Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-15
to buy after a certain time, but now

to buy after certain time. but now
we can't.
another feature is interurbans. We
might want to make Marshalltown
central point for an interurban SER
vice, and to do this 1t would be nee
essary to control the local plant we
can't do this If Darling or some one
else has it. The city, by buying this
plant at reasonable figure. could sell
it to an interurban company, that
would make this a central point.
u think the franchise should be de-
feated on these grounds said MI. NC
Carten.
Gregory hurls "Defi."
Councilman George Gregory, OF the
Second Ward, was called for, ana
spoke briefly. He reviewed his attl-
tude toward the franchises in the coun-
Gil. and said he had tried to carry on
his opposition in respectable ana dig
nified way, and for reasons that ne was
not ashamed Of He had raised his
voice against the franchises for Wnat
he had considered were for the pest
interests of Marshalltown. Of ne had
erred it was an error in judgment. ana
not of the heart. He had no apologies
10 offer.
What I am Directing to is that IN
these franchises Marshalltown is not
getting what it should have, or what
| it is entitled to for these eXSaordl-
nary privileges extending over perlod
of twenty five years. Twenty-Five
years is a long time. and any one seek
ing franchise here can we'll afford to
give the city of Marshalltown a htue
something for few years, in consld-
leration for the benefits in the years TO
come.
unfortunately for our people some
of the amendments proposed TO these
franchises were voted down. A year
ago the mayor advocated 81 gas and
10-cent electricity, and had arguments
TO prove that these rates were remun-
erative, and could be established and
maintained. / didn't fall in readily
with the ordinances, but after snow
ing 1 voted for the gas ordinance. The
mayor was very firm in his belief that
these were the proper rates, and we
were agreed to be satisfied for them
in three years, altho some OF US
thought we should have them sooner
The ordinance was passed and now is
: sided contest, as have never heard
J anything about the city taking any
, action to push the case. If there were
as strenuous efforts made to establish
an ordinance that would give us lowei
rates, as there are to get % or 3O-cenN
higher gas we might enjoy cheaper
gas at this time
In conclusion Mr.. Gregory said: =
defy any man to show a single identica
\ particular thing that Marshalltowr
gains by the new franchises that W.
don't get at the present time, except
. ing a slight reduction in electricit.
rates. and these could be secured by al
action of the council. maintained ant
a sustained by proper legal defense"
Pierce on Municipal Ownership.
4 Ex-Mayor Pierce was called on AM
talked from the viewpoint OF munic
ipal ownership. Mr. Pierce said he ha
e no personal fight with any one in tn
: matter. as he had been REASONABLE
a friendly with the mayor, and with hi
n attorney, Mr.. Boardman. When tn
" time came for the expiration Of tn
: it would be good thing for the cit
g to get control of the utilities.
i While Mr.. Herman called attentio
to the lack Of street car extension
under the proposed franchise. M
Pierce said he would go even furthe
~ and that the city had absolutely +
~ right to pay 81 in damages to abui
- =, ting property. He said the city couI
:, Gil had no rights that the legislatul
-. did not allow it, and the city can NJ
20 pay one cent of damages. DarlE
would not be compelled to build or
foot of street car extensions.
SO Mr. Pierce thought that if electrici
l. can be made for / cent or whatev'
ia it could be made for, the city shou
IN make it and give it to factories tn
r. all might enjoy the advantages al a
I tual cost.
ne AS a solution of the problem NJ
e Pierce cited section 1905 of the COD
ds which permitted cities to go in de
al three times the amount of their prese
90 indebtedness, in order to build or b.
y electric light or gas plants or wat
W works With a present debt in Ma
d shalltown of over 100000, we could
~ into debt for s2S0,000, and if Jones al
Hovey are willing to sell we can b,
=, if the people want to.
-. The mayor Interrupted Mr.. Pier
he asking How about the street c
he line?" I'll get to that in a momen
to replied the speaker and when he d
a come to 1t he said "a street car line
ed as much of an electric plant as a or
IT. mill is part of a water works and J
bought mill"
IN. Mr. Pierce also said that if Jones
nd Hovey were not ready to sell and ms
of far as many attorneys had agreed tn
ny the present franchise was not exclu
eu city, could build a nett