Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-04-22
CITY OWNERSHIP THE TRUE
SOLUTION.

Next Saturday the time will have
expired set by the city council when
the Northwestern Telephone Co.
will have forfeited its rights to &C.
cupy the streets and alleys of the
city unless some settlement should
be reached. The question there
fore Of the proper action to be
taken by the city is very pertinent
one at this time. There are three
lines Of action that may be taken:
First-To submit to the tele-
phone company and take whatever
it chooses to give the city.
Second-City Ownership, the city
to acquire the ownership of the ex-
change and operate it in the inter-
est of the tax payers of the city
and give absolutely fair treatment
to all telephone lines entering the
city.
Third-That the organization of
a local company be encouraged for
the purpose Of acquiring the ex-
change or, it unsuccessful in secur-
ing the exchange, erect second
system.
The first solution we do not care
to discuss further, because we
would consider it a surrender of
the rights of the city and a damper
on the true development of the tele-
phone system and connections with
the surrounding territory.
The second proposition we believe
would be the true solution of the
question in Willmar. 1t is the
only way in which we can main
tain one telephone system in the
city that will give absolutely fair
connections to all long distance
lines and give the tax payers of the
city some compensation for the use
of the streets and alleys. Much
was said in the last campaign by
enemies of public ownership about
the injustice that would be done to
the tax payers by the city acquir.
ing the telephone system. 1t was
said that the homes of the city
would be mortgaged and the people
generally taxed for the benefit OF
the people who had phones. This
view of the case is entirely errone.
Gus. In the first place, under the
new law, there will be no need 70,
the city to issue bonds against the
credit Of the city. The law speci.
fically provides that certificates oil
indebtedness might be issued fol
the purpose Of securing tie neces
sary funds and the payment of same
to be secured by a mortgage or
the telephone plant, with the un
derstanding that if the city default
ed, the parties furnishing the
money may take the plant and ope.
rate it themselves for a period not
exceeding twenty years and under
proper restrictions to rates; ano
the law specifically states that these
certificates of indebtedness would
in no way be lien on the genera
fund of the city. In order to make
use of this provision it would be
necessary to first submit to the peo'
pie of the city the question Of
adopting an ordinance making the
law applicable to Willmar. Will
such an ordinance adopted, thu
council could proceed to sell certif
Gates of indebtedness and acquire
and operate the plant. In no wa,
could they issue bonds against the
the city except by another election
held for that purpose. There woulc
be absolutely no risk for the city
to take over the telephone business
The city would have the powe,
then, if it so wished. to so adjust
rates that the users of the tele'
phone would pay a fair share into
the city treasury for the use of the
city's streets. There could not be
the least question about the propo.
sition being paying one for the
city financially. Besides the finan.
cial advantages to the tax payers OF
the city, there would be the great
advantage of taking control of all
lines of communication leading in.