Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-03-01
Gas and Water Franchise.
y The Wa1or and ON Council.

To the Mayor aud Cay Council.
You are the representative of the peo-
ple and have the right to exercise the
taxing power under regulations Of law.
You have police powers. and jurisdie-
fiction over streets. alleys and public
grounds. What would YOU gain for the
public il You should tax the streets, al
Jews and public erounds2 The people
would pay the tax, if imposed, and 1t
would only swell corporate expenses,
commissions and the feesiof oiilcersiwho
would assess and collect and keep the
accounts.
A tax on the franchise or privilege OF
LAYING pipes over the public streets, al
Ievs and grounds to furnish gas and
water is in the last analysis a tax on the
prime necessities of life, which are Just
as essential to the poorest as to the rich
est citizen. You would not tax air or
sunshine, if you could. And yet every
exaction You impose, every burden
placed upon the franchise or privilege
OF using public streets, alleys and
grounds for laying down water or gas
pipes for supplying water and gas 10 the
public is a t0T on mater aud gas, just as
a tax upon the franchise or privilege OF
selling milk, garden vegetables, coal,
etc, within the city limits would be a
tax upon those articles, and instantly
appears in the increased price to the
buyer,
It is immaterial whether that tax is
to be paid in money by the company
furnishing gas and water, or is paid IN
gas and water by furnishing without
charge so many lights for the streets,
ALLEYS. public grounds and buildings, or
SO many hydrants and water The cost
l.of the so-called free lights and water,
/ like the money tax. will appear IN the
I aggregate expense OF operating the
plant. and must be returned tothe COM
! many in the universal cost to all paying
consumers. No DISCUSSES or juggling
can prevent this 10 tar or impose bur
dens upo3 the privilege mot inetuslee) Of
furnishing gas and mater is to tao gas and
mater. and increase tts costs 10 epery user
The remedy and common sense treat
ment il to grant the franchise with no
/ taxes or burdens, more than the law
requires. and to regulate prices based
upon fair profit upon the capital in-
vested considering cost, risk, deprecia-
ton and repairs. Cheap gas aud cheap
water will do more to advertise the city
to increase manufactures, population
and wealth than any other two elements
OF prime necessity. The gas and water
company should be allowed just and
reasonable share in the prosperity II
does SO much to create. How many o.
4 our people who are clamoring for free
street lights and free fire plugs, and
lower rates for water and gas would to-
day invest in the stock Of the company,
or would haye taken the original risks
of the investment? One would almost
think the company a public enemy
when listening to the diatribes agalns
it..
Gentlemen Of the Council, get togethel
at once, prescribe reasonable prices ant
proper regulations. impose as few bur
dens and taxes as possible, and thereby
hasten the laying OF pipes for water ane
gas into every ward, and to every man
ufacturing plant knocking for admis
sion. Spring is here, bus mess revives
don't delay action, but al once renoee al
uncertainty. You have had the matter
before you eight months. To longer de
Law is unjust to all interests.
I am taxpayer, buyer and consume
OF water ard gas, but own no stock i
the COMPANY n.