The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-01-06
THE WATER FRANCHISE

1t has been stated through tbesc
columns time and again without CON
tra"iction that the public servise cor
pcra'inrs own and control the CITY
administrations and dictate to tho
people Whit they shall nay and what
flnd Of service they shall receive from,
thc corrorationS to whom they give
give Franchises gratis.
The latest mandate issued comcs
from the wafer works comnonv wbo
demand now franchise for 50 veors
rcS'r'leFs of the fact that the prcscn.
one Goes not expire until 1914
Ih's for the Dooplc--rhe tax pa"
ers-have not been informed as IT,
what VIII be contained in the now
'rahchlsc' 1t seems passing s:rane.
'h't trey should demand a new frar
chisc ut this time. Unless they want
10 increase their rates or resort IL,
H"'ie ncthod to ROB the people in
som" other sys emat:c way. In tha
past 'hev nave skinned the taxpayer.
ne+col the city and violated all n
thcir Obligations to the CITY as con
tanned in the franchise. They haze
turns shd"more mud and slusn thr;I
th"r pipe lines in the las: &c years
th%n they have pure water. but the.
charged the same rate, and after nj,
thcS" years they lace finally begun tn
give us fair service and in return
for that they now demand 30 year
franchise
AS WI! he seen in another column
We are paying double the amount for
water that is PAID by citizens of near
by cities who own their own water
WORKS. And we have not received
'ie service and consideration at thu,
"'i'"S Oh inc company or one-half O..
what We have paid for iuriu mast
years
inc city officials acknowledge thai
me company has violated their con
tract with tic city. But yet IT,,
'"FcF giving them another and We
FreSuhl" a NOR" binding franchise
mere is a niger in tie coal box
somewhere
IL VIII De the height of folly for our
~'''"chS 'o give a 30 YER nanchiss
10 any corporation. and cspcc.~..-.
10 company who has abused tu,i,
rights aud ignored the laws ,f IN,
city, its representative
N'"S IN general. in the present q.
Sr"SSlNc age. 1t would simnlv ra.,..
mat II would be fifty years before In.
citE conld inaueura.e public oyvnar
snip of the public utilities and ,,o,,
e'e'"E ihcrlas" in taxation. specfa
ieF'es ard hinderance to the CITY.
Eio"th. 1t would be a monumental
"lundor 10 force antiuuatsd WAYS n.
our children and children's children
WhN VIII live in an age o. marvellous
Inventions ana great municipal re.
form.
why Sho">d k" give corporation
'"He" ana controlled by capitalists
VINO reside in other states who us
Tue money CNacted from rs tn devaI
op other cities ana states. Our mo-.
e''"hts d"crE the practice of some q;
''r ctlzons pa,ronizmg mail ordn~
"o''SeS ana Yet at the same TIM. 81;
inc profits derived frcm every Dub,ic
utility in Our city goes INTO tho col,
iSIS OIL promoters OF mail order hons
'"l industries in foreign ,ocall
ties.
OnaricStn should. could and Will
own the wafer works in four wears
II the rcor!c arouse to the necessity
OF prompt and aggressive action. Our
III never grow to be much of
factor Industriaily as long as the,
give away the right of the people
20 INSCRIPTIONS foreign capitalists
Now Is the time to act and act in
teiHSent!y and prevent the raiIroadIne
through of 4 franchise that will en
slave our people to Z grinding cor
poratiou for 30 years.