The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-04-09
A Warning to Taxpayers.

aldermen luSI week pasSeu on ltb ufSt
reading an Ordinance which is in
tended to lead to a contract for street
lighting. Three of the aldermen who
voted for it had previously voted to ta-
BILE similar proposition. 1t may be
that they voted for the first passage in
response to an appeal by the author,
that as a matter of courtesy" the or
dinance be allowed to pass its first and
second reading. We do not know
whether these three will vote for it on
its final passage or not but we do
know that shall it pass a third reading
it will irrevOcably bind Johnson City
to take and pay for forty-five street
lights for period Of five years.
The ordinance directs that contract
be made with the Watauga Electric
Co. This company has no property of
any kind, but is understood to have an
option to purchase the Watauga Light
ing and Power Co.'s plant. If the or
dinance passes the option will be taken
up, otherwise it probably will not.
Under the old contract the city paid
So, TAO dollars per year for thirty lights.
Under the proposed new contract the
city is bound to take not less than
forty -five lights at a cost of about SO, 600
per year. While the price per light is
reduced, the total annual cost is in
creased nearly one thousand dollars.
The number of lights is increased so
per cent, and the yearly cost is in
creased 30 per cent. With due respect
to our aldermen, we submit that there
is nothing to justify this increase.
There is neither necessity nor excuse
for it, For ten long years and more
our city Taxpayers have been groan-
ing under an onerous electric light
contract, and have anxiously looked
forward to the day of their deliverance
from it, And yet the contract had
hardly expired by limitation until 8
proposition is pending before our city
authorities to saddle upon us for an
other five years more onerous and
burdensome contract.
Why should a contract for lights bC
made for five years? When the old
contract was being negotiating the
lighting plant had not been constitu-
ltional, and it was said that long tern
contract would induce the company t,
build. But no such argument coulO
be made now. The plant is here. l
cannot leave. The town has been lib
eral toward it and has done all it prom
ised to do, and is under no further oh
legations to the enterprise. Why
then, this unusual demand for fv
year contract? Do we make contract
for the coal for the public schools fv
years ahead? Do we employ schoc
teachers and policemen for periods {
five years? Such contracts are mad
: by the year, and appropriations t
/ meet them are made in the annua
budget of expenses.
Throughout the civilized world ther
is a rapidly growing demand for mum
cipal ownership of public utilities
: Within fortnight the board of alder
e men of New York city has determine
8 to furnish its own lights. Our neigl
), Dor, Morristown, has its own plar
which gives the town street lights free
We believe three-fourths of the voter
of Johnson City are in favor of I'll
) town owning its own electric or otht
r light plant. The question has bee
O much agitated and discussed. I'll
! committee on lights were sent to Mo
ristown at public expense. Their n
bort was altogether favorable to sue
~ an enterprise. The people were e,
pecting the opportunity to vote on IL
question, A bill has just passed IL
Of legislature which would authorize
10 bond issue for that purpose. But
would seem that the people are to ha1
no voice in the matter, and that Il
Re door of opportunity for municipal ow
c. ership is to be barred for five year
ID There is method in this madness. &c
~ tain interested parti. have an optic
to purchase to purchase the electr
light plant here for $50, 900 or $500
If the company can get a contract wi
the. town for five years at $500 p
ed month that will be such an asset
v will enable the option holders to be
y row the money and buy the plant. I'll
he will account for the enthusiasm wi