Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-24
FRANCHISE CAUCUS.
Council as Committee Of the Whole
caucuses On the Subject.

caucuses On the Subject.
Altho it was understood several
weeks ago when the public utilities
franchise was referred to the city
council as committee OF the whole
that copies of the proposed Mayor
Darling franchise would be furnished
the members for careful consideration
as yet none of the members have been
90 favored and they will enter a caucus
this afternoon to learn for the first
time what rates Jones & Hovey's
friends have to propose.
A schedule was published Monday
presumably upon the mayors request
but the real text Of the proposition is
still suppressed In this schedule 1t
appears that Darling wants a rate OF
s1.25 per 1000 cubic feet on gas, the
same as Pratt did and that the mayor
is willing to give It to him, the only
difference being that the mayor wants
81 gas in five years while Darling pro-
poses to put it off for seven years.
This so-called difference is probably all
opera buffe in order to permit the
mayor to four-f1ush before the public
because the same schedule shows the
mayor demanding a , per cent tax on
gross earnings and the Darling crowd
resisting when in fact the mayor has
conrded to some of his friends that
the Darling outfit have already agreed
ITO accept the tax clause. Assuming
then that Darling intends to come to
the mayors figures on gas the differ
ence between this price and wfat Nc
Bride and his associates offer, is 10
cents per 1000 cubic feet the first year
" 1t would cost the gas consumers
$4,000 more in one year on a send out
such as Pratt promised could easily
be developed in Marshalltown, than
Mcbride ct al. actually offer. Allowing
for gradual descent to the 81 price
this difference would cost the gas con-
sumers Of the city $4,000 more the first
year, S6,T50 more the second year, 81
500 more the third year, $3.50 more
the fourth year. and $4,000 more the
fifth year, or total of $4,000 more on
gas rates alone in five years than Nc
Bride now offers. In return per
cent gross earnings tax is proposed
(which the mayor says would have pro-
duced $500 this last year but which
in fact would have produced only ST.
$50 since the gross earnings Of the
Jones & Hovey plant for the year 1908
as taken from their books were $7s,-
000 Anybody can figure 2 per cent on
this.
Electric Light Rates.
1t would seem from the mayors
schedule that he and his favored group
have agreed to meet the Mcbride rates
on electric lights which start at II
cents less ten per cent for cash. If he
were actually making a fight as a re-
former he would demand better rates
than these from any and all persons
They are not low enough and the city
council should put them lower. Jones
Hovey's gross receipts from electric
lights are 100000 per annum. Prat
and several other engineers have esti.
mated that with better rates and betts,
service this business could be increase.
by half. If so every cut OF one cen
on rates would mean 5000 per an
mum saved to consumers. 1t would b.
better business to waive the two pc
cent tax Of $3.50 and cut ~ nigh
rates one cent per K. ".
Power Ratss.
The minimum rateo ON power In tn
Darling and Mcbride proposaitions sr
given as the same at cents while tn
mayor & staged again with glarin
scenery as demanding q minimum rat
of cents. The facts are that bot
Darling and Mcbride stand ready t
soceDtt s cents as : minimum and th
mayor knows IT,
Stroet Car Extensiens.
Again the opera butte appears wit
~ maSos dsmanding street car 81