Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-10
IN ISSUE AL ITS OWN
Webster City's Campaign Being
Fought on the Lines of
Municipal Ownership
STATE POLITICS LOST SIGHT OF
Gas Franchise Question Absorbing the
Attention of the Public ard Local
Leaders-Money Offered by Private
Parties for Privilege of Bui ding Gas
Plant.
Special to Times Republican.


Special to Times Republican.
Webster City, Oct. 10.-There is no
lack of strenuosity in the campaign
for the fall election. which Is being
waged IN this city. Neither the state
ticket nor, indeed, party lines at all.
are furnishing the campaign material.
The campaign here is confinsd to mu
nieipal affairs and involves the ques-
ton as to whether Webster City shall
depart from her long continued policy
of municipal ownership and whether
her gas franchise shall be given to
for it, or on the other hand. whether
the plant shall be erected biz the city.
Both private companies who are ask
ing for it are offering price for ii.
The first one in the field offers $4,000.
while the second one has raised the
figure 10 $4,000. Other matters AMI
complications, however. seem to give
the first company as much advantage
as the latter one and the two COM
panies and the city are waglng relent-
less war for the right to install a gas
plant.
The whole matter is the outcome of
visit to the city Of NJ. E. Springer, OF
Dies Moines. who represents the North
Chicago Gas and Construction COM
pany. This gentleman asked for ~
franchise, for which no co npensatioH
should be given. His ordinance was
also loosely drawn so as to make Il
just taxation of the concern impossible,
One OF the city dailies here took up thH
matter, making the opposition to Mr.
Springer so warm that the gentleman
finally made some concessions. He was
unwilling, however, to pay anything,
for the franchise. The city daily re-
ferred TO, contended that the franchise.
was valuable and to prove i.s assertion
local company was formed which,
went before the city council and Of
fered $1,000 for the franchise. Wheil
this offer was made. Mr.. Springer. Oh
course, pulled out The paper which
had been supporting him. chagrined at
its defeat. then formed company
which went before the city council AMI
offered $4,000 for the franchise. The
people however. have been rather
wary of this last proposition for the
that the paper which lis sup
porting it contended, when support
Ing Mr.. Springer that a franchise had
no value. For this reason 1t has been
believed that this company was formed
merely to thwart the former company.
rrlx tSa off, ,i,1rv
Sc, 900 is so drawn that unless tile
make payment within thil'-
ty days after the franchise is granted
then il shall be void. This loop hoe
which will allow them to set the frasl,-
chise and then cast II aside has susi-
picious look. The company Offering
the $4,000 has no such loop hole but
If the franchise is granite them they
must not only pay for but their
plant must be erected within month.
With matters thus complicated the city
has become thoroughly inn
bued with the idea that the people
want gas plant and will submit
to the voters al the COM
ing election authorizing the installing
Of a municipal plant. The city now
owns her electric light pl,lnt, heating
plant. power plant and pumping sta
tons and the council argue that the
may as well own all the
public utilities.
With three propositions to build Eas
plants before them the voters OF the
city are anticipating a red hot election.
It is likely. however. that before tho
election the private companies viii
drop out of the race.
The thing which has aurt mun1ci-