The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-07-11

the contract.
Times and conditions have changed
since the granting of the Simons'
franchise. Then there was no other
Light or Power company in the
City, who might desire to get hold
of its franchises and monopolize the
light and power business of the city.
This is independence day and the
writer is going to speak plainly on
the subject.
Only a few months ago our city
fathers granted franchise to a gas
company, The Plymouth Lighting
company, authorizing it to come into
the city and tear up our paved
streets (streets that had cos the citi-
zens and taxpayers of the city in
the neighborhood of one hundred
thousand dollars, for the purpose Of
laying gas pipes and mains.
When we looked with sorrowful
eyes on the tearing up of recently
laid pavemen.s, we made up our
minds not to complain, for was not
the Gas plant about 10 enter into
competition with the Electric Light
Plant, and were we not about 20
strike the shackles from our limbs
and escape the servitude of the wick
ed Snoeberger?
We consented that the beauty and
symmetry of our pavements be de-
stroyed forever. to make way for
Liberty Millions for defense but
not one cent for tribute, was the
watchword, and drying our tears in
the belief that we were to have COM
petition, we fondly thought that if
they taxed us too much for electric
lights, we would use gas, and if the
gas man got gay with us, we would
pillow our troubled heads on the
compassionate breast of Snoeberger-
And now, with all these fond an
ticipations and promises, what do
they ask of us by the proposed fran
chise. Simply that we surrender, un-
conditionally, to Snoeberger ct al.
Now let us not get confused about
The matter.
A few months ago the city was
asked to grant franchise TO gas
company with permission to tear up
the pavement and streets and alleys
of the city. because we were to have
competition in the lighting business
in the city, and So hereafter we could
get our lights cheaper than ever be-
fore, and we consented
Now we have the Gas Plant But
the ink is not dry on the Gas Conn
pany's franchise, before we are asked
to grant franchise to &C. d. Snoe-
berger, his Associates, Successors
and Assigns" for practically 13 years
and to pay him more than ever for
lighting our streets, and for CON-
mcrcial light
Why does this proposed new fran
rhise to- Snoeberger, "his associates,
successors and assigns" follow so
hard upon the franchise to the Gas
Plant that was to give us SO much
| cheaper light and fuel?
Who are to be the associates, sue
cessors and assigns" of Snoeberger?
Did it ever occur to you that the
Gas people might want to be the
| associates, successors and assigns"
of c. ID. Snoeberger in the new pro-
posed franchise?
And suppose that the Plymouth
lighting company, the Gas Plant,
or its stockholders should become
the associates. successors and as
signs OF the electric lightg franchise,
where then is our pipe dream of
competition?
The interests of the private con-
sumers of electric light and power
are not properly guarded and pro-
tected in the proposed franchise in
its present form.
If the franchise were granted, as it
now is, there is nothing in the terms
of the ordinance or contract to pre-
vent c. d. Snoebergerg, "his associ-
ates, successors and assigns" from
Immediately selling the Electric
Light Plant, and the franchise given
him, to the Plymouth Lighting Com
pany, or any other decoy-duck that
might be selected or named, for the
use and benefit of the Gas Company
Then, in that event, what would
come of the boasted competition tha:
the people have tried to secure?
The taxpayers and citizenJ of Ply
mouth have right to demand that
no franchise be given Mr.. Snoeberg-
er, or any other person, or corpora
ton, unless the franchise contain a
positive and emphatic provision, that
in case the property rights and
franchises of the Electric Light
Company shall fall into the hands,
or come under the control, directly
or indirectly, of any person or cor
porations engaged in this City in the
furnishing of light and power, the
franchise shall Immediately end and
terminate.
The laws of the land are opposed
tc monopoly The courts are busy
in declaring all monopolies and COM
binations to defeat competition un-
lawful and void, and the people as
mass are opposed to monopoly.
There can be no doubt that the
Council have the right and the power
to make such restrictions in any fran
chise il may grant as are necessary
| and sufficient to prevent the posi-
bility of combinations and the de-