Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-03-27

was the truth, and the exaggeration
distortion and application that have
followed In the press and IN the coun-
eli, are only part and parcel OF the rest
of the senseless opposition that has
been raised against the company
As to the rights OF the company 70
the properties IN question there may be
some dispute, because litigation IS pos
sible over almost any claim that may be
had to property particularly as TO wa
ter rights. But the proposition from
the city to the company 10 convey those
rights to the city would not have been
made II there was no legality IN thu
c0mpany's claims. These are matters
which can be determined without pas
sion, without Misrepresentation ami
without endeayors to arouse popular
clamor, all Of which are unworthy the
action Of sane and sensible individuals,
The notion that by extending the time
Of franchises already granted and pos
sessed the city will be deciding for all
time all it's rights, title and interests in
and to all its streets, allies and public
places to the aforesaid corporation" Is
sufficiently wild and extravaganza to
have omanated from an asylum for
the demented, but II easily passed mus
ter in an audience innamed by the hot
air with which It had been warmed up
on that wlntry occasion,
When the Utah Light e. Railway
company presented its petition for
consolidation Of the franchises which
1t had acquired by purchase and other
wise, and for an extension Of the same
In one grant for period Of so years, II
placed that request as an equivalent for
the conveyance OF the properties NAM
ed, and for the continued furnishing TO
the city lighting to the value Of 81, 300
year and s25 per annum for each
street car In operation. It did not ask
something for nothing. as frequently
asserted. The company further agreed
to reduce It's charges for all grades Of
lighting. These points have been either
overlooked, or wilfully distorted. or the
very opposite proclaimed as the com.
pany's intentions
Now there Is another matter associ-
ated with this that should be noticed.
That is, the "brazen" proposition for a
franchise to be granted to an Inform
ed corporation for no consideration
whatever for the period Of nifty years.
This would give to the unborn concern
all that the opponents of the Utah
Light g. Railway company invelgh
against with nothing in return. In the
rawlings Of those opponents 1t is claim
ed that a grant OF fifty years fran
chlse would be worth 100000 to that
company, and yet they would give It
away to the up-in-the-air proposition
for nothing, and they want the grant to
be made without delay and without
consideration, Why? Because the petit
TONERS say they will furnish light at
q reduced rate from that now charged
by the existing corporation When the
rates are carefully examined as pro-
posed In tho two propositions, II will be
found that the average agreed upon by
the Utah Light g. Railway company
viii be just as low as that offered---on
paper--by a company that may never
become reality, and which offers no
guaranty for the supply of .he entire
city with light, nor any OF 1t with trans
portation,
Now all we ask Of the people Of this
city, and particularly those usually
well-informed gentlemen who have
Joined in the hue-and-ory that has
been raised with but little reason, is
that they will investigate the matter
thoroughly II they can without preju-
dice and without passion, II may be
that the 30 years extension asked for
is a longer term than the people are
willing to grant, But should not the
company have something in return for
the properties which It owns and which
the city desires 10 possess? We think
so. II II is wrong for the company 20
90 what has been claimed 1t has at
tempted, that is "get something for
nothing" would IL not be wrong for the
city to try to grab" something for
nothing,
Let whatever Is right be done In the
matter, after fair consideration. Stop
this insensate bowling, this threatening
of members Of the council who simply
want to do their duty, this unjust de-
nuncIation, these endeavors to involve
our citizens and public officers in a
broil. We say to those agitators who
try to browbeat public officials by
threats of political defeat, that any
member OF the council who would be
Influenced by the cowardly threats that
have been uttered would be unworthy
OF public support and Of public respect
Let good common sense and business
principles rule In this matter and leave
public officials to exercise their calm
and candid Judgment in the conduct Of
our public affairs