The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-02-19

7 is safe TO say that not in years
has any question been so general
" discussed i'm the city as was the
application for the extension of fifty
years in the existing light and rail-
way franchise, and the proposition of
Samuel NewhouSe to stablish a new
plant and furnish better light at great
" reduced rates. The discussion was
taken uD in every home in the city
where electric lights are used. and by
every person who uses the street cars
for conveyance. A closer study of the
ordinance giving the Utah Light &
Railway company the franchise under
which il is operating at this time re-
veals the fact that this franchise has
practically forty-twO years to run.
Owing to the consolidation of the two
old companies. all the franchises do
not expire at the same time. None Of
them has less than thirty-eight years
TO run and others have fOrty-tWO years
The feeling of the citizens in general
is expressed in the following state
ments from prominent men in the com
munity representing all lines of bust
ness. and many of them large property
owners:
Demand Not From People.
Thomas Weir am very strongly op-
posed to extending a franchise that has
already thirty. years or more to run.
The public is not demanding anything
OF the kind The fact that the PROPOSE
ton comes from the corporation indi-
Gates that the move is in the interest
of the corporation and not the people
OF the city. The council is elected to
look after the interests of the people. L
would oppose the extension of the fran
chise. l am satisfied that il would be
against public interest to grant such a
franchise.
Mayor r. p MOrris-As this matter
Is likely to come before me in an Off
cial wav and as / may be required TO
take action upon it. i feel that II would
not be right for me to pass judgment
on the merits of the proposition now
\ Richter-No. sir; don't grant any
such franchise. We've been robbed long
enough. 1t would be an outrage for the
council to extend this monopoly on the
terms mentioned in the petition. The
company should reduce its rates instead
OF raising them i'm consideration of the
valuable franchise they are after.
Granville GiIlette-In my judgment it
would be wrong to tie the city to this
corporation for almost 100 years, when
il offers little OF nothing in the way of
improved service. and at the same time
reserves the right to increase prices
above the present rates. 1 am opposed
to il.
Clawson FaVors the Franchise.
4
chise should be granted if the rights of
the city are properly protected Eighty
two years is a long time for any fran
chise to run, and in this case the inter-
ests of the people of the city should be
well safe guarded before the franchise
is granted Under proper restrictions
favor the granting of this franchise.
The company has struggled along for
many years trying to build up it's sys-
TEN. IL has made no money and has
vested rights that should be considered.
If a new company is 10 be formed II
might negotiate with the old company
for the purchase of its plant. am con-
fident that reasonable terms would be
submitted.
NJ H. Walker am opposed TO the
granting of this franchise on the terms
submitted. Why? Why, because we
opposed to fixing arbitrary rates now
to stand for fifty years from the termi-
nation of the present franchises
at Would be Suicidal"
J. W. HalIoran-It would be suicidal
for the city TO grant this franchise. I
consider il a foolish proposition and
should not be considered at this time.
] consider il going to the extreme to
ask for such a franchise At time
when everything is being cheapeued
this company comes forward with Z
prices for its light and gas, and it
offers the city practically nothing i'm
return II is "A well known fact that
the power right offered has no special
value TO the company; the title to the
paper min power right has become in
validated by not being used for ten
Years II is to be hoped the council
will not consider the extension OF this
franchise. It is time enough 10 con-
slider this matter when the present
franchise expires, thirty years or more
from now. Let this petition of the
Utah Light & Railway company be laid
on the shelf for thirty years.
w. V. Rice-It is inadvisable to con-
slider this matter at this time. 1 am
opposed to the proposition as IL is sub
united. 1t is ridiculous to give this
company the right to fix its prices now
Tor the next ninety years when every
thing, energy included, is being cheap
ened The only reason for considering
the patter at this time is to accommo-
da.e the company. This / consider is
U5I h, the interest of the public.
People to Pay the Freight.
George N Lawrence think il
fool proposition to ask for an extension
OF this franchise for fifty years just to
enable the company to float another is
sue of bonds. The people would be
compelled to pay the freight on the
new bonds as well as on the old ones
! have been informed by a man in a
position TO know what he is talking
about that a better plant than the
pres mt one could be installed in Salt
Lake for $4,000 and that with this
plant the service could be improved 100