Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1905-08-31
FOR PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.
DR.. Riggs Gives Reasons for
His Position.


DR.. Riggs Gives Reasons for
His Position.
EDITOR FREE PRNss:-Will the
time ever manifest itself when man
will cease to exploit his fellow man?
This question has dominated my
mind for many years, and at this
time, when the citizens OF Grange
vile IT about to decide by their
ballots whether they shall come
into possession Of an enterprise Of
vast Importance to them, or
whether they will permit an indi-
vidual to own a public utility, the
question recurs to me with greater
force than ever.
We all know the evil and destruc-
tive influences the great trusts and
corporations have in our land
through their control of what
ought to be public utilities, and
every liberty-loving American
would abolish all OF them where it
is his power to do so. Millions Of
dollars are wrung annually in sur
plus profits and dividends on
watered stocks of the great COM
bines, which come out Of the
pockets Of the common people.
There are public necessities which
the people must have to insure
their comfort and convenience.
Water, for instance, is absolutely
necessary to sustain life. Would
it not be proper for the people to
own collectively such industries,
SO that the article produced could
be purchased at the actual cost of
production, doing away with the
enormous profits that we now pay?
These are the true conditions as
they exist at present, and they
serve only to make a few million
aires and thousands OF poor. /
use this illustration as an example
Of how the people get grated by
not owning the "a Of produc-
ton.
We have before US a parallel
proposition, except on a smaller
scale. A water system is an in
dispensible necessity to any city.
We need water for fire protection
and to irrigate our gardens and
lawns, and above all, pure health
full water for household purposes.
1t is needless to state that our city
has such q system. 1t is true that
some improvements are necessary
to bring out the desired results;
but who is more able to bring
this about? The whole people
working for it's perfection collec-
lively, or a corporation striving tc
get the greatest profits from the
least amount OF money? 1t is the
object Of any profit-system to in.
vest just as little as possible tc
, produce the greatest profits. All
will agree that we absolutely need
water. Then why allow any one
!, man or company of men to say
~ own this water that you people
are compelled to have, and yor
, will have to come to my terms j
you use it. You will not only
!, have to pay me what it costs t.
, deliver it in your house, but al
additional profit of twice its cost. u
Why stand for a graft Of THU
nature? These are exactly the
!, conditions as they now exist in
, Grangeville. Would you not
rather see the profit you are being
exploited Of go toward paving oul
streets and identifying our city
than to have it spent in othel
states by nonresident owners o
the Grangeville water system?
Cities that own their own water
systems have the lowest taxes
We can get our water at less thar
} one-half what we are now paying
, with sufficient profit remaining fol
the support of u city ~oficers-ir
fact for the manipulation of tn,
J whole city machinery. Why is i
that we are taxed to the extreme
} and then licenced in addition
All because we are subject to thil
proft-graft of one thousand dollar
J per year for water for city purposes
when the city don's s it from
> one months end to another.
Since this question has arisen
!, am considerably impressed will
, this query: If our water system
in it's prerent condition is no
worth the price asked for it by it
: present owners, (this is one of tn,
strong points the opposers are try
ing to force the people to believe
and it is q known fact that they
desire the defeat of this cause only
.. that they may get possession Of i
for themselves) why are they
willing to risk their own goot
money in q worthless investmen
: ;~ -rofnuo-oA - 1nA~- Az 10.