The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-05-22
Text of Bonds Statement on Plan -
TO Buy Light Plant of R.H.L. &P.

such plant from such public utility"
II there is then to be a purchase there
must be purchaser, and it Is made
plain that this purchaser is the city:
and If these terms and conditions are
to be observed in the purchase Of the
plant" it necessarily follows that no
purchase has therefore been made; :
in fact. none can be made under these
provisions until the terms and candi-
tons are in existence, for the same
can not be observed" or followed
until they are known
The last sentence in this section
makes still palmer its true meaning
and should remove the last shadow OF
doubt remaining in the most incredu-
lous mind. 1t reads IS follows:
Upon the filing of such certificate
with the clerk of such municipality
and payment Of the compensation
fixed. the exclusive use of the proper
ty taken shall vest in such municipal-
ity.''
The certificate herein referred to is
the one sent TO the municipal coun-
Gil. But the payment of the COM
pensation must be made within The
time allowed, for if not paid within
such time the municipality can not
require it to be accepted, and it seems
plain to me that the utility, after the
expiration of the time allowed for pay
ment. can refuse to accept the same.
The true meaning of this sentence,
therefore, is as follows:
Upon the filing of such certificate
with the clerk of such municipality
and payment of the compensation
fixed, within the time allowed, the
exclusive use of the property taken
shall vest in such municipality" and If
payment is not made within such time
the city forfeits all rights TO acquire
such property in that proceeding
Further reasons might be given for
| the conclusions reached, and a more
minute analysis of the various legal
propositions might be made, but l do
not deem il necessary to do so.
! I am, therefore, of the oplonion
that
First-That the city has not yet pur-
chased this plant
| Second-That the city has the right
now to abandon this proceeding with
out the consent of the utility.
| Third-That the city has the right
within the time allowed by the COM
I
/ is fixed and the terms and conditions
named, to abandon this proceeding,
but in such event il would be liable
for the necessary costs.
| The matters relating to the acquisi-
ton of this plant have not been acted
upon hastily, as some seem to believe;
every detail has been fully considered.
and every proposition relating thereto
infinitely analysed, and ] feel certain
that the results obtained are sufficient
to convince any fair and competent
mind of the wisdom OF the course
which the city has taken.
l am unalterably in favor of the city
acquiring this property. II will be the
best thing that has happened to Rich
mond since the city built its present
light plant 1t will insure electrical
rates at the lowest possible price. even
lower than our present rates. and be
sides, enable the city, if il so desires,
to put large sums in the public treas
ury. and all this can be accomplished
without cent of cost 20 the taXpay
ers. and within a few Years the city
will have plant worth at least one
million dollars, and fully paid for out
of the surplus earnings. The. taxpayers
have never paid one cent for our pres
called upon to pay anything if we ac-
quire the other plant. The success
of our present plant belongs largely
to those consumers who have been its
patrons.
1t is impossible even to approx
mate the amount of money which has
been saved to the electrical users in
this city by the construction of the
city's present plant a that time we
we're paying the maximum rate of Is
cents, as | now remember. with other
rates proportionately high Now we
are paying a maximum rate OF six
cents, with other rates proportionately
low. And these rates are among the
lowest TO be found anywhere in the
United States. In 10 other plant man
aged by the United Gas and Electric
company are their rates so low as in
this city, showing conclusively that
they would charge higher rates here
if it were not for the city plant. | am
informed from reliable information
that they are charging in other cities
for like service maximum of ; cents
and such cities are much near the coal
fields than is Richmond. thus mate
rally reducing the costs of operation.
Last July the city filed its petition
before the public service commission
requesting lower rates for power. and
very promptly the local private plant
filed protest. If il had not been for
this opposition lower rates would be
in effect now. and if these rates had
become effective, il would have meant
large saving TO such consumers.
Public utilities of this kind are ma
turai monopolies. and there ought to
be but one plant here. thus avoiding
all Implications and insuring the best
service at the cheapest possible price
Do YOU want the city to have all
the business, or only a part thereof:
or do you want TO turn the business
over to outsiders? Are you with the
city in this matter. or are you with the
United States Gas and Electric COM
pany? Do you want TO retain all the
surplus profits derived rom the cleo
trical business in this city, either In
the pockets OF our own people or in
the city treasury, or would you rather
that this surplus shall, in a constant
stream, go 10 the City OF New York
to fill the Golfers of spectators, who