The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-04-19
UP TO MR.. DEAN.

- form of considering the fran
chise extension asked by the Utah
Light g. Railway company, Messrs.
Hewlett, Fernstrom, Wells and
Preeee have approved the ordinance
desired by the corporation and rec
commended il for adoption by the
council. The form of elaboration was
farce and the conclusion might as
we'll have been written out by the
majority of the committee long ago,
since it was known in advance they
would grant anything the company
wanted and would not insert any
thing distastefuI to the company.
Messrs. Fernstrom and Wells in par
ticuIar have been consistent, persis-
tent advocates of the corporations
demands, and just as persistent in
their opposition to the peoples rights
and wishes.
The whole subject has been dis
cussed so thoroughly it is unnecessary
to point out at length the objection
anoe as it stands approved by the
committee. Briefly, it comedies a
forfeiture clause, applicable only to
the street railway franchise, and at
tainable only by joint action of the
council. sustained by a court decree.
That is to say, no citizen on his own
initiative can ask for forfeiture be-
cause of violation Of franchise pro-
visions, and it remains only for the
company to maintain control of the
city council in order to do about as
it pIeases with street car service. AS
for the lighting power and gas SER
vice, there seems to be no relief in
case the service is inadequate.
The price of light, gas and street
railway fares is irreVocabIy fixed in
the franchise, and it is not subject to
regulation by the council, as it should
be. For fifty years the people of Salt
Lake are to be compelled to pay the
prices named, although there is
weak proviso that in case there is any
improvement in methods, which shall
reduce the cost of manufacture and
distribution of electricity, the city
and company shall share equally in a
readiustment of rates incident to the
Improvements. This may mean some
thing or nothing, as the company
shah Construe it. IF the present ser
vice were based on the Improvements
In vogue elsewhere, there would be
an immediate and heavy reduction in
the minimum price fixed by the or
dinance.
Again the council committee has
agreed to abolish the privilege the
city now has of using, without
charge, the poles and cross-arms of
the company for wires. So long as
that right exists, the city is in posi-
ton to establish its own plant. With
the right cancelled, the city is at the
mercy of the company for another
fifty years. The moral is very plain:
the company does not intend TO leave
the city any leverage whereby muni-
Cipal service can possibly be estab-
iished without an entire new system
of poles, the Disagreement of the
streets, and a heavy outlay Of capital
which would be unnecessary under
existing franchises.
The only redeemins feature of the
companys franchise as drawn by it's
committeeman, is the promise of
reduction in domestic lighting
charges, and for that the people have
Mr. Newhouse 20 thank, because he
offered TO give such service if granted
the existing franchises.
As il stands, the ordinance is Who'll
Iy bad. 1t comedies great privileges
in return for comparatively insignifi-
cant concessions; it eliminates safe
guards now owned by the people, and
it perpetuates a practical monopoly
for half century on terms which no
modern city administration would &C
cept as d business proposition.
II appears that councilman Dean
holds the deciding vote in the council
and that upon him will hinge the
adoption or rejection OF the fran
chase when it comes to a final vote.
Mr.. Dean has a great responsibility,
and, whether he realizes it or not,
his reputation as q citizen is at stake.
He is in position to make or mar his
public career and his decision will
be watched with anxiety by every
resident of Salt Lake.
It is up to Mr.. Dean.