Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-29

charged are not so generally fixed as to
earn a per cent on the investment, unless
as Is frequently the case, outstanding
bonds render interest a charge necessary
to be earned.
In another place the commissioner refers
to the fact that by far the greater number
of private plants show a good profit, the
per cent reaching as high as 60.45 in one
instance. That such profits are ~incompati-
BILE with reasonable rates to the public goes
without saying.
The Cry of Politics.
But we are told that even IL 1t we're pos
sible for the municipality to effect a large
financial saving for It's taxpayers and pri-
vate consumers of electric light, and to Sc
cure for them the increment accruing from
the steady growth of population and bust
ness, which for the private corporation is
absorbed in the franchise value, political
exigencies would stand in the way. The
bug-a-boo of politics is always handy for
use upon timid people or those who merely
seek for an excuse. Establish municipal
ownership by the acquisition of an electric
lighting plant, declare its opponents. and
It is at once dragged into politics. That
with proper civil service regulations the
plant can be operated without undue po-
litical interference is certainly a POSSIBLE
ity, and that the acquisition Of such a plant
would exert the strongest influence for pro-
tecting the public service from the bane Of
politics 1t is more than reasonable to ex-
pect.
Or the other hand, who will deny that
the private electric lighting corporations
are constantly in politics? The regularly
recurring necessity Of securing new fran
chise grants, of barring out competitors or
heading of holdups, Of renewing contracts
for street illumination, almost compel each
privileged corporation to be active in poll
tics in order to claim favors from the pow
ers that be. In every city of any preten-
sions in this country the franchised cor
porations constitute the most pernicious
factor in local politics. They have a COM
munity Of political interest that draws
them together, and they exert themselves
as a rule in political contests on one side
or on the other with their consolidated
strength.
Not content with manipulating local poll
tics, these privileged corporations have
great national organizations through which
they operate in larger fields. II we would
know what the electric lighting interests
have undertaken from time to time, We
have only TO refer to the report made to the
National Electric Lighting association by
| Allan r. Foote as chairman Of it's commit
tee on legislation the hrst year after that
committee had been constituted:
A year ago dSSSj at the convention Of the
National Electric Lighting association the
question was discussed of municipal own-
| ership Of electric light plants. AS a result
OF the papers read at the time a resolution
was adopted creating what We term the
i was made chairman. No instructions
were given TO that committee. was au-
! thorized TO appoint one member from each
4 state in making up the national committee,
. . . In order to unity the electric in
tereNs SO they could work for
their state, we Instituted a movement to
organize state associations The member
ship OF these state associations Is confined
exclusively TO operating companies, and
in their own states, being assisted In their
work through the work of the national
Committed. . . So far as giving in
Etructions to the committee Is concerned, i
do not think the committee needs any In
structions. The general understanding Is
that the committee Is 20 take cOgniZance
OF an questions that AFFECT your interests
state. To provide for finances az
assessment is authorized to be made which
varies from one-eighth TO one-fourth OF
per cent OF the capitalization. This
assessment u subject to the order OF the
executive committee of the association. So
Il gives them the means Of raising a fund
N they have use for IL. without waiting q
call a meeting Of the association and with
out much delay. They can simply have q
an assessment and collect the funds 81