The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-06-11

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tx ::vN: regular session NJ tie city
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when io"'r:v>> vii: l,c called the "r>li-
1:,cv Considered 1t lie last session Of
:..:c ,unc:1 providing an election at
which to take the sense of the qualified
taxpayers c' the proposition Of a NIT
,':c;oa' electric light plant
There is strong effort. silent it is
:rue bu. nevertheless direct, % defeat
this ordinance at its second or third
reading in the council, which, if sue
ce>si,,,, would deny the qualified tax-
payers the right to say whether or not
the ma or:ty are in favor of the city be-
coming the owner Of an electric ligl':
plant.
The opponents Of municipal ownership
have been active and at the session Of
the council next Tuesday may have a
petition, numerouSly signed and with
corporations which can not vote.
urging the acceptance of the sched-
ule of rates offered by the Shreveport
Gas. Electric Light and Power Com
Dany. In fact it would be surprising if
there is not an attempt to defeat the
ordinance with an enthusiastic demon
>tration
However. we do)not believe that a
,ajor;ty Of the council will be mlsled by
any petition. but will leave to the quail
heI taxpayers the decision of this issue.
Any other course would be undemo-
cratic.
What is the issue?
When the question of the renewal Of
the electric lighting of the city was
called, the company doing the lighting
proposed very reasonable reduction
for the city. but not cent for the con-
sumers.
Why was that marked Difference to the
city and the complete ignoring of the
consumers:
The old rates, the rates which now
prevail. which were submitted to the
council are:
s2.oo and under $500, I5c less 5 and
10 per cent. nett 1888.
$500 and under $40. I5c less 10 and 10
per cent. nett 12.I5.
$1,000 and Under $4,000. I5c less IS
and 10 per cent. nett 11.4S.
$1,000 and under $1,000. 1:c less 90
and 10 per cent. nett 1910.
$1,000 and under $1,000. I5c less 25
and 10 per cent. nett 10 rs
SSo.oo and over. 15c less ;2>7 1-.3 and
10 per cent, nett 9.
Through the influence Of Mayor
Queries ard majority CT the council
the bid of the lighting company was re-
jected. and since then the agitation Of
municipal ownership has developed into
proportions which have alarmed the
lighting company and it's friends. which
is not surprising 1t has been charged
on the streets that Mayor Querbes de-
signed to confscate the gas and electric
light plant which is plea so senseless
as to barely deserve a passing notice.
but this plea was effective in enlisting
some sympathy from the thoughtleSs
and easily persuaded who seldom think
and rarely reason for themselves. And
there have been other ridiculous reports
connected with this effort on the part
of the mayor and majority of the city
council to secure cheaper lights for the
people, which alone. is an argument IT.
REPUTABLE and which sustains the posi-
ton of the mayor and the majority Of
the council beyond all intelligent con-
travention. Yielding to the spirit of
agitation. the lighting company would
revise its old rates AMI with the petition
which may be submitted to the council
next Tuesday is the new schedule, in
substance, may be:
From SI.oo to $IcOo nc per k. W.
less 10 per cent, nett 900.
From $1,000 to $1,000 1oc per k. w.
less 10 per cent nett g.
Over $4,000, no discount. nett 8.
So much for intelligent agitation.
Now, under municipal ownership, the
electric lighting would cost 7 cents, and
at that rate every person in the cor
porate limits could dispense with oil
lamps and have electric lights. which is
the light for the people.
But at this very suggestion there are
individuals who go into frenzy of dis
temper and denunciation of municipal
ownership because in some instances the
municipal plants have been mismanaged,
but from the experience derived practi-
cally. it is conceded a success except by
those interested in private ownership of
the plant who insist that municipal own
ership is a failure and source for
grating.
In municipal ownership is offered
many advantages which we will discuss