The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-07-31
MUNICIPAL ELECTRICITY.

There is no excuse for any indivi
ual TO shed his shirt over the action
the city council in serving notice {
the electric light company that Il
city intend to avail itself of thu
provision of the franchise ordinant
which gives it the right to purchas
the distributing system if it so d,
sires In other words, the city has to
ken six-months' option of purchas
on the plant. In doing so the counc
acted wisely.
AS the matter now stands, the cit
has six months in which TO make
thorough investigation Of every pos
sible feature of municipal lighting
The condition of the plant and ii
worth, the cost of operating, the prize
for which Juice" in wholesale guam
titles can be secured-all these can b,
acertained. If these are found to be-
satisfactory--if the citizens of En-.
nett can be furnished light, power anc
heat at a saving over the present
prices-then it will be time to deter
mine whether the bond market is ia
vorable. Until that time is reached
there is no occasion for worry. The
officials of the city are level headed
men and they have no intention to act
until, after thorough investigation,
they have determined that municipal
ownership is desirable
In discussing city ownership of the
electric system, the same old argu-
ments that were used when the water
works proposition was up are being
used now. But the waterworks is
paying its way and giving splendid
service at reasonable price, besides
furnishing efficient fire protection at
no extra cost.
Experience has demonstrated that
electric current can be manufactured
at price sufficiently attractive for
general cooking purposes, light and
heat. Experience further shows that
this price has never been secured save
by municipal owned and operated |
plants.
As to bonds, it is a mistaken notion
that they necessarily mean increased
taxes. That is, the tax necessary to
be levied to pay for public utility
such as an electric light plant, may
be Offset many times over by the re-
iuced price for service to the individ-
ual as well as to the municipality it
self. The statement of the expenses
Of the city for the fiscal year common
ing May 6 contains an item of $1700
or street lights which must be paid by
4 tax. That sum represents per
cent interest on trifie more than
$4,000. SO that if bonds were is
'ucd for $4,000, the taxpayer would
,ay no more tax than he is paying
low. The offset would be still further {
increased by the reduction in the cost
# the lights TO the individual. And !
here is no question but that the cost J
would be reduced under municipal J
wnership. J
The present rates for electricity are
'ased not upon the actual cost of
the ''juice" and distrib-
ting it, with reasonable profit adj y
ed, but the user pays in addition the o
iyidends TO the stockholders of the
orporation, the interest charges upon
n enormous capitalization, the cost
maintaining expensive Ines
through non-reyenue producing sec :
ions of country, and for lax or inc q
Gent management, if there be any. i,
The Index is not prepared to say I
neither the purchase of the present t,
distributing system at any price would |,
e good move from business stand o
ONT; neither is the mayor or city Ii
'uncil. But the city has six months Il
! which to find out, and the city b
iould do so, even if it does cost Il
lndred dollars or more. v
tuStt IL duVtueT feature OF InlS ~
roposition that should be kept in "
ind. 1t is: That if it is decided to to
IT buy the plant, the franchise runs
r another 10 years, and during that !
me the city is compelled to pay $40 Z
n month for street lights, even
ough it should install new plant of /
5 own. That is written in the con-
act.
We do not believe the taxpayers of 4
nmett are ready to oppose this prop I
ition until they have made a
orough investigation of its merits.
is purely business proposition Q
they can save money by buying the r.
ant and operating it themselves, o.
ey will not pass up the opportunity. b
There is no occasion for any heated A,
guments or appeal to passion in dis "
ssing the ACCESSIBILITY of the city x
gaging in business for itself. But
ost careful and cool consideration II
ould be given to the question. In -