The Monticellonian., 1902-11-20

t"S SiID tiS S'I' emu NttCi l1id'it t'l
 the hands of the corporation, an> that without any loss to the city
 at any time that the tax payer conclude that their taxes are too heavy to justify the munich pl ownership of this plant. Thes, 1 gentlemen propose to take up the city's indebtedness, and obligatt themselves 10 maintain the present schedule of water and light rase. Thus it will be seen that 1t is nor necessary to entertain for mo. ment the proposition to license sa- looms here. for the purpose of re- lieYing he people from the special tax, levied to pay the city bonds issued to raise money to put in our system of lights and water.
 The above from q recent issue of the Advance, deserves, perhaps, more than passing notice. If five resident business men of this city" have their weather eyes, on the water and light plant, It is more than likely that they think there IS money in the enterprise for them, which induces them to enter tain the idea of taking it of the hands of the corporation" rather than their love for the poor and sorely oppressed tax. payer. There is some little difference between the proposition of the five busi ness meno and the one which the gentleman was thinking of mak : ing for the sale of whiskey. The difference consists in this, that the man who, at one time thought of obtaining the privilege of selling whiskey here, intended to pay off the bonded indebtedness and let the town still own, operate and control the plant, while these five philanthropic business men simply propose to take the plant of the hands of the corporation" and own control and operate 1t themselves. The condition attached to their generous CD offer, as we gather from our worthy contemporary, is ito take up the city's indebtedness, and obligate themselves to main tain the present schedule of water and light rates.
 Unfortunately for these five business men" and their proposi- tion, it is the present schedule of water and light rates' that the peo- pie are extremely solicitous of be- ing relieved of A bond to main- tain such rates would be but a golden cord about the necks of the five business meno but 1t would unquestionably be gaIIing yoke upon the necks of the people who paid for such maintainanee. Esaw we are told, sold out his birth right for mess of pottage but we hardly believe that the people of Monticello are ready and willing to not only sell out their water and light plant but also fasten upon themselves and their posterity the high tariff they are now paying for the use of these useful com modities.
 The people have already paid something near SC, 1000 in the way of special tax on the bonded in debtedness, and likely consider able sum in the way of privilege tax for the use of water and lights. and as the proposition of the five business men' says nothing of re- funding this amount to them, this loss they would most likely have to bear without the hope of reward.
 The price for the use of water and lights are high, but our people pay it willingly because they know aside from paying the operating expenses of the plant, the surplus goes to extinguishing the bonded indebtedness, and they know furthermore, that just as soon as the bonded indebtedness is liqui- dated. that the rates for the use of water and lights will be merely nominal, and instead of having to pay a dollar a month for single resident hydrant, as they are now doing, 1t will not cost them more than 25 or 80 cents per month.
 As we understand 1t, the whis ky mans proposition has been abandoned, it is not necessary to discuss that, but our advice to the people of Monticello is to steer clear of the ''other felows.' also.
 Keep your water and light sup ply in your own hands. at all haz ards, and turn deaf ear to the sy-