The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-06-23
CITY COUNCIL HAS
Deferred ACTION
On Electric Lighting Franchise
Committee is Preparing
the Document.

The committee of the city council,
consisting of the members OF the ordi-
nance committee, Mayor Davis and
City Attorney Odom, appointed to draft
franchise for the F. r. Clarke Electric
lighting company, was not ready TO re-
port at the meeting of the council last
Tuesday night, although the parties at
interest were in the city.
The committee met at the office OF
City Attorney Odom one night last
week and discussed certain features OF
the proposed franchise, but has held no
subsequent meetings. Many OF the
points have been agreed upon. When
the franchise ordinance is completed il
will be submitted to Mr.. Clarke and his
associates from New York and Jackson
Vile, and if acceptable to them will be
submitted to the council for approval.
The News has expressed the opinion
that If the ordinance fully guards the in
terests of the tax payers OF Palatka, who
are the real owners of the streets, the
same will not be acceptable to Mr..
Clarke and his associates.
The News has also made the state
ment that the City of Palatlka ought not
TO GIVE AWAY its street privileges;
that Palatka was a growing city; that its
street privileges had money value to
public service corporations, and that the
city should SELL, rather than GIVE,
such privileges.
More than four score citizens and tax
payers have commended the News for
these expressions
But three or four have taken excep-
ton to them-two of whom are Off
ciaIly connected in the city's manage
ment.
These men say that when outside .capi
tai asks for the privilege of investment
here that it is the duty of the council TO
give them the privilege. One man said
to the News:
Suppose another newspaper wants 10
start in Palatka; you amt going TO like
il for it will cut into your business, but
should the council deny the new com
pany the privilege just because il is 60
ing TO hurt your"
The fallacy of this argument will be
apparent to the average mind.
The proprietorS of the Palatka News
did not ask the privilege of establishing
this paper of the city council, the paper
was established as RIGHT. II asks no
| ldNOIS-HO SuDSluy-HO olCCt pllNilSSSo'
1t has certain RIGHTS which it enjoys TO
the full. These RIGHTS are open TO
the newspaper men of the world, and
the city council has no power TO pre-
vent.
This electric lighting company has no
RIGHTS, but does ask the city 10 give
them certain PRIVILEGES. 1t asks the
use of the streets of Palatka for erecting
poles and stringing wires. The streets
belong to the people; the present coun-
Gil is Temporarily in charge of the peo-
ple's property. 1t has the power to
GIVE to foreign corporation the privi-
lege of using the peoples common prop
erty.
The only question TO be considered
is: "Would it be good policy to GIVE
AWAY special privileges"
Palatka has 5000 population. In 80
years, dhe time for which franchiSed is
asked it is not unreasonable TO believe
the population will be from $4,000 to
10000. A public service franchise in a
growing city is very valuable acquiSi.
ton and one whose value increases
yearly.
Think it over, good people, and if you
should discover any selfish reason
which seems to prompt certain citizens
in their advocacy of this franchise, talk
about it. Don't leave the News to dc
all the Hkickinpn