The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-08-04

THe CITY ANo PUBLIc FRAN.
CHlSEs.
There are two lines open TO any com.
munity IN dealing with public service
franchises--munlolpal ownership or
private ownership.
The city can own an. electric Hight.
ing plant or n water plant, or II must
be owned by private corporation or
BY private citizens
In the case OF Salem The Journal
believes there II prep0nderance OF
argment IN favor Of public owner.
hhlp Of the waterworka.
The needs OF Greater Salem can
never be satisfactorily met without a
much larger water plant than the
present. and better service.
bettef water and a larger plant are
one Of the first needs OF this city, from
a financial and sanitary point.
A nratclaaa water plant, owned by
the city. would pay for Itself In 90
ycara. and furnish the city a tromend.
Gus revenue besldea.
When Il comes 20 a lighting plant.
the franchise includes a light and pow,
er plant and a street car system
II IL doubtful N tho city would eg.
q want 10 operate more than n light
lng plant. and that alone might pay.
Hut In dealing with tho existing
lighting franchise. we must not over.
look the fact that n Includes n power
plant, and the operation Of car lines.
The lighting OF the state institutions
Ia nnother factor In the problem that
cannot be Ignored BY the city
Tho state institutions are indirectly
part of the city. and the pay rolls Of
the llght and power plant aud the car
lines are Important
Nov. 20 clear the air ~ All compll
cations, let us 10 back to our firht
premlKerriherc must be- public owner
ship or private ownerahip.
What can tho community reasonably
demand Of private ownership What
can Salem'a city government right,
eoualy demand % Mr. Henry. or any
outaldor who Invests capital IN pubic
nefyice franchlsoY
We ran and DO demand a flHt.claea
service for a city OF this size, and we
can aud DO demand reasonable rates
fer city and private lighting.
Mr. Henry gives the city hrst
class, enterpralng. publlcsplrited
management Of the plant. and HE
rates are reasonable.
AZ least. Il has not been charged BE-
fore the city council. and Il la1 not
claimed that the city or private rates
FOR Salem are extortlonate.
u Il not pretended. ind no one can
show, or az least. no ona has shown.
That Mr., Henry Ia robblng the city on
the private Daer of nghta.
Unless those who are opposed &c
ratlnnatlon Of the lighting contract
can prove unreasonable charges fnr
liNhilnE, they have no care
u pFivato owner gives the public
and the city reasonable rates. aud
eires the public enterprlalng manage
meat. IN improving and Keeping an
tho property what more has the com.
monity 4 rlght 10 askf
IN private ownerahlp spends IL
money freely IN putting plant IN
nrnlclasu order "a meet any possible
demands upon Il, that may come from
extra demands ior service ON special
occasions. who can klck.
meet a ~ possible demands upon Il,
that come from extra demands for ser.
vice on special occasions, who can
klckf
Some people are horn 10 kick. and
they arc people who would never In.
vest dollar 10 give city a llghtlnr
plant. But such kickera are not fair
~ ogainnt an enterprising manage
mcnt, suck as Mr. henry has given the
lighting plant
The burden ol showing that Mr.
henry IA estorti0nate and unenter
prislpg IL upon the memhers OF the
council, or those who are nghting the
lehling contract, and who say thoy
are going 20 awe the city cheaper
lights, Can they make better con
tractf
They must show thar the city Is 20
las 10 be robbed under Mr. Henry.
rates. and thai be h not golnE 60 keel
up the property, on improve OF extend
4 In keeping With the demands ans
growth of the city, They must prov,
that Mr., Henry II not doing hia dut,
By thia property. II they cannot chow
these things, then the hght resolve.
itself Into private and political lines
that are open 10 those Who treat pab
llc matters nom that standpoint.