The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-07-18
ALL ONE WAY.
Mass Meeting Monday Expresses
One Sentiment-No New
Contract for Is Months.
Enthusiastic Speeches Favoring
Municipal Ownership.

The mass meeting at the city
hall last evening was well repre-
sented by prominent citizens OF
Plymouth. Following the ad-
iourned meeting of the council
Mayor Logan stated the object OF
the meeting then proceeded to
give the electric light commit
tees report on the prices paid in
other cities, but this report was
somewhat biased in that it gave
the names of cities and towns IN
Indiana that were paying higher
prices than in Plymouth, but not
a single one that has lower rate.
After reading this report MIR.
Lauer asked the mayor whether
the meeting was a citizens meet
ing and if so did the mayor in
tend to preside. Mr.. Logan re-
piled that it was a citizens meet
ing and they were at liberty to
select their own chairman. There
upon Mr.. Hendricks moved that
Hon. Charles Kellisn be selected
chairman, which motion prevail
ed. Mr.. Kellison made a few pre-
liminary remarks and called for
the organization by electing a
secretary. Mr.. Otto Weber was
selected upon motion of Charles
Ulrich. Mr.. Lauer then present
ed the following resolution:
Whereas, the City of Ply
mouth heretofore granted a fran
chise to, and entered into con-
tract with the M. w. Simons
Light and Power Plant, for the
lighting of the streets and other
public places of the City and for
supplying electric light to private
consumers, which franchise and
contract are now in full force and
which do not expire until Febru-
ary 16, 1910, period of over two
years and seven months from this
date, which unexpired portion OF
said franchise and contract is
now in the hands and control oi
c. D. Snoeberger and those
whom he may represent in the
: premises, and
Whereas, said Snoeberger, and
his associates are asking that the
Common Council of the City
grant them a rlw or additional
franchise and contract for the
lighting of the streets and public
places of the City and that the
city enter into a new or addition
al contract for supplying light to
the City and to the citizens oi
Plymouth, which new and pro-
posed franchise and contract is
not nearly so favorable to either
the City or to private copsumer:
as is the present franchise ant
contract under which we are now
operating, and
Whereas, the City of Plymouth
has recently granted a franchise
to c. H. Geist, his successors anC
assigns, to use the streets, alleys
and public places of the City, fol
the purpose of laying its gas
pipes and mains in the work o.
constructing gas light and pow
er plant, which gas plant is abou
completed and ready for opera
ton, and which gas franchise wa:
intended to have the effect tc
cheaper the cost of both light
and power to the public and pri
vate consumers, and
Whereas, franchises of thes,
kinds are, and ought to be, valu
able assets in the hands of tn,
public, and ought never to bs
granted or given to private per
sons or corporations without ade
quate and sufficient considera
ton in return therefor, anu
Whereas, municipal or publ,
ownership of an electric light ant
power plant would be of advant
age to the city and its citizens
and that the City of Plymouth
by economical handling of it!
revenues for short time will
that end in view, can put itself il
a financial condition to enable i
to successfully enter upon a plar
of municipal ownership of such ;
plant in the near future, thereb,
securing to both the city and it
citizens cheaper light and bette
service.
Therefore, Be it Resolved, b,
the citizens of Plymouth in mas
meeting assembled, that it is tn,
sense of this meeting that tn,
Common Council of the City o
Plymouth ought not to grant tn,
proposed new franchise to, O
enter into the proposed new con
tract with c. D. Snoeberger, hi
associates, SUCCESSORS and as
signs, or to any other person o
corporation, but that the who'll
matter ought to be postponed TO
period of at least eighteer
months, and with a view to th'
ultimate accomplishment of mu
nicipal ownership.
Charles Kellison,
Chairman
Passed, July Is. 1907.
Attest: Otto H. Weber. Secy.
Mr.. Lauer then read the fol
lowing paper to support the mo
tion:
A proposition to grant a fran