tide in the affairs
of Mankato seemed this spring tt
have turned, and the most active and
interesting year in the city's history
3 seemed to be at hand. and may yet be-
The veriication of last Saturday
rumors as to an injunction suit came
as thunderbolt. He was surprised
that one who had grown up in Manka
to and partaken of it's material vel
3 fare should block so important an en-
! terprise. He had read the complain
9 and noticed that there were severa
:, inconsistencies in it. Property secur
, eddy a street vacation, since become
valued at $1,000, is named as ptopert.
to. be taxed by the lighting contract
8 The speaker said he would believe til,
4 unselfsh judgment of the communit,
rather than that the action of the on,
9 was unsel6sh and taken for tie goot
g of ethe community. Having read tn,
q pleadings, we may as we'll admit tina
y the action was business proposition
, brought for selfish purpose, ard tina
u it is an attempt to continue q condi
d ton Of affairs that has long ben ex
@ pensive to the community. Mr.
e Meagher admits that the city ha
been paying an unwarranted amour
u for years, for lights and claims tina
n the city will need no more lights thar
o it has now. In the suburbs tb con
+ ditions are such now that peron ha
to have lantern to see his wa,
10 around. A person cannot safely driv
IS from one end of the city to aothe
10 on dark nights without 100 arc lights
% There is sort of injunction Graz
that has taken possession of the city
70 1t seems to be the fashion. Awhil
&C ago it was the smallpox. We muE lool
d at the matter from the point of view
20 of the eastern capitalists, whosenego
tiations have been interrupted agaiI
- and again, and the matter deayed
20 If there are ways that the difficult,
l. can be smeothed over they shold b
n sought. The matter may as wdl b.
confronted now as any time. Tn
i suit was ill-timed and ill-advise( TIL
7. circumstances need severe and Eacti
8. cal treatment now, rather thai wal
N for month from now. Feelin ha
run high, but the people have beer
- calm on the whole.
"a Mr.. Comstock presented the FLOW
rs ing resolutions, which had bee pre-
70 pared by leading citizens ant tax
n payers and handed to him to preent ::
A. Whereas, The people of Mskato
through their chosen representatives,
u the honorable mayor and common
n council, have contracted win tn
" Mankato and ST. Peter Railwy ant
= Lighting Co., corporation duh or
ganized under the laws of Minnesota
70 70 light the streets of the city ofMan
ct kato for term of years at pice a
t. low as the city ever had; and.
{, "Wnereas, In addition to thelight
If ing contract the city has grated
franchise for the construction pf al
10 electric railway, that shall nc onl,
at cover the city, but also comet tn
IL mum ,ipality with Kasota an st
NJ Peter, and
10 Whereas, The people of Mnkat
- are more united than ever beforI on
ss single proposition. in their desre t
re see such street railway. built af1 tn
ne lighting plant installed, be it
y, Resolved, By the citizens 0 Man
n kato in mass convention assembled
- that the efforts of John B. Megher
10 of st. Paul, Minnesota, TO enjon til
city against entering into cntrac
Or for city lighting with the afresai
Id company is contrary to the wines @
ct an overwhelming majority tn
Id taxpayers of the city, and cutrar