Arizona republican., 1910-02-25

Majority m favor Of municipai owner ship, 14o.- Number of votes lacking for two thirds majority, 22.
 In spite of the valiant efforts of the Citizens committee, which conducted a strong campaign during the two days preceding the election. and in spite of the free use Of advertising for several weeks past by the Pacific Gas and Electric company. the municipal own ership advocates carried the election by a majority of 40 votes in a total of 552
 To close and unprejudiced observers of the progress of the campaign the result brings no surprise. In the first place, the feeling was general that it was perfectly proper to ask congress for the privilege of voting on the question of municipal ownership. Many citizens who would be opposed to bond ing the city for a competing light plant-or at least opposed until it had been clearly shown that there would be no risk in the undertaking-did not take the trouble to vote. Others of the same class voted. but voted in the affirmative as a, sort of protest against the rates of the light company. Many . in substance, T am voting for the proposition, because I think the result will be to get a satisfactory adjust ment with the light company"
 That the election failed of carrying by two-thirds majority Is perhaps a source of satisfaction to many of those who voted for the proposition, as well as to the opposition. Had the necessary two-thirds. invariably re- quired in an election before bonds can be issued, been attained, an attempt would undoubtedly have been made to consider the election final and issue the bonds. Such an attempt would have been violently opposed by large ele- ment and the result can hardly be fore seen.
 In a general way yesterdays election records the feeling of the taxpayers in regard to the price of electricity and gas. It means also that the city council will instruct the city attorney to frame an application to congress for permission to bond the city for the construction of d plant If such an enabling act is passed by congress. then the taxpayers of the city will again vote on the proposition. and if that election carries by a twothirds majority Phoenix will build or acquire its own light plant.
 In all four wards of the city the election was orderly and quite as rainy Sunday. The marshals had ndth ing to do In each ward there were few people who attempted to vote who were not on the prepared lists, In practically every such ease the voter was innoccntly at fault. not having acquainted himself with tine qualifi- cation rules. In the Fourth ward there were two challenges on the education al qualification. One was Mexican and the other an Italian. Neither could write and one was unable to read. In the same ward d man brought in d tax receipt from the county as scssor. He had paid his county taxes but his city taxes had not been paid. He had recently purchased the prop erty and it had not been listed with the city assessor. the taxes being charged up to the former owner. He was not allowed to case his ballot.
 In the Second one ballot vas de- ciared void as it was dropped open in the box and not given to the cleo ton official. The majority of those who were not permitted to vote had purchased property on contract and were not on the assessment rolls.
 Only a small minority of the eligible neglected to come to the polls. Both sides had automobiles at all of the polling places ready for service, and some voters were brought out by them but in most cases the voter used his own good legs to carry him to the polls.