Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-01-13

mItLre oI inc tOUnctl mat Inc HltDd
states supreme court recently had
lccided thgt after the expiration OF
IFS franchise "a public service corpor-
ation must cease 40 oecu, Gle street.
at the mandate of the city, declared
Councilman John Lee Clarke
The discussion turned again is
going value. Mr. Mcdonnell sua
enc yeai Is gross profits or three years
nct profits commonly were considered
Ia represent going value. He after
ward modified this assertion, saying
that The rates should be considered
Mayor Sellers then suggested that
the council liourn
United States District Attorney
summers Burkhart did not believe the
council should commit itself to aC-
IN accordance with amy recommended
ton Of the committee. Mi Fieli
agreed.
Answering q question as 10 what
thc council expected the cmmittee toi
do, Mayor Sellers said it's first duty
would be to determine whether the
people favored municipal ownorship
Mr. Eurkhart thought the best
course for the committee would be t3'
iecide upon "a definite proposition 90.
submit to the voters. lie did not re-
gard favorably suggestion that the
committee try TO learn public senti-
nent first, saying that the bes'
method to ascertain that was by mold
ing an election.
We dent want politics missed Win
this, said Mr. Wilson.
~ this point the council adjourned
ana the committee completed IFS or
ganization with tho election oi MI.
Ttlong as chairman,
Mr.. Field asked Mr.. Mcdonnell no"
his firm figured the cost Of q plant
l'y determining the cost Of reproIuc-
Ing the plant ana then subtracting iui
depreciation, he said The life of ny
dianls, pipes ana hinely mas pccn
established so thcir value could be
0sccrtained by the lcnsth Of time
4 they have been in service. sometime
tho reproduced value Is twice as great
+ as th real value. before the dedue-
ton is made according 10 the enSi-
nocr.
Mr. Mcdonnell said chat the plan
adopted by Beaumont Texas insure
rapid settlement Of municipal own
clship. The council had the privately
owned plant appraised. The council
and committee then considered three
propositions First, the purchase OF
the plant second, the building OF "a
now plant. ana third, the purchase of
the old plant ana improving IT, They
decided TO submit the appraised value
20 the water company with the pur-
pose II putting the plan Of building
mp ia the voters In the event of a re-
fusaL The company however named
as les price "a figure slightly higher
than the appraised value and the
council voted to ask the people Co.
applcyc bond issue TO buy the cor
poiatlons works at it's owr price.
The election there has not yet been
held Tho adyantaee of this plan. Mr
Mcdonnell indicated. is that if th'
voters favor the bond issue the city
can take charge Of the plant at once
Mir. Field then declared that ir
! personally was opposed to municipa
ownership, but that he did not fee
committed by this statement to an,
line of action. lie did not believe th'
/ eity could manage % plant economi
cally. Besides this he did not be
I love the city had sufficient legal aD
thority to deal with the matter in
j diligently lie thought that the big
{ gest service the committee and coun
, eli could perform would be to begii
! movement for the enactment of nee
cssary legislation.
4 He advocated the extension of tn
company's franchise il the city couli
j secure representation upon lbs boar
e of directors ana asserted he woul'
& be Mortified at the idea Of the Do
slrueuon of thc companys propcrt
g. hy refusal to renew its contract AM
. the erection of q new municipal plant
. He is Of the opinion that the right
3 of the pcople could be safeguardod b
/ new Hesitation
"af course. there is a difference o
opinion upon that subject said NJ:
10 Bmkhart. II am in favor OF mum
; cpal ownership, Under the stat
= constitution the city has the right {
- issue bonds 20 buy this plant cor l.
i. build new one, and Il seems to m
( there Is nothing in the way as far a
y lack Of legislation Is concerned. } be
u lieve the people want TO take owe
this plant. or course | may be mis-
$ taken but that's my impression.
"The oompdnNs franchise VIII ma
: expire Tor five years and IN the mean
q time extensions are wanted