The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-01-28
WHY BOND ISSUE SHOULD
CARRY.

the hands of the opponents Of NUM-
cipal ownership in the matter of vot-
ing upon the issue of bonds for the
extension of our water and light sys-
tem
=. It is a conceded fact that the ex-
tensions recommended by the water
and light commissioners are abso-
lutely necessary. 1t is also conceded
that because of charter and legisla-
tive restrictions no extensions can be
made to our present system without
the issue of bonds. The earnings are
insufficient to do all that is demanded
of the department.
If a private corporation controlled
our water and light plant it would be
subject to the most severe criticism
if it did not extend its system with
the growth of the city. Of course the
people would not be obliged to raise
the money for extensions. This wor-
risome task would be left to the cor
poration holding the franchise, and
for which the people las a general rule,
would have but little sympathy.
The Labor World does not and never
cid believe in the bond idea for Sc
ments. 1t is expensive, cumbersome,
and an unnecessary burden upon the
people. Had the money used in pur-
chasing and extending the present wa
ter and light plant been secured by
taxation, the funds which are now
used to pay interest on water and
light bonds could be used to good adj
vantage either for depreciation or for
extensions
But we are not dwelling upon theor-
les. Necessity demands that extern
sions be made to those parts of the
city that are helping to pay for the
water and light plant land that do
not now enjoy it's blessings. What
good is municipal ownership If all of
the people cannot share the advan-
tage of it?
Then, too, it is a crying shame to
charge the water and light ponas to
the general bonded Indebtedness Of
the city simply for the purpose of
making comparisons with the lndebt
edness Of other cities whose public
5 utilities are owned by private corpor-
So h0-
tween general bonds, and water and
light bonds. The interest Of the for
nner is put into the annual tax levy
and is paid by all the people. The in
terest on the latter is paid from the
n earnings Of the water ana light de-
b partment. The issue of $4,000 adj
ditional water and light bonds would
q in no way increase the general tax
rate of this city.
w. s Lei the ordinary citizen understand
this.
~>s=> Enemies of municipal ownership
may appeal to your prejudice because
you are opposed to high taxes, and
they may represent to you that the
city is too heavily bonded, but do not
permit yourselves to be deceived. It
is the progress of public ownership
they are fighting, although they have
not the courage to tell YOU so, and If
they can induce you to vote against
raising money to extend the water and
light plant with the growth of the
city. they will have succeeded in ac-
comrlishing their purpose of destroy
ing your only hope for release from
the throes Of private monopoly.
~ DO not be deceived, we say. Ad-
ditdonal water and light bonds will
/ not increase your taxes, but they will
be the means Of giving to a large
number of people blessings that they
4 have hoped for ever since the city
. acquired the gas and water plant.
. Let us consider the proposition OF
Il two communities that are pleading fol-
water extensions
h On Duluth Heights the water anG
81 light department estimates that the
y building Of a plant will cost $4,000
IS The board rules that any people de,
String water must guarantee a rev.
q enue equal to per cent of the cos
&#' of construction. OF this per cent
one-half is set aside for interest OF
BIZ bonds, while the other half is uset
3'HHE for operation. The residents of Du
s84 luth Heights have given the neces
81 sary guarantee to the board, and a:
Us soon as the plant is installed it will
Il be self sustaining. No one will b.
# called upon to pay the interest on thu
s# SIS, 900 used in constructing this plan
SS save the water consumers on Duluth
81 Heights.
On Park Point the people have give1
H.