The Marshall republican., 1913-12-12
liz INTEREST OF MUNICIPAL ow.
NfIssHIP AT LYRIC THEATER
( TUESDAY EVENING.
the MEEIINs WAS WELL ATTENDED


theater, Tuesday evening was call
ed TO order by Gen. Il. G. Horne and
upon motion DR.. J. L. Harris was
elected chairman. Upon taking the
chair Or. Harris explained his posi-
ton upon the question o pending
before the people of the city of Mar
shall; he said at the last election he
hac voted against the bond issue,
but that he now believed that 800
people should not stand in the way of
the wishes OF 600 of their neighbors
and friends, he was a democrat and
was proud of It. and he had been
taught to believe and did believe that
the majority should rule.
lie had never been much In favor OF
municipal ownership, but that a con-
dition, and not a theory confronted
us at this time. He had confidence In
the mayor. and members OF the city
council and they have explained that
the city n not get a suitable pro-
position from the light company to
give ug the service, we need at a
price we are able TO pay and there
fore Il seemed that the solution OF
the problem can only be found by
voting the bonds and providing for
municipal ownership.
In conclusion the doctor said II
am with you, and I say let the ma
jority rule.
John @. Miller was called up and
made n short talk, but our reporter
was unable TO take down his re-
marks mt that time being otherwise
engaged. ~
Gen. RHC. Horne was next called
upon for asspeech. He said he was not
here on the day OF the last election
and therefore did not have an opport-
unity to vote for municipal owner
ship but that he expected 10 be here
December 18th. and would vote for
the bond issue II he was alive. lie
said there we're no towns %grantins
franchises any more He referred "a
his vlsit to Slater and said everybody
there was IN favor OF municipal own
ership and that the people In our
neighboring city told him that the
people OF Marshall would stand In
their own light. II they did not find
n way TO make their own light by
operating a municipal light plant and
that II we believed we did not have
sence enough to run our own business
we, ought 10 be ashamed OF ourselves,
Hon. v. v. Huff vas the next spea'
ker upon being introduced by the
chairman Mr.. Huff said:
want to talk n little about the city
OF producing electricity. Mr.. p. II
Rea tells ,us that In the plant with
which his company runs his mills that
after paying all interest on the In
vestment anG allowance for deprecia'
ton on q plant costing $4,000 the
cost 10 less than q cent per XVIII
to be exact 7.S Of o cent. The PLAN
at Hannibal produces current n
about 2 cents per, XVIII, their mach
inery being OF older type.
l have heard that compan,
here produces electricity for 2 cents
per XVII and . deliver same at !
cents. allowing for depreciation. trans
mission. loss and upkeep of plant.
am Inclined to believe this when
hear their agents boost OF their eff
cheney over municipal plants.
Now there are people. who wan
us to pay 10 cents for something tina
Mr.. Rea tells US costs l cent. The.
point with much satisfaction to tn
new offer OF OR company. They tel
us II offers to accept a 10 year fran
chise In place OF u 90 year franchise
That company now offers to sell on
at the end OF 6 years instead of sell
ing ut the end OF 20 years. That in
sted OF $1.20 at the end OF ten years
We can get "a. 30 now.
Why has this company made thi
new offer Did not it's President ga,
solemnly.in the first offer that 1t wa
the best possible to be nader VIII,
this change, nj. heartf Is L becaus
3i9 votbd against the bonds. OF I
1t beca6be SiS voted. l67i4he bonds
II the ybte had been the reverse 81
againsta hssbqNds. and s1s for woul'
49, 49, xfssek.n. No .,ysa,e cartain