The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-07-03
tss.,S,S' Pr, i'E 7 ~ -
WHOSPAYs.

|
For the first time since last April the council is
divided matter that concerning which, at first
thought, there should be division. q. ..
| The question has arisen to the furnishing of
water and free, to the orphanage and the chill
drens home. This matter has been agitated for
time and now with the new commissioners and of
the old, it that the matter is be finally
| tied. ,.,}
There be but little dispute the worthiness
of the orpha.age and the childrens home and there
is doubt but what these institutions deserving
of aid that it is in the power Of the people
grant them. The question decided Is whether all
should share in the cs of the expense
selected few who least afford the expense shall
| be taxed"
The dispute that has arisen is, which fund shall be
used in order to defray the fund
which is made from the tax receipts of all
including those who unused land that is being held
for speculation purposes and from which the city as
whole under present taxation system gets
benefit, the water and light fund which is made
from the receipts paid into the department by
sumers of water and gas
Commissioner Farrell is making vigorous complaint
about money that is paid into the department by the
city but apparently has scrupes taking money
out of the fund and thereby impairng the financial
success of the department.
If the city of Duluth is to engage in aiding chart-
able institutions of any nature the burden of the ex-
surely should not be by any depart
ment of the city. Work of general nature such as
this would be logically should be borne by the city
large and hence the general fund resorted to-
The best way to IMPAIR the service of the and
light department and forever discredit the municipal
ownership of public utilities in Duluth, is place the
brunt of all expense upon the municipality owned uti
ties Unfortunately charity be the sympathetic
means through which the enemies Of the water and
light department propose to work.
Mayor Prince has suggested that if the expense is
to be accounted for through the water and light fund
that the service to these institutions charged
for at cost. Should this be done the effort kill the
usefulness of the department would be frustrated
there would be burden placed upon any one group
of people
The covert suggestion of the morning paper that
the squabble is over whether the expense shall be
enlarged to Peter Paul." is wholly beside the ISSUE
The problem is entirely matter of whether the city
commissioners going to play into the hands of the
public service corporations and forever discredit
nicipally owned utilities in the city of Duluth.
Playing politics is much better way of stating the
matter as far the majority of the commission
concerned 1t is the DID, old game of misleading the
voters through appealing to the sympathetic strain
their natures and leading them to believe that the
opposition to the free service" from those with
Interior objects in view. Special privilege is again at
work and is working in the steathy manner that
has worked in politics for years. 1t no prnci
pie but profits it has sympathes except self
and it is willing to exploit the sympathes others
korder to gain it's ends.
, Furnish water and gas free of charge to the or
phanage and the childrens home other charitable
institutions WILL but place the expense where
belongs in the general fund let the spectators and
the public service corporations their just share of
the expense.