Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-01-29
PEOPLE URGE D TO
CAST THEIR VOTE
CONTINUED From Page ~


from $4850 per light on a sunset to
sunrise schedule to almost double that
price today, was one result of giving
valuable considerations gratis to util'
tiles corporations said Mr. Reece.
The speaker said there was no fight
on the street car service, but he said
that Ottumwa has right to have Its
own lighting plant and having its own
waterworks and he urged making the
dams of a kind that would conserve
enough power to light the city. This
step he said would not raise the taxes
but would lower them instead.
Lynch Favors Plan.
F. T. Lynch was next called upon.
He reviewed some Of the lighting his
tory made in the city council while he
was alderman from the third ward.
The speaker declared in favor of the
city owning it's lighting plant and urg-
ed that the voters would come out in
numbers to make the measure carry
Monday. He stated that the present
five mill levy for light is sufficient If
applied as per the proposition to be
voted Monday to not only provide the
city with lighting plant but have $10,-
900 left over.
Duke Explains Law.
City Solicitor Duke explained the
law that has changed the method of
holding special elections such as that
to be held Monday. He told Of the old
law that permitted a majority vote to
carry measure This he said, was
through the efforts of public service
corporations changed in the legisla-
ture and now it is necessary to have
the Affirmative vote in special cleo
ton equal the majority in the last
previous election.
To assure the carrying Of the dam
building and city lighting propositions
Monday Mr.. Duke said that 1t will be
necessary to have an affirmative vote
of 1900 to 5000. The right Of the
women to vote was explained and they
were told that it is not necessary that
they register; that separate ballots
and ballot boxes will be provided and
autos or other conveyances will bring
them to and from the polls
Mr.. Duke said that the Railway &
Light Co., should supply the city light
ing free Of cost or at least at the bare
production cost of the power in ex-
change for the free use of the streets
Of the city.
Mayor Leeny Talks.
Mayor Leeny followed Mr.. Duke
and dwelt upon the laboring vote, as
the factor that is in control Of the
city. This element was urged to
stand by the city and make possible
the public ownership of the lighting
plant in connection with the water
works. The mayor assured his hear
ers that Ottumwa labor would do the
work necessary to construct the dams
and build lighting plant and promisr
ed that foreign labor would not be
employed. He reviewed his position
on the lighting question and public
ownership for some years past and
urged that union labor vote for the
proposition to be submitted to the
voters next Monday. He said the
Railway & Light Co., ran a pipe
through a sewer line to the river and
thus obtains a quantity of their water
from the river direct instead Of buy
ing it from the city. This he urged
as one reason for the city making it's
own electricity for lighting the streets:
Hamnitt Criticizes. ~
F.. M. Hammitt followed Mayor
Leeny and took the company to task
for it's meter rental, the amount of
taxes it pays and said that it takes
money out of town but leaves none in
the city He criticized the gift Of the