East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-11-08

building, and also of much other city
property, said:
IF the council does what is right,
1t will turn down the franchise unless
the changes are made. To give 1t on
the terms asked by the company
would be to establish a monopoly here
that would certainly be bad thing
for the city believe that there
should be a provision In the franchise
giving the city a five or ten year option
on the plant, so that there would be
some hold on the matter"
Also Favors Chance for Com, ,'efition-
B. F. Nicholas, proprietor Of the
Great Eastern store, said that he would
prefer to see another company OWE
the gas plant so as to make some com
petition here. Consequently. he does
not favor the passage of the franchise
unless it be modified so as to give the
city some control in the matter bg
having the privilege of purchasing the
plant should they want to do so
George Robbins, proprietor of the
Owl Tea House, stated his position as
follows; 1T would seem TO me that
best interests Of the eity, and conse-
auently l do not favor the passage OF
the gas franchise ordinance as IL Is
now worded."
Judge S. A. Lowell declared that the
tendency is now all towards munich
pal ownership, and that he believed
the sentiment in favor of such would
continue to grow. In his opinion there
should be a provision in the gas fran
chise allowing of the purchase of the
plant by the city, and there should alse
be some provision for the regulation
of rates. AS to the compensation given
for the franchise. he believed the city
entitled to n reasonable amount, for
the time for giving away franchises is
past"
Should Have Chance to Purchase.
Attorney John McCourt expressed
his sentiments on the subject by the
following:
There should be no objection from
the company to the provision allowing
the. city to purchase the plant. for they
would be fully reimbursed. While IL
does not now appear that the city
wants the plant Immediately. yet ex-
perience points out that 1t is necessary
to put some such provisions in fran
chise of this nature in order to pro-
tect the public. 1t may be that the
company will not commit any injustice
on the public but II might. and for
that reason it is necessary for the pub
lie to protect itself.
Regarding the regulation of rates il
occurs to me that the rates given
should be maximum rates subject to
reductions, should conditions demand
Also, the rates should be uniform un-
less the applicants can show better ev-
idence that they have so far given for
a difference in the price for gas for
fuel and light.
The provision for paying a percent
age of the gross receipts to the grant
ors of franchises has been found
wholesome in other cities, and 1 be-
lieve is more desirable than the pay
ment OF any fixed sum. Also, II
seems to me that a higher bond than
$1,000 should be required of the com
pany in order to insure the building
of the plant within year. They are
being given valuable franchise, and
the possession of 1t for n year is OF
value to them even should .hey not
build, for 1t would help them in H.
their company. or in selling
If they should do SO. 1 believe that
the amount of the old bond should
be declared forfeited"
The above parties were seen at
this morning and last even
ing, and many more similar express
sions from business and professional
men could have been secured had
there been time. or all those seen
by the writer there was not one who
declined to state his opposition to
the present franchise. and he did SO
because he did not wish to take any
side. OF the business men seen.
all had their opinions
formed in the matter, and stated
their convictions freely without sug-
as to what was wished from
them
Municipal Light Cheaper.
one of the leading and most con-