The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-04-25
ELECTRIC LIGHTING AND MI
NICIPAL OWNERSHIP.

One of the cardinal principles upon
which government by commission is
based is municipal ownership of the
public utilities when necessary TO the
public welfare. It is this feature which
gives the commission form the marked
contradistinction to the effete system OF
mayor and councillnen-at large and by
wards.
Government by commission is sim
plicity itself, and those entrusted to full
fill its functions are presumed to be i'll
full sympathy with the people and tic
evince no favoritism to corporate inter-
ests.
Under the system Of government by
commission, if there is to be any lean
ing on any question or issue of concern
to the people, the leaning. all things be-
ing equal, should be on the side of the
people from whom the commissioners
derive their authority and the stipend
of their offices.
IN Shreveport government by com
mission is on trial and one Of the tests
IS involved in the attitude of the Coun-
Gil towards the lighting proposition.
On this question there is wanting,
apparently. the unanimity of action
which should be expected by the people
Indeed, the stand of some of the Couf-
Gil would seem to be in opposition to
municipal ownership or to any agitation
which may disturb the pending contract
Of the city with the Lighting Company
II will not be denied that if num-
Der of the citizens had not taken action
and had not protested against the ac-
ton of the Council as to the letting OF
the contract for lighting, the city would
not now have been offered for its use
electric light scaled to S62.5o for arcs
and : marked reduction for the con
sumers
AT the time the committee of the
Council and Of the citizens were trying
TO reach a fair adjustment, the commit
tee representing the citizens favored a
rate Of 5000 far arcs and Sc. 7 I-2c and
&c per kEwl for consumers, as would be
specified in contract
The contract which is favored by the
Council and which would have been APP
proved BY the Mayor has been checked
by a petition signed by three hundred
and sixty-five voters who want this
question of light adjusted fairly TO all
concerned.
Il has been agreed that the city is to
employ an expert electrical engineer
upon whose report the Council is to be
guided, especially as to the requirement
of a plant to be operated by the munich
paiity
II may be declared in advance that
unless this report IS strictly impartial,
Il will be resisted by the people who
want cheaper light and expect to have
such light even if municipal plant
must be acquired.
However, on this issue il is under
stood, and it is talk on the streets, that
should the Council have to call an cleo
ton at which to submit the issue of mu-
nicipsl ownership, that the majority
against, at least in dollars and cents,
would 81 cast Overwhelmingly against
81 interest said to be allied What and
who arc these interests is Of no great
import to the Caucasian. but such de-
feat II SO secured would perhaps in
yoive The term OF Office Of some of the
commissioners.
This report is not given as a fact, but
as talk. and according to the proverb
where there is smoke there must be
some frc." and yet in this instance il
there Sc smoke there may be no FIRE.
The dnty Of the Council is plain. The
commissioners were not elected to carry
ont any of their peculiar notions or to
exhibit any favoritism for any one in
dividuaI o. corporation Nor would it
be III their province TO impede or to aid
or 10 abel IN the defeat of the PROPOSE
lion tor the municipal ownership Of any
public utilities. IN this instance electric
Lighting
Instead 81 opposition, the Council
should stand for. at least not against.
Whas Is wanted BY the city and the
consumers IS light at the lowest
possible rate, whether il be furnished by
municipal plant or BY a corporation
plant