The Marshall republican., 1913-11-07

ced what power they are 10 be. what
the price Is to be nor anything else
about II. The ordinance promises
nothing. There Is nothing certain
about T.. except that the costs OF
lights will be doubled and trebled
through the additional costs OF pay.
ing for and maintaining the plant.
By bonds YOU saddle a debt upon your
ssclvcs you get no returns-no divi-
dends. They say that eventually you
will have It payed for. and that II
will be- beneficial TO your grandchild-
ron. Yes and when II Is paid for Il
will be an old heap OF nothing. which
your grandchildren won't have. Why
uc always studying about your grand
children anyhow? Are you afraid the
coming generations will be unable to
take care OF themselves Don't be
afraid. you will find that they will
know as we'll what they want and as
well how to get IL as We do. Trust a
little something 90 them. leave a lit
tie something Tor them TO do. aud let
ua to some extent at least live for the
present. tndor the franchise system
Won can drive a contract. and know
exactly what you are going tn pay
or lights. have the exact Kind aud
lies furnished that you want and
have them located from II end ui
the town To- the other and placed at
every street crossing. In the II case
you know exactly what you are DOING.
10 the other you know nothing about
%.
II has been .ald however that IN
iguring with the present company.
YOU az, compelled or will be compel.
ed to pay them interest on certain
bonded indebtedness lloatcd by the
have to do with the price OF which
electricity must bee furnished? These
rates are To be- based simply on a
fair return for the lair and rcasoH
able value OF the property employed
iu furnishing the lights aud upon no
other basis. why. g In dealing with
my clients. I could charge them fees,
based upon what owe, | would be-
IN glory. all the time, but unfortun-
atcly I can not.
nut It ~ said. the income OF the
present company Is some $4,000 dol
lars from both the electric and gas
lightibg. This Is spokcp OF by many
as clear profit. II It Is clear profit
then any person would know that the
value o. the properties Is very large.
much larger than . times $4,000.
'or anything that will produce an an
uual profit OF SiO.Oo0 In this country
&C. valuable. inherently. but In study
Ing these figures you should not
lotc sisht OF the cunstau; expense
and expenditures, which must bc
paid out Of this sum-. the help that
must BE- employed, the engineers,
the nrCmen, the linemcn and u score
OF other employees, the repairs the
supplies to be purchased and the Inn
menrc coal bills. when all these mat
,crs are deducted there Is but .ntlc
lett OF the $4,000, II the gentlemen
honestly think II Is profit. then Why
propose n bond issue for 30 years tud
80 cent annual tax levy; why Lot
borrow the money for . years; build
your plant and operate for that len :
IN OF time and YOU would have Sl0,-
900 more than enough TO pay for the
whole affair. Why issue bonds At all
II It is such a profitable business?
And besides all that | have said
about rates and much more that
could be said, the question OF fair
rates aud service Is now u questi1 ~
under The laws OF the state of MIS-
souri,. Tor the utilities commission. |
can't aGTeed with my friend Rector
as TO the usclessness o; this commits
sion and it's utter inefIiclency. lie
ought to remember that this commits
sion ~ a creature OF me latest adj
ministration; that OF Governor Ma
jor's. and IL necessarily alright. II
is not a grandson or daughter Of the
old Railroad Commission and has no
Connection with Il. II does not do
business In the same old way. He
should remember that the old COM
mission died from the fact that Us
Usetulness had been outstripped ia
the progress ana change of the last
I25 years, an that II was abolished
because 1t had neither the authority
or power TO control the new eondi-
lions existing in Missouri; but tha'
the utilities commission is a commits
sion growing out of the necessities
OF the new conditions. aud given au'
} thority and power to investigate and
inquire and ascertain and learn what
!. IL rioht and nrnnar aud whaf IL nee.