The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-05

empower ST. Paul. If 1t so elects, to
absorb the plant any time between this
and 1907, the period of expiration of
the company's franchise.
The members of ttheri commission,
which is composed of Assemblymen
Wheeler and Doran and Aid. Huber
and Bohland, and J. H. Mitchell, M.
T. Ryan and Oscar Claussen, were all
present yesterday afternoon, and while
the work done was largely of a prepar-
atory nature, considerable progress
was made.
The work of the commission hinges
largely<on the fact that in 1907 st. Paul
will have a decidedly valuable asset to
dispose of, a. gas and electric light
franchise. In that year the right of
the st. Paul Gas company to do bust
ness in st. Paul will expire by limita-
ton, and the proposition now is to
either renew it on a basis more favor
able to the city, sell it to some other
company, or retain it and go into the
lighting business as municipal enter
prise, the same as the water depart
ment
The consensus of opinion was that
the city should be first in a position to
absorb the gas plant, If the owners will
sell, and If not to condemn 1T. Assem-
blyman Wheeler suggested this propo-
sition and 1t met with the views of the
others.
Would Offer Bill at Once.
In view of the fact that the legis-
lature does not meet again in two
years, it was decided that, if such
law was deemed necessary, it should be
introduced at this session, and a COM
miittee consisting of J. H. Mitchell,
Asemblyman Doran and Aid Bob
land, was named to take care of it,
They are to inquire into all municipal
ownership and bond legislation passed,
pending and proposed, and report at
the next meeting of the commission,
which will be held next Wednesday af-
ternoon. In the meantime the legal
department will inquire into the status
of all existing and pending lighting
franchises, and report on the same will
also be furnished the commission at its
next meeting
That the gas company's franchise
expires in 1907 there is no doubt, but
the company refuses to accept the
opinion that its other franchises, which
are for the supplying of electric light
and heat, expire at the same time.
These were granted at later date, and
the company says they are practically
perpetual. Under the original fran
chise the city was permitted to buy the
plant at the end of ten years, but as
this provision was never taken adyan-
Io5C VI. new dulnOflIy VIII nave to be
obtained from the legislature While
the plant may never be taken by the
city, yet the commission thinks such
authority should exist, as it will en-
able the city to better handle a situa-
ton that promises considerable trouble
when it comes up for settlement.
In brief, the commission thinks the
city should arm itself now, instead of
waiting until later Bonds will have
to be issued.
Suspect Chinook Bill.
The Introduction in the legislature
yesterday of a bill by Representative
Chinook providing for dollar gas. or
rather making that figure the limit for
the Twin Cities, is looked upon with
suspicion by some members of the
commission. Some figure that it is an
attempt to discourage any unfavorabIe
legislation or effort toward municipal
ownership on the part of the city. st.
Paul is a particularly remunerative
field for the gas trust, and it's loss
would be serious blow to it's interests
in the Northwest. 1t is known that
the st. Paul officials are not making
any effort to discourage the bill.