The Cairo bulletin., 1904-03-27
AS no MUNICIPAL CONTROL.

HhA1 ~ ~ NtafANfAi 49, NrNftN = -
We have had some discussion OF
municipal ownership and control In
\ this city lately in the course Of which
more or less strong talk was indulge
in as to what the city government
could DO. or should do, under given
conditions Premises which We're I,
some extent assumed were taken 4,
a basis for suggestions or demands
for municipal action, which, il Is rsas
onbly certain. would have been worse
than futile The subject is Of stuff
cient importanca to the public Il
call for proper discussion and sncl
a discussion is given briefly in the
following editorial from the 81 Louil
Republic of several days ago which
merits careful perusal
Judicial opinions which have beer
obtained concerning the authority OF
certain municipalities TO control The
rates made and service given b,
the inability of the average city e
assert jurisdiction. In some in
stances the restriction Of municipal
authority is due to nonexistence o.
necessary laws, in Others TO confu
sion among general laws, and y
others to conflicts discovered between
general and special laws
1T is quite likely that in regard t
franchise privileges, which are az
CURED directly from q municipality
city has ample power TO regulate
the service to such an extent as C
demand that public requirement
be satisfied, burt it is doubtful as t.
what authority city might have Il
regard to the regulation Of rates 70
such service Special franchise law
differ, some are incomplete some are
not sufficiently specific in defining
d city's authority some are too speci
fic in the evident intention Of tahin'
away this authority.
"fhe efforts made by several citys
especially In the middle states "
establish precedent3 by ASSUMING
authority, whether sure or not that i
is possessed, draw attention 20 ser
ious omissions which have been made
In framing charters and enactng gen
era and special laws 1t has too Otter
been taken for granted that the ser
vice and rates would be satisfactory
consequently no provisions were made
!, to protect the public Or. perhapa
In confidence was felt that, In consid
ering that franchises are granted f0i
public convenience It would be pos
sible. In a predicament, to enforce i'm
piled authority.
But II has been aseertainod that
implied authority will not do The
specific authority must be plain.
Otherwise. control over service and
rates may not be exercised beyei
opments growing ont OF experience III
many cities Indicate necessity for
more care In enacting special laws
for revision of organic laws and lol
definite provisions establishing the
municipal authority 10 maintain and
control In the public interest"
The recent discussion regarding
municipal ownership Of lighting
plants in Cairo was. of course, use.
less one in view of Cairo's financial
condition; but it will certainly and
very properly come up agiin at the
end OF the five years contract which
has been closed by the city council
with the existing companies. During
this fiye-year term the city may i'm
prove It's financial condition so as 10
Justify renewal of the discussion,
and in the meantime il will be well
TO keep posted on the subject Hence
the following extract from yesterdays
Republic, having a direct hearing
upon the subject Is not out Of place
here
AS indicative of tendencies and
methods. the successful experiments
Of several Of the smaller cities with
municipal lighting plants have q de-
worthy trials, and the larger cities can
are In better position to make trust
worthy trials. and the larger cities
look to them for valuable information
THE water and light department Of
Duluth estimates, with experience as
a basis, that the plant viii pay for it.
self In fourteen years. The net earn.
ings. last year. from the gas plaut
were about $4,000. In 1897 the price
Of gas was st90 per ] 900 cubic fest
and the plant did not pay The super
Intendent had the rate reduced to
Size IN 1898. and this year It is reduc
cd 70 90 cents. The receipts are said
40 have been more than twice as great
ia 1903 at 81 than in 1898 at $3.50
South Norgalk. Conn. has had a
municipal plant for eleven years. tn
experiment IS satisfactory both to pat