The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-02-26
THE FRANCHISE QUESTION.


IN ITS petition to the city council
for an extension of its franchise
the Utah Light & Railway company
presents deliberately it's reasons for
believing the petition should be grant
ed, but a careful perusal of the en-
tire document fails to show a single
valid reason why the council should
agree with the company in any par
ticuIar.
Granting all that the company claims
on behalf Of its service, conceding it's
statement Of every fact-and the con-
cession would be large one-no BUSH
ness man, situated as the city is
would think for a moment of extend
ing the franchise now beyond its pres
ent limit, which is ue year 1887. The
controlling reason Cor the request is
the one upon the company lays the
least stress. and it is given i'm the
following words: The matter (of ex-
changing water rights was consid-
cred again by the board. and 4 was
decided to request that all the COM
pany's franchises be consolidated and
that the request be made of the mayor
and city council to extend those fran
chises for an additional fifty years AS
THIS WOULD MAKE THE BONDS
OF THE COMPANY MORE vALU-
ABLE"
If the grant would make the bonds
more valuable. it would also give the
company the ability to float more
bonds. In other words, the corpora
ton OF salt Lake is asked TO give the
lighting corporation a franchise of
great and immediate cash value for
very slight compensation. This is
the essence of the whole extension
proposition, and it is the basis for the
almost unanimous opposition OF citi-
Gems of Salt Lake to any extension
OF any kind.
1t is true as the company claims.
that it is giving better lighting serv-
ice than formerly; but it is also true
that for a long term the company did
not live up to its franchise obligations
in the quality of its service. 1t is adj
mitted that the company has more
mileage OF street car lines than any
other company in tffe country serving
a similar population. But that is the
cOmpany's misfortune, and not the
fault OF the people.
Because two competing systems were
consolidated and have duplicated lines
In the same sections, of the city is no
valid excuse for the kind OF service
Salt Lake has been getting from its
street car system. The people would
have no objection to the abandonment
of parallel lines; indeed, they would
prefer better service on fewer streets
AS it stands, no satisfaction is given
except on one or two lines. while the
people complain, and justly, of made
Quate service, poor cars and irregular
schedules on a large majority Of the
streets.
Apart from any other consideration,
Mr.. Newhouse's offer bars any plea
for an extension of franchise three
decades before it's expiration. He Of
fers TO install a complete, modern sys-
tenn for lighting and power purposes,
and he has the ability and capital to
perform what he promises. Moreov er
he promises to save the consumers nt
the city half a million or more an
hually by reducing the charge for
lights fully one-third. and reduCin,
the minimum charge from 81 to -
cents per month. This last is an i'm
portant item because it means a heavy
saving to the consumers who can least
afford 10 be extravaganza with lights
and it would enable many to use elac-
trio light who cannot afford it now
It is well understood that Mr. New
house has no particular ambition to
go into the lighting business. but it is
to his credit a citizen of Salt Lake
that he has taken this opportunity to
come forward with a legitimate pro-
posal in good faith whereby the peo-
pie can effect a large saving and al
the same time secure first class serv-
ice
The council cannot afford to give
away the enormous privilege asked by
the lighting company on any terms
No individual councilman has any right
to vote for 1t, unless he believes that
his own opinion. not the wish OF the
people. shall govern in important mat
tiers OF this Kind. And the people OF
Salt Lake would like to see such an
experiment. in competition as Mr.. New
house proposes. provided it is made on
terms which will safeguard the city.
A DONATION STOPPED.