The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1915-09-10
ROCKS LOOM
AHEAD FOR THE
CITY CHARTER
Commission Split on Amend
ment and Mass Meeting Sent
iment Gives 1t Emphasis.
PAYMENT FOR CITY
LIGHT PLANT INVOLVED
Sentiment Differs as to Whether
1t Should Be from Earnings
or BY General Taxation.

It Should Be from Earnings
or BY General Taxation.
Rocks loom ahead for Virginia's
new city charter, generally following
in its provisions that under which the
city Of Duluth is at present working
and providing a straight commission
form of government and an alterna-
tive city manager plan. The charter
commission of IL members is appar-
emily hopelessly split on whether the
new charter shall contain a clause
providing that the bonds remaining
unpaid for the purchase of the NUM-
cipal light and water plant shall be
paid out of the earnings of the plant
or whether they shall be retired with
money raised by general taxation. A
mass meeting called for last night at
the council chambers in the city hall
to discuss the various provisions of
the charter devoted most of it's de-
liberations to discussion of the man.
ner in which the bonds should be re-
tired and when it was concluded the
one outstanding fact was that senti-
ment manifested in the meeting was
as hopelessly at variance as that in
the charter commission itself.
Defeat of Charter Predicted.
1t was freely predicted that the dis
sension apparent, some of which it
was openly asserted had been deliber-
ately inspired, would result in the de-
feat Of the charter. The commission
was openly criticised hy several speak,
ers for di1atofy tactics IN not sooner
completing it's labors and it was as
clearly indicated that there was gen.
eral disappointment because more
public meetings had not been arranged
for it's discussion. Whether or not
there will be more public meetings
was matter left in allegiance when
the meeting of last night adjourned.
Provision will be made, however, to
have the charter printed and gener-
ally circulated among the people al
though the exact course to be pur-
sued in accomplishing this was not
determined.
Commission Deadlocked.
That last nights meeting would have
no effect in breaking the commission
deadlock on the amendment provid-
ing for the payment of the water and
light bonds by general taxation was
generally predicted. The commission
is divided six and six on the amend
ment and there is no attempt made by
either faction to disguise the fact
that bad feeling has been engendered.
That faction of the commission which
contends the water and light plant
should be paid for from it's earnings
do not hesitate to fix the blame for
the present dissension on Chairman
Costin. They declare Costin is moved
by ulterior motives as he is one Of the
large owners of Williams addition to
the city and is naturally, therefore,
anxious that the bonds should be re-
tired by general taxation, which
would make investments in Williams
addition more attractive.
Costin for the People.
Costin, who presided at last nights
meeting, declared he was willing to
be guided by the wishes Of the people.
He is interested only, he says, in the
economics of the question and what is
fair and equitable to all concerned
He favors retiring the bonds by gen.
eral taxation as a fairer plan than by
making the consumers pay for the
plant. Costin presided impartially
and his view Of the matter was ably
endorsed by w. J. Archer, A. N
Thompson and others.
Carl r. Johnson's Opinion.
The evenings discussion was opened
by Carl R. Johnson. He said he was
in favor of fair and adequate rat|
for light and water service, sufficient
to insure that the plant would taxi
care of the cost Of production and dis
tribution, but did not think that tn
consumer should be called upon t.
pay for extensions, plant improve
? ments or items of that character. Thi'
was a matter he declared where he di'
not think it was up to the consume
Continued on page g.