Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-06-27
THE MOVE FOR PUBLIC LIGHT.
ING

ON the resolution OF Hon. Ttlmon ForC
before the Greater Salem Commercial
club TO have the city ultimately owl
and operate a lighting plant. Aftei
Ghis resolution passed the club las
week The Journal took pains to as
certain the wishes of the business
people of the city in regard to such
action, and found a large majority
an favor of the move in fact it was
almost unanimous This voice of the
people in favor of a public lighting
plant is of course in some measure
the result of feeling aroused by the
fact that this city has had very poor
9igbtlng service at the hands of the
Citizens Light & Traction company
the past year, and also on account of
ahe very high rates charged. These
conditions may be different in the
1nture, as new company has gained
control of the business very recently.
These new people make very fattering
promises, but we had similar ones
from their predecessors just about a
year ago, with what results the public
very well know Why the new com
pany and its promises should be any
more relied upon than were those of
their predecessors is not apparent to
The average citizen at this time. in
tact the only conclusion to draw is
shat the representations of this com
Rany will be less believed than those
of their predecessors, simply because
of the fragrant abuse of the public con
aidence by the latter.
This move on the part of Mr.. Ford
is very opportuue and proper in the
light of what has transpired 1t will
DE remembered that a franchise was
granted to Mr.. Anson for a new plant,
and 1t will also be remembered that
abr outcome proved that such fran
cbise was simply obtained to sell or
handle in the interest of its owner if
opportunity offered Such opportu.
nifty did not offer and the whole matter
'twent by default. Later Mr. Kurtz
wanted a franchise, and this paper
protested that 1t was simply another
scheme to get something to sell, and
that 1t did not mean competition for
ahe city in any event This predic.
tion proved only too true. for Mr..
kurtz was enabled to sell his com.
modify to the existing company before
he secured his franchise, and the re-
suit Is that light consumers of Salem
have had to pay for their folly.
When Mr.. Henry came to Salem and
bought up the electric plant and the
gas plant, he made propositions and
promises that on their face seemed
10 offer fair solution of the problem
on business basis, and this paper in.
sisted that he should be given fair
trial and show to demonstrate that he
meant to do the fair thing. But now
before he has been able to put his
promises into execution he has un.
loaded his whole enterprise at a royal
profit and again our city is up against
the problem of getting public and pri.
Vate lights at reasonable price.
The truth is it must have become
apparent to all by this time that there
Is no such thing as competition pos.
sible in the lighting business as It is
conducted in these times. and that
Uhe only protection for the consumer
is public ownership 1t is generally
believed that the real ownership or
control of these private corporation
plants is too often vested In the great
electric trust, the General Electric
company, anJ It is possible that such
is the case, and that this fact explains
the impossibility of getting confpeti.
uon. For this further reason II does
seem pertinent that the business peo.
pie of any community of this size or
larger should take the only kind OF
n step that points to emancipation
from such conditions.
II is hoped that the committee OF
the council aud our mayor will go in.
TO the merits of this proposition with
great yigor and see what can be done
TO lift the yoke on the necks OF our
citizens, The old council appointed
committee to make just such nvestl-
CATION, and then 'eclined to act upon
the recommendation of Engineer
Thielsen and Mr. Griswold who pre-,
Isn't II rea- AREEAm