Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-13
The Franchises
1000,

Mr.. Denmead this week called a
member of the Tines Republican force
into his bank 10 inquire as to what this
newspaper was going to do about the
franchises. Scores of friends stop the
editor on the street to ask why the
newspaper is not fighting the fran
chises. They are all entitled to know
thai the T.-R. is done with this fight.
When the interurhan crowd offered the
same rates and better with an inter-
urban thrown in the T-R. boosted
for the interurhan, figuring that even
if the mayors control of the council
was strong enough to beat the interur-
ban. competition would be sufficient to
force low rates from the other fellows
and it did on electric lights and pow
er. After the interurban men We're
driven from the field and the other or
dinances We're adopted, the T.-R felt
that no more concessions could be OBJ
tanned SO it quit the fight. If it keeps
it up even people whose gas rates are
raised, will say that its motive is TO
persecute Ingledue when, God knows
he has troubles enough at this time.
nothing to say because there was little
more to say. When it was put up TO
the interurban people to pledge $780,
600 in bonds that they would build a
new plant as big as the old one in one
year and not be allowed any leeway on
time in case of injunctions, il was a
dishonest offer but it succeeded in
driving them out Of town. The T-R
boosted for an interurban then; 1t also
figured that stiff opposition was neces-
sary at that time to force a concession
Of lower rates. The electric rate did
come out satisfactory and the fact that
| the gas rate was raised above the Or
dinance then on the books was not the
newspapers fault. To the company it
will collect $4,000 out of gas con-
sumers in five years more than the
councils rate passed last December,
but 1t is argued that it is only little
bit higher than the old Jones & Hovey
rates which people have been paying
for years and will come down'to 81 in
five years. The T.-R stood for bet
ter deal then but the council voted
otherwise so the T.-R- has no more
fight to make about st. II people in
their homes want 10 pay stiff gas rates
so the T.-R. and others can get cheap
power, they are welcome to do it.
.
Again when Mr.. Darling promised
street car extensions and then slipped
in Section IS which provides that his
extensions Shall not be required" I'M
1 til the injury to abutting property has
been paid by the city. it looked like q
dishonest scheme to promise something
which he was not bound to deliver un-
less he wanted to. but that passed the
council and can't be helped. If The
leading financial men OF this city be-
lieve that these franchises are good
for the town, the T.-R. Is willing to LEI
their judgment prevail and herewith
extends to their committee the free use
of its columns to present their views
offering, Of course, the same privilege
to the other side. but keeping the ed.
tor out Of It.
II our city council had been WILLING
to exercise its rights under the code 0
, Iowa 1t could have enacted the sam
electric rate as Darling offers now an
, 1T would have been presumed in law t
Ibe reasonable until proved otherwis