South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-29
BOARD To REPORT
ON LIGHT QUESTION
Mayor Keller Appoints Five
Men to Investigate Num-
cipaI Plant Project.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE)
more overhead expenses. including
a variety OF more or less question
able expenditures that municipal
plants do not have.
ct is nay wish that this committee
make a fair investigation OF munic-
ipaI lighting. visiting such municipal
plants as is possible. After the
feasibility and practicability of es-
tablishing a plant is thoroughly in
vestigated IL should then be generally
discussed by the taxpayers Of this
city II. after the people become
thoroughly informed on the subject,
they then wish a plant constructed
10 will be "up 10 them" TO decide
the question through an election.
viii Need Small Levy.
eff il is deemed advisable 10 es-
tablish a municipal plant. a small
levy should ne made creating "a fund
for the purpose. In the dicussion Of
this important question the discus
sion should be based upon facts and
not upon a number OF misleading
statements. This is one OF the rea-
sons for appointing the above
named. highly respected, and prac-
tical gentlemen on this committee.
These men, who have already con-
scented 20 act on this committee. will
render n valuable service to our
present and future citizens by thor
oughly investigating this subject.
The minds Of some of our lead
ing citizens have already been pOis-
oned on the question of municipal
ownership by a magazine called
Public Service" published in the
interest of the private electric
plants and sent always free though
there is no doubt as to who is pay
ing for il. II seems whenever any
thing is said locally about a munic-
ipal lighting plant il Immediately
brings forth such intense opposition
rs our local electric company and its
friends that il leads one 10 believe
that a municipal plant would he en-
tirely feasible Some OF our people
will say that municipality owned
plants would be all right if politics
were kept cut of the management.
agree that il should be operated
free from politics and believe there
is less politics in the average city
plant than in privately owned util-
tiles
Quotes Professor.
con the subject OF private util-
tiles activities in politics / wish 10
quote Charles A. Beard. professor Of
politics in Colun bia university. New
York city. from his most splendid
hook American city Government
Street railway companies usually
find il TO their advantage 10 Join
with the liquor interests in keeping
cities wide open. Gas and electric
companies also have an interest in
wide-open policies on account of the
extra large consumption of gas and
electricity in the glazing resorts
which usually run into the latest
hours possible
My observation Of utilities in pol
itics is very limited but I do know
that in our last city election all the
private utilities were solidly against
the ticket that stood for law en-
fOrcement Quoting further from
this authority on page 194 in the
same book, Corporations whose af-
fairs will not bear daylight often
conciliate newspaper by extensive
Advertising In regard TO the above
statement I have no doubt that
some corporations do attempt to
conciliate newspapers by extensive
advertising and 10y misleading them
but / still have confidence in the
honesty OF most Of our newspapers
and believe II is their aim TO work
for the best interests of the com
munity.
Plants Are Successful.
81 have never visited a city with
either a municipal water plant or
lighting plant where the citizens
were not proud Of their ownership.
Some things have recently been said
about the 1T. Wayne plant IL seems
in spite OF all the misleading state
ments which have been made con-
corning this plant their people are
unanimously in favor of IT, They
estimate that il Is saving them at
least $1,000 GOO annually. / believe
a municipal plant in this city would
save us "A like amount 1t might be
necessary 10 tax ourselves for a few
ourselves for track elevation but II
IL eventually saved us hundred
thousand dollars annually would not
il pay2 Cities cannot we'll afford 10
look only 10 the present but should
look 20 the future for %. so. 100
and zee years Some OF our largest
cities are debt-ridden and over
burdened with expenses on account
OF not having planned for the fu-
ture
Points to Water Works.
$50 far as municipal ownership
being "A bug-a-boo / would say that
one need not leave our city 10 find
"A splendid example Of "a municipality
owned and operated plant our mu-
nicipal water works being a good ex-
ample Would anyone advocate sell
ing our municipal water plant 20
private corporation on account OF its
being a failure 10 is az least earn
ing enough so that ~ has not been
necessary 10 levy any tax for its sup
port for a number OF years or been
necessary 20 make any charge 10
the city proper for the service rem
dered by the use OF hydrants for fire