The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-09-17
PLACING THE CART BEFORE THE
HORSE-THE ISSUE AS 1T IS.

tt is very probable and equally
possible that in a tiguratlVe sense
this placing of the cart before the
Eorse," as it is applied to the cleo
tions ordered by the Council, was
not suggested as political play on
the part of the commissioners,
whose authority as councilmen and
as agents of the people, is derived
directly from the people, who are
supreme.
It was surmised, with plausible
reason, predicated on the common
sense basis of possibilities, that the
Council would have confined their
action simply to the ordering OF the
referendum election as requested by
the petition signed by more than the
required number of the qualified
voters fixed by the act creating the
commission form of government,
but this referendum has been
switched and side-tracked to give
precedence to an election providing
for an issue Of bonds.
Possibly and probably this cleo
lion for the issue of ,OOO
for the improvement Of the Fire De-
partment and $4,000 for the ac-
uuirement of an electric lighting
pIant-was suggested in the Council
as a concession to a minority by a
radical conflict of views on the mu-
nicipaI ownership and operation OF
an electric light plant and the pro-
posed contract with the electric
light company for lighting the city
for a term of six years, which has
provoked opposition and the call for
the referendum.
The referendum was and is the is
sue.
The bond issue should not have
been precipitated on the people, who
did not suggest it, nor ask for it, but
as the referendum had been before
the Council for about two weeks it
should have received first consider
alton.
The proposed bond issues, as
thrust upon the people, have a ten
dency to confusion and compllcates
the contentious which should have
been plain and direct.
The issue should have been SIM
p]y. shall the sjx-year- contract with
the light company be approved OF
rejected.
For instance, on Tuesday, October
IL. the election as fixed for the bond
issues for $4,000 for requirements
of the Fire Department and $4,000
for the requirement Of an electric
light plant.
On Friday, October 20, the cleo
ton IS on the referendum.
Are the commissioners IN favor OF
The issue Of bonds for the municipal
ownership Of an electric light plant!
Will the commissioners advocate
this issue of bonds or will they OPP
pose it, covertly or openly?
IF the referendum election were
held preceding the election for the
bond issues and the six years con-
tract were ratified, the lighting
question would be settled for tina
term of years.
If the bond issue is carried, there
will be no need OF an election on the
referendum. as this result will d.
equivalent to an endorsement OF TIT
contention of the people as to thu
requirement and operation OF mu-
nicipal electric light plant; but II |
be defeated, the defeat will be dl-
rect and forceful discredit OF thu
Council by whom the bond election
Il ordered.
And following this discredit vii
come the referendum issue when tht
proposed six years contract with tn
light company will be oyerWhelmet
i'm defeat, and such defeat will b.
construed as another discredit OF tn
Council.
From common sense practica
view, it is logical to conclude tina
the commissioners, to avoid the IN
pleasant predicament forecasteo
must stand by and for the issue Q
bends for the municipal lighting
plant.
This is the issue, the dilemm;
IRON which the Council may extrl
cate itself with Overlooking glory 9
be retired in mourning.
1t is plain that the cart shoult
never be placed before the horse
but although inclined to adyocat
The defeat Of the bond issues pro
posed, the Caucasian has accepts
The guage IS presented, and with it
friends of the Municipal Ownership
League and the progressiyes Of tn
city, will strive to secure the ma
lority for the bond issue at this tim
a -