Arizona sentinel., 1917-11-01
ARE CITIZENS READY TO VOTE NEARLY HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR MUNICIPAL OWNER SHIP BEFORE RATE-FIXING ORDINANCE
 IS PASSED ON BY SUPREME COURT

At its regular meeting held week ago last Tues day night the city council very properly and wisely rejected he Big He Highbnders offer to sell his rotten old traps for the sum of S25OOOO when HALF that amount would be more than the plants actually worth. By the unanimous vote the City Attorney in- Sructed prepare the necessary resolution calling for election whether not the tax-payng of the city will vote $375 900 worth of bonds tirely gas, water and electric plants.
 Several months ago the city council passed rate-fix ing ordinance very materially reducing the present prices on the various commodities furnished by the Big He High binders local utility plants. The legality of this ordinance is being tested in the courts In the meantime all cepS given for light power gas and water apprse the that the difference between the old and the will be paid back the the hold that the rate-fixing ordinance is OK Just how long will take get final decision at the hands of the supreme court and then possibly the hands of the federal courts merely of guesswork for matters of that kind drag along very slowly unless by special stipulation the be ad vanced of its regular It certain that will take year while all during this time the service is be- coming and worse in fact it bad that it rually rotten
 In of these facts it would easy matter induce the taxpayng go right ahead and the necessary money with which construct muncipaly ed plants But is it easy it looks? Well hardly The Big He Hghbinder and all his forces will fight the propo sition to fare-you we'll, every of them.
 That will be the first thing to contend with. Then you will have that class of taxpayng who consttu tionay" opposed to voting bonds for any purpose what ve and they will be found to be very considerable fac or election of this kind But the greatest stumbling ock the way of carrying this proposed bond election for 375 OOO will be found in those who think the city ought until the ratexing ordinance shall have been final V decided upon
 If the ordinance finally held be valid and binding the city will need municipal ownership for it will then oe to the city council fix the all public utilities suit themselves long they fix rate that will per- nit the Big He Highbinder to make FAIR profit on his investment If the council should fix the rate at figure not pleasing the people themselves they will always have he power to INITIATE ordinance of their choos ing always bearing in mind that the rate must be FAIR one It would seem therefore, that the wise and logical thing to do is WAIT until the rate fixing ordinance is finally passed upon by all the courts If the ordinance ie declared null and void and the city still determined to construct it's public utility plants it almost fore gone conclusion that machinery and material will be very much cheaper than present for just would have 10 pay WAR PRICES everything even labor
 The city council at its meeting Tuesday night of this week passed resolution its second reading calling for special bond election for the early part of December ap propratng $4OOOOOOO for municipal ownership of public utilities for dschargng the indebtedness to the Southern Pacific for building the Ca street levee and for fire department and equipment, including building that will serve for city hall we'll as for fire house.
 The several items follows
 Municipal plants .............. .S365, 100000
 Fire department ............... 2O,5O0.OO
 Southern Pacific debt .......... 12,8O2.72
 Balance for interest .......... 3,697.28 Total ...................$ .$4O0OOOO0 The question will now be put squarely up to the tax paying whether not they want to incur this |