Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-09-28
Webster City Municipal Fight
May Disrupt Cummins and
Anti-Cummins Forces
FORM LOCAL GAS COMPANY
The Contention is Over Granting a
Franchise to a Des Moines Man to
Install a Gas Plant, Who Offered the
City Five Per Cent of Net Profits in
Lieu of All Taxes or Assessments.
Special to Times-R Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Webster City, Sept. 2S.-The fiercest
municipal fight which has occurred in
this city in many years is now on and
threatens the total disruption of the
J Cummins n anti-Cummins forces
during the present upheaval. The con-
tention is oyer the granting of a fran
| chise to install a gas plant. This fran
| chise is sought by NJ. e. Springer. OF
| Des Moines, for the North Chicago Gas
and Construction company. This COM
| pany, of course. offers nothing for the
| franchise. The contending factions
| wrought the citizens up to such a. pltch
over the matter that a local company
| has been formed which will make a
proposition to the city to pay several
thousands Of dollars for the franchise.
Mr.. Springer, however. has had nus
ordinance Drawn up, printed In the To-
cal paper and an election proclamation
issued so thai the election upon the
granting of the franchise will have to
De VOISu UPON OH iS daS ~
| Oct. 5. The proposition to buy the
franchise has just been made n OF
course it stands to reason that unless
Mr.. Springer should raise 1t, he VIII
lose out.
The two dailies here have taken sides
| upon the matter, the one supporting
Mr.. Springer and the other opposed TO
him. The ordinance which MI. Spring
err had drawn up states that. Five per
cent OF the net profits OF the concern
shall be given to the city in lieu OF all
taxes or assessments" AS this clause
was particularly Objectionable on ac-
count of its furnishing The company a
way to escape all taxation a strenuous
attack upon 1t was made by the local
paper which has been opposing the
granting of the franchise. The paper
won a most notable victory in forcing
Mr.. Springer to withdraw this clause,
leaving the plant to be taxed al are all
other properties.
Webster City is primarily a city
which does and always has leaned per-
ceptibly toward the idea of municipal
ownership. She owns her electric light
plant, her heating plant, her water
l III puma ti 49,
Springer, however, came here at a most
opportune time. This city is the largest
city u one In the state which has not
a gas plant. The plant is needed but
the city could Ill afford to put it in be-
fore spring. The heating plant vas just
installed last fall, and as is usual In
such cases it did not pay the first year.
Making capital of these situations. Mr..
Springer has been able to get some
following from those who have been
dissatisfied with the way things hav
been running and from among that
class designated as chronic sore heads.
1t is limited that Mr.. Springer will
raise the offer Of $4,000 for the fran
chise, made by the company composed
of Webster City business men,. This
is hardly probable, however, as 1T would
be setting a bad precedent. Mr.. Spring
er is a promoter and has put In several
plants in Iowa and adjoining states. He
is now asking franchises In several