The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-19
WANT CITY TO
BE THE OWNER
Mayor and Several Councilmen Favor
Municipal Control of Lights.
NONE is READY TO OPPOSE
r. S. WELLS INCLINED TO BE
N-COMMITTAL.

ROM interviews yesterday with
Mayor Richard p. Morris and a
majority of the cOunciImen, it ap-
pears that the sentiment is strongly in
favor Of the city taking over the plant
OF the Utah Light q Railway company
some time in the future when funds
can be provided to pay what it is rea-
sondbly worth. But owing to the fact
that the bonding resources Of the city
VIII be nearly exhausted when the ST.
uuu,Uco water and sewer bonds voted
by the qualified citizens Of the city
al the special election held Jan. >. are
ISSUED. the time when the city can do
this may be at least a generation away
II Is proposed, however, to look for
ward TO the time when the city's bond
ed indebtedness viii be wiped out or 50
reduced that the 81 900 900 or 81 500 600
the plant would be worth, allowing for
deterioration. can be raised.
AS yet no definite plan of action has
been mapped out by the counciimen
who favor municipal ownership, but it
Ii expected that the proposition will be
discussed at the joint meeting Wednes-
day evening of the council committee
on municinap laws and the special
water committee to which the Utah
Light x Railway cOmpany's appIica-
ton for an extension and consolidation
OF its franchises was referred.
Views of Mayor and CounciImen.
Following are the views of the mayor
and nine members of the council in re-
gard 20 municipal ownership:
Mayor Richard p. Morris: THE city
should own its own electric light plant,
ana | am in favor of having it do so
just as soon as the money can he raised
10 pay for it. In the event that the
council decides TO extend the franchises
of the Utah Light & Railway company
for any number of years 1 am in favor
OF putting a clause into the extension
ordinance providing that the city may
become the owner of the company's
plant by paying its actual value when
ever the citizens of Salt Lake decide
in favor Of municipal ownership. [
think municipal ownership of all public
utilities a good thing and that Salt
Lake should possess them as rapidly
as its resources will permit of raising
The money to pay for them"
President Frank J. HEWLETT have
been out Of the city and have just re-
turned, and am not familiar with the
latest phases of the extension matter
! have not even seen the Company's
ordinace- While I do not believe the
Utah Light & Railway company can
get the fifty years extension asked. [
would not be surprised If the council
gives it an extension that Will make its
franchise expire at the end of fifty or
sixty years In that event am in favor
of putting a clause in the franchise eX-
tension ordinance providing for NUM-
cipal ownership whenever the voters Of
the city at an election decide in favor
of it and the money can be raised to
pay the company what its property is
reasonably worth"
A. J. Davfs-"Under no circumstances
viii / favor an extension or consoIida-
tion of the Utah Light q Railway
cOmpauys franchises. But in the event
that the company induces the requisite
number of my fellow members to vote
extension I shall endeaVor to fasten an
20 a.
ing for municipal ownership"
+. a. HaTtenstein-'I am a Demo-
crat My party believes in municipal
ownership of public utilities, and so do
electric light plant and the street rail-
ways on which its people depend for
light and transportation. 1 will be
strongly in favor of putting a munich
pal ownership clause in the franchise
extension ordinance of the Utah Light
q Railway company, provided one is
passed. But I don't believe the COM
pany can muster enough votes TO get
any kind of an extension from the
council II it does I shan insist that a
municipal ownership clause goes into
it,"
Black Opposes Any Extension.
T. r BIack-'I won't be quoted on
any proposition that involves giving
the Utah Light & Railway company an
extension for any length of time, no
matter how short L am fighting the
extension scheme from start to finish.
and will agree to no compromise unless
the company pays the city $1,000 OOO
and that's so pper cent less than the
extension would be worth
l. -. Martini am strong for municipal
ownership, and you can quote me as in
favor of putting il into every ordinance
granting franchise TO a public utility
corporation / shall make a big fight in
the council for municipal ownership
franchise "a
the majority succeed in forcing it down
the threats Of myself and the other mem
hers of the council who are opposed to
giving the company an extension favor
making the clause to provide that NUM-
Cipal ownership shall be brought about at
the option of the voters of the city-that
is whenever they get ready for it.
whether the company is ready or not.
Thomas HOLIDAY am not in favor Of
the proposed extension, but in case it
goes through the council, I shall en-
deaVor to provide for municipal owner
ship Of the company's plant whenever the
people get ready for il. 1 in favor
of anything that viii give the people
better service than they have now. and
7 think municipal ownership Of lights and
street railway transportation would be a
good thing.
Joseph II Preece-I think municipal
ownership is "A good thing. and I am in
favor of providing for it in the event that
the Utah Light & Railway company's ex-
tension proposition goes through the
council. provided it can be figured out.
But L don't believe the proposition Will go
through. II it does. il will have to be
changed a good deal from what il is
now.
Wells Is Non-Committal.
RuIon S. wells-As a general PROPOSE
tion, ] am in favor of municipal owner
ship of public utilities. But / don't know
ass to putting a clause in the Utah Light
X Railway extension franchise providing
FOR municipal ownership. 1t might be "A
good thing still I don't know. The fact
is. ! haven't given it any thought and