The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-11-19
made to thwart any advancement to
public ownership in the future: ''">:s'

made to thWart any advancement to
public ownership In the future: : " :
The report Of the committee Of
the Commercial club is we'll worthy
of perusal. 1t is carefully compiled,
and no doubt was made In all sin
cerity by conservative men. 1t is ad-
mitted that Duluth is getting cheaper
street lighting than any city of it's
size or larger in the country 1t
must also be admitted, even by the
opponents of public ownership, that
the influence of public ownership
agitation had much to do with de-
creasing the cost of street lighting in
this city. When the present street
lighting contract was made the city
had the right to issue bonds for the
purpose of erecting street lighting
plant. Had the Duluth General Elec-
trio company not failed to make
liberal offer to the city at that time
a publicly owned plant would now be
in use. The city long ago lost the
right to build it's own plant. If it
wishes to make any further progress
i'll public ownership it must secure
the consent of the state legislature.
This is where the Commercial club
leaves itself open for severe criticism
when it says:
''1n view of the present weight of
taxation, and of the bonded indebt-
edness Of the city of Duluth, and of
the advantageous terms upon which
the city can make either a five or
ten year contract for It's street light
ing, we recommend that the Com
mercial club advise the making of
such contract instead Of any attempt
at this time to secure legislation to
authorize the issuance of bonds for
the purpose of purchasing the cleo
trio plant
No doubt a contract will have to
be made with the Duluth General
Electric company for some period of
time, but the city must have the right
to issue bonds for the purpose of
erecting it's own plant, if for no 9TH
er reason than hammer" to COM
pei private corporations to be fair
and just in their rates.
Why the committee should recon-
mend that no attempt be made to
secure legislation to authorize the
issue of bonds for the purpose of
purchasing an electric lighting plant
we are unable to say. 1t certainly
would do the people no harm to have
that right, even if there was no de-
sire to build plant.
The Duluth General Electric COM
pany is one of the few public service
corporations that is ever DESTROYS of
pleasing the people. Compared with
charges in other cities Duluth people
are indeed fortunate in having such
liberal company to deal with. But
the men: who control the company
are human. They are just, as we
would be in their place-anxious to
secure the best return on their in
vestment. A five year contract at
the present rates is probably the
best that can be made this year, but
with no other alternative than to
make contract five years from now,
what kind of a contract can then be
expected? The Labor World knows
that nothing can be done now except
to make contract, but it wants the
city to have the right to built or pur-
chase a plant whenever the people de-
eide to do so. For this reason we
favor movement leading to the Sec
uring of legislation which will give
our city the right to issue bonds for
the purpose heretofore mentioned.