The Saint Paul globe., 1903-10-04

ownership will be a financial loss and
a political curse until the whole Amer
lean system of city governments has
been changed.
To make an arrangement with any
other company, the first thing is
catch your hare" 1t is an open ques-
ton, not to be determined by any
thing short Of advertising and calling
for bids, probably, whether capital
would accept a franchise guaranteeing
adequate service in three years from
date under the restrictions imposed by
the city charter. In the intervening
three years there would be no relief.
This ought to be a cold -blooded
business proposition for the people,
and they do not care a picayune
whether they make bargain with the
present gas company or some other.
What they want is to make the best
bargain possible; and, since all the
initial expenses have been borne by
the present company, since its plant is
in place and its business in operation,
it ought to be able to make better
terms than any competitor. To
demand and to secure such terms is
the business of the peoples represent
atives.
Such personal objections as have
been raised to the proposed franchise
touch entirely upon two points-the
dollar rate and the dollar a month
minimum service charge. To the lat
ter there is general and strenuous op-
position, and if insisted upon it
may defeat the ordinance. There is
something to be said on both sides.
The company holds that it ought not
to be compelled to furnish connections
and supply gas without receiving at
least $1.00 per month. The consumer
says that he ought not to have to pay
for what he does not use. That ground
is certainly a strong one in fact, and
possibly in law, and We think the pub
lie will insist that this provision be
either removed from the ordinance or
essentially modified.
With regard to the price, the
charter requirement embodied in
the ordinance seems to US to
be sufficient. This provision gives
to the common council power to
regulate charges within the lines Of
reasonableness. This power is ample
and subject to no review, except that
of the courts, who will see that JUS
tice is done. At any time in the fu-
ture an investigation may be ordered,
an inquiry may be made by private or
local municipal associations into the
cost of producing gas here and else
where, and demand be laid before the
council for reduction of price. The
council can then order reduced charg-
es, and nothing can prevent these from
going into operation save an order of
the court; which, we may be sure,
would not issue unless the proposed
rates were judicially found to be un-.
reasonable.
These are the main lines of the ex-
listing situation. They seem to indi-
cate an agreement with the present
company as the most feasible
arrangement The gas franchise
commission, the gas company and
the members of the city council
have all agreed so substantially in
their views that we may reckon upon
their general fairness. The Globe
believes that there should be more
general expression Of public opinion. It
invites contributions on this subject in
length from, a,squarter to half col
umn, free from personalities, signed
for publication with the writ
er's name, 4 and discussing the
merits of the question. All such
letters will be. published in our col
umns, and we hope to receive many of
them. The question is open, and 1t is
time for the public to talk. Let the
people be heard from through The
G be.