The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-11-19
campaigned upon this proposition, it
appears to the writer as quite sig
nifiCant. The report reads:

campaigned upon this proposition, it
appears to the writer as quite sig
nificant. The report reads:
TN view Of the present weight Of
taxation, and Of the bonded indebted
ness OF the City OF Duluth, and Of the
advantageous terms upon which the
city can make either a five or ten year
commend, that the ~ Commercial Club
advise the making OF such contract in
stead of any attempt at this time to
secure legislation to authorize the is
suance Of bonds for the purpose of pur-
chasing the, electric plant"
Can any sane man tell us why this
city should not have the power by
legislation granted it, to issue bonds
for that or any other municipal pur-
pose, If it has not that power alrea-
dy, (subject OF course to a vote OF
the people therein), and can any
one tell us why 1t Is not perfectly
feasible and practicable to secure
that right by the mere asking. Ger
tainly nobody can tell the! writer that
it is not perfectly feasible, and prac-
t1cable to get bill through the legis-
lature for that purpose at absolutely
no cast to the City OF Duluth or the
And it seems to me that the people
OF this city should demand of their
representatives, and senators that
they procure such legislation at the
approaching sessi ion Of the legisla-
ture.
How can the city expect to make
an advantageous contract, with any
lighting concern, when it has no al
tentative but to make it. It would
seem to be business folly to tie the
hands OF the municipality, and sub
ject it to being held up at the option
OF a lighting corporation.
The writer has nothing whatever
against the present company, nor has
he any axe to grind, but the short
sighted policy indicated is too evil
dent to require discussion.
Professor Frank Parsons, OF Bos-
ton, has demonstrated in his works
on the subject, that municipal con-
troll, and ownership OF electric light
| ing plants is success. How much
more successful would one be in this
city where the people already own
working plant to which it could be
merely added as department.
am at a loss to understand how pa
! triotic citizens who claim to have
the interest OF the city at heart can
allow it to become a great city as
they all believe it will be without
securing these great public rights
which in spite OF all opposition, are
going to be acquired at some cost
in the future.
If the people who oppose municipal
control want Socialism, and want it
at once, and the city ruled, and con-
trolled by the Soc1al1stic party, they
certainly cannot bring that about any
more rapidly than to oppose these
reasonable demands that the city
own such natural monopolieg as gas,
water and electric lights.
! II a vote were to be taken In this
city today after full and fair dis
cussion of the proposition, the report
| of the committee of the Commercial
| Club would be turned down as en-
| phatically as Parker was at the last
election, but the people Of the city
will not get chance to vote on the
proposition, and the Commercial Club
! in representing them should act for
them. Whether twill remains to be
seen. - =. .~..Hs liz ~! .*...e
! There is, however, no excuse for
the committee or the club to enter
the arena, and champion, the inter
i est ##of private corp orations lin II op:
position to- the lighting plant. owned
ssIby# l:thez pay eTas5 sof 1t he city The
Il syeneerHH thin. ma he. interests