The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1915-05-13
Municipal Ownership Club to Meet
at City Hall and Take Steps
For a Greater Boise

70 The Municipal ownership NluD
which has been organized at this time
for the purpose of securing power
plant for the city Of Boise will hold
mass meeting in the City Hall on
Friday evening at o'clock.
TIE necessity for action at this time
mast be apparent to every citizen,
when it is realized the power Of
the national government at Diversion
dam will become idle upon the compile
ton Of the Arrow Rock Dam-and it
is known that this plant can be secured
by the city If action is taken before
other disposition is made.
There are those who claim to be
Informed upon the matter who assert
that sufficient power tan be gathered
AZ Diversion dam to furnish light and
power for city of 10000 inhabitants.
Hr addition to this claim is made
tt,st additional power can be obtained
from the Arrow Rock dam. if Boise
and vicinity ever outgrow the capacity
of the Diversion plant.
The time is growing short in which
the authorities can act in behalf OF
the city in the obtaining Of this power
plant and hence the work that is to be
cone py Tic MuIASApaA SWaASASAAAb
Club.
Every progressive, up-to-date citi-
gen Of Boise should turn out to the
meeting and the work at hand should
be undertaken with enthusiasm and
determination.
There is no longer any question as
ko she benefits of municipal ownership
public utilities, and this fact is be-
nina recognized in all progressive
Just as the postal service can
] cnly be satisfactorily carried on by
the rational government, so can the
public utilities in the cities only be
satisfactorily conducted by the muni-
cipalities. These utilities are mono
po,listic in character and affect the
welfare of every citizen. They are
limited in the field Of their activities
but must be unlimited in that field in
their operation. This can only be ac-
complished by public ownership.
Private ownership of public utilities
seeks to exploit the public for the
benefit of the private owners, and il
subject to the manipulations of stock
iobbing spectators, and can never
prove satisfactory, for the interests Of
the private owners are ever IN con-
fiict with the interests of the general
public. &
Upon the other hand, the question
of municipal control cuts out all pro,
fits as the plant is nun primarily in tbs
public interest and TO give service
not to pile up dividends. Thus the cos
TO the consumer under municipal own
ership is reduced to the minimum, ant
s@HsAasqwAH 4f1AxV ara
raid into the public treasury and cor
dividuai in taking money out of on'
pocket and putting 1t in another.
Under all of the circumstances, tn
people Of Boise must act and mus
act quickly, as our city is face TO fac
with a golden opportunity that seldom
comes to any community. A powe
plant lies at our very door which car
be obtained upon practically our own
terms.
In times past, Boise missed grea
opportunity in not meeting the term
that would have secured the main lin
Of the Oregon Short Line to pas
through our city. Another opportunit,
is at hand now for securing of muni
cipal power plant, which will mari
a great forward step IN our history
or If we fail to grasp the opportunit.
will give our city blow which ma.
last for generations.
We have witnessed the methods o
private capital In the developments Q
the power resources of southern Idah
and have watched the process througl
al the phases Of the stock-gamblinl
--1i1onopoiistic control and higl
rates, competition and demoraiize
rafea, the freezing g-out of small stock
holders, default in the payment c
bonds. bankruptcy and receivership
and finally consolidation and trust cor
troll. The whole game has been playe
before our eyes, without ever care Q
: thought for the consumer or for tt1
community. It has been an objeS
lesson in the crooked ways of hig
finance.
The time is ripe for municipal owr
erslaip: ripe for the people to take th
Immediate steps that are necessary fc
their own best interests and for I'll
lasting benefits of Boise and vicinit.
The Gem Worker has assumed I
speak for the community IN this ma
ter; we have hammered away for se'
eral weeks and the result has bee
that live and active Club has bee
formed to forward the cause Of mum
cipal ownership and every citizen
urged to enroll himself at once As
member # is time for actionl
Corporation enissaries viii be bus
counteract the work and to della
action, but the time is at hand. Dela
Is dangerous. The call goes forth
every loyal citizen Of Boise.