Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-23

The council spent Tuesday night in a
discussion OF the new Hull ordinances
on gas. electricity and street car SER
vice, and all were placed on their sec
ond reading President c. D. Jones, OF
the Marshalltown Light. Power and
/ Railway Company. presented written
proposition for lower rates. Jones was
fairly bubbling over with generosity,
and offers the Darling rates for gas
4 dollar gas after 1--WE years-if the con-
sun2ers live that long to get advan-
-age OF the rate This is the rate which
largely defeated the Darling franchise.
The mayor presented his tentative
plan for municipal ownership, but
made no definite announcement as TO
what price he expected TO get on the
plant. Il was explained tina. the price
was not obtainable as yet, awaiting a
proposition from the company The
mayor thought that the city could take
over the gas and electric plants and
pay cor. Jones & Hoyey's equity within
seven years, the time during which the
Jones & Hovey franchise continues.
The thought was suggested that if the
city could do this Jones & Hovey must
be making q good thing out Of their
present rates Gregory doubted If the
plants could be secured al reasonable
rate.
The Mayors Negotiations.
II telling OF his plans the mayor said
tina he was now engaged in figuring
out the deal for purchase on an arbi-
trary basis, and he expected. within
few days 10 Gala the council together.
\ Then il could be seen whether he was
( having q pipe dream or a real live one.
( The mayor said il was not an easy job
I 70 figure out a plan whereby the city
could take over the plants without put
ting any money into the investment
and have them stand the scrutiny Of
+ people VINO know.
Good and Herman wanted to hear
from President Jones. but Psenicka
thought rot, claiming that as long as
the mayor was negotiating with the
company it was. not advisable to make
the plan too public.
Herman thought that Jones should
give the public some idea as to the
price he wanted. Let the people do a
little thinking for Themselves said
Herman Jones can tell US in open
council. it Will be published, and the
council and the people can do some
thinking The people would like to
know something about it."
Herman asked Mr. Jones point blank
# he really wanted 10 SELL and the
power company president replied that
he was ready TO sell. and would just
as soon sell 10 the city as 10 any in
dividual. Jones said he thought the
plan adopted by the mayor was feas-
ible one and that he was willing to
make the terms easy, as he knew that
ne would get his pay some time. Jones
made no statement, however, as TO
what price he would ask for the
plants.
Gas Ordinance Called.
The Hull gas ordinance was then
called up on its second reading. In
the debate Clark objected to any fur
ther action on the gas ordinance that
would repeal any action now pending
in the federal court. He wanted cheap
gas as we'll as any one, ard he didn't
care who secured it. He did not. how
ever want to adopt any new ordinance
that would repeal the one that was
within one month Of hearing.
Herman wanted 10 know what use
there was in carrying on lawsuit, for
if the plant were bought by the city
the case in the federal court would
necessarily be withdrawn.
The mayor asked what would he the
result in the event that no agreement
was reached with Jones & Hovey as TO
purchase. Why lose the time it takes
TO get into the federal court?" ne
asked.
Herman replied that the time was al
ready lost, and he considered the new
ordinance better than the old one for
the company. The new one, he thought,
might not be attacked by the com
pany The mayor said that there was
no difference between the two or
dinances.
Northup Willing to Assist.
City Attorney F. E. Northup said
that if there were any other attorneys
IL Narshallsc=a =he wanted 10 tame
: up the city's case without charge ne
wanted it understood that he would
cooperate with them. He considered
: the case now pending just as good a
case as the new one. Northup said that
he had considerable faith in getting
the injunction dissolved, and the citi-
zens would, by the present case, have
gained the difference in the old rates
and the ones called for in the ordin-
ance If the ordinance is held to be
good the city solicitor said that the
company would be compelled to pay
every dollar of the difference to its
patrons, besides the costs of the ca se
and the attorneys fees. Gregory
thought the company would pay, only
when each individual consumer had
sued for his rebate. Northup reiterated,
however, that as soon as the injunc-
ton was dissolved the ordinance would
date back to the time the ordinance
was adopted, and as long as the com
4 pany was solvent, the company would
f be completed to indemnify its patrons
|, under lis bond.
The mayor believed that if the city
could not maintain its present ordin-
ance in the federal court ii could not
: maintain the Hull ordinance, which he
+ again Declared as identical lie could
see no good reason for abandoning a
suit that was now within a month OF
r trial
The question of the attorneys donat-
ing their services being an advantage
in the new cases, called for a state
Eaea. b. the mayor that -tbotn Mr.. Car