Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-08-04
THE FRANCHISE PASSED

III RANNsANi1A h3'isp ~
Tho conflict over the franchise to the
Utah Light ana Railway company is
ended, 1t has been neadlessy prolong
ed The opposition was based partly
on misinformotlon and the rest on
malignant hatred against an institution
IN which II wns alleged the Mormon
Church is interested II has failed to
effect the end IN view and when tho
people Of this city reoch a full UNDER
standing Of the whole matter, there VIII
be general rejoicing over the result
10 begin with, the Utah Light and
Railway company was not the prime
mover IN the business proposition which
was evolved from the plan to furnish
The city with an ample and permanent
supply Of pure water from the Cotton
woods it was found on investigation
that in order to carry the water al as
high a level as was desirable and neces-
Fary, certain water rights held by the
company would have TO be- conveyed 70
The city The money to purchase them
could not be taken from the funds
raised by water bonds voted tor by the
ritlzens, so the company was asked TO
state on what terms the transfer could
Doe obtained,
After consideration the franchise for
The consolidation Of a series Of grants
md an extension for nifty years. with
n number OF concessions for the public
benefit was offered by the company, as
nm equivalent for tho conveyance to the
rity Of the desired water rights valued
ut 100000 that sum having been Of
Tered for them In cash and they being
worth fully the amount to the COM
pany for It's own use
Then arose tho furore brewed by mall
rontents and INDUCED In by many peo-
pie who did not inquire into the merits
Of the proposition, and the result was
The framing OF a so-caled 'oomprom-
ise" ordinance which pissed the city
Council and was signed by The Mayor
but which the company could not &C.
rept The project to convey the pro.
posed water supply then seemed In
danger Of long delay II not Of death,
MS the condemnation proceedings nd.
clscd by the obstructionlsts would have
taken long time to copsummate with
the prospect Of doubtful termination,
At length the Mayor, the city Attor-
hey, and the counsel for tho company,
rame to an agreement as to the
terms on which the properties required
by the city could be reasonably ac-
uuired, and an ordinance was drafted
containing these compromise conditions,
or course, az soon as It was presented
tho opposition renewed the previous
ulamor. the same kind OF misrcprescuta-
ton and abuse was INDUCED In ~ he
fore, and members NJ the city Council
who were supposed 20 have refused
10 be dictated by the rampant and
frenzied enemies NJ the company and
The city, were threatened and reviled
ind accused OF being bought
The next step the most puerile and
lmpoteut Of ALL was 10 onloin three
members of the council from voting on
The franchise ON the plea that they
ARE members Of the Mormon church
md that the Church has a financial inc
lerest in the Utah Light and Raivoy
rompany The object Of this was 10
hamper and hinder the passage OF the
hsnchise and the accomplishment OF
the work TO bring IN the Cottonwood
waters for the public benefit until after
HE municipal election
The purpose was so plain and the
plea so silly, that the court, very prop
nrly, took up the question or
the injunction without delay. and
m hearing the special pleading
nf the attorney Tor the obsuuotonlsts,
hnd the direct and forclbe arguments
Of Judge pey on behalf Of the city. the
interest Of which and the rights Of It's
officers being involved, dissolved the
Injunction and so that little plot utterly
failed.
These tactics and the threats pub
lished against those men who favored
the franchise, mo- doubt had their ef-
feet on some OF them. but there were
rrough members 10 stand by their CON
rlctions OF what is fair and right and
Tor the public Interest. 10 pass the or
dInance az agreed upon by Mayor Nor
ris and city Attorney Dey and con-
scented 10 by Judge Re Grand Young
for the company Il has been published
In the News in full and our fellow
tiuzens can read it and see how much
The city has gained from this trans
action However, We viii summarize
the salient points
Under the new franchise, the Utah
Light and Railway company has 10
furnish incandescent light for half the
amount permitted under the former
franchise, which allowed a maximum
pf 20 cents per klowatt hour That had
been voluntarily reduced TO IS cents by
the company with further reduction
Tor prompt payments. This will now
amount on prompt payments 10 but 10
rsnts, the minimum charge to be one
dollar per month,
Arc lighting is reduced from sl5 10
Dl.2s per lamp per month Tor all night