Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-11

A GOOD DAYS WORK

If the members of the city council
! bring to their personal business af-
! fairs the same measure of judgment
and acumen they exercised in giving
their sanction to the increased rates
for electric current and city steam,
the willy individuals who peddle gold
bricks for livelihood have passed up
three of the most likely come-ons ever
assembled in one room.
II the statement which City Audit
or Ewing brought to The Courier Of
fee yesterday as Mayor Leeny's ex.
PLANTATION of the operation by which
the new rates were authorized is a
true account, the council gave its ap-
prevail to the increases without know
ing what they we're to be. OF course,
! not knowing what percentage OF in
crease was contemplated by the light
ing company, the city officials could
not know whether that increase would
be fair nor whether 1t would yield
Just enough or more than enough
money to enable the company to con-
tinue paying dividends.
Now that the higher rates are in
force and obviously are entirely out
of proportion to the service, the may
or pleads with charming ingenious.
ness that the council can not be held
responsible, because the lighting COM
panys representatives did not reveal
the extent of the proposed increases.
To be sure, the question might
have beer asked before the increases
were sanctioned. One can picture a
conscientious city official suggesting
that there should be limit of some
sort. But if the suggestion was made
in this instance the interrupting voice
must have been pitched too low to at
tract attention or obtain an answer.
For the council had something else
to think about just then. To tell the
exact truth, the subject Of increased
rates had troubled the officials sore
ly. Opposition to the company's pro-
posal might mean the loss Of some
support in the coming campaign. Ger
tainly it would bring on lawsuit.
On the other hand, acquiescence
would cause all the patrons of the
company to pay slightly increased
rates for electric light and steam. just
as they have been compelled to pay
increases for everything else they buy
nowadays.
Then came the happy proposal
which, 1t appears, the council accept
ed unquestioningly and with the deep
est gratitude for deliverance from a
quandary which threatened lessen
ing of future political strength.
1t was simplicity itself Raise the
rates for 10 per cent of the buyers Of
electricity and all the users of city
steam, but continue the old prices for
81 per cent. Practically all the steam
users would be included in the 10 per
cent and would be hit by double in
crease, but what matter? They
could vote but once, and the proffered
solution doomed invitingly at odds Of
81 votes ''for" to 10 votes against"
AS the situation stands now, only
the lighting company knows how it's
increased revenue compares with its
increased expense. The council does
not know; neither does the public
which pays the bills. And as to the
distribution of the increase, the vote
getting argument that only those who
''can afford to pay are compelled to
settle bills which obviously are too
high is contradicted by the very pat
emit fact that in the end, through in.
creased rents and increased merchan-
disc prices, the whole public must
foot the increased bill.
All in all, when the council sane
toned the new rates. sight unseen, 1t
did fine days work, for the light
ing company. Mayor Leeny and Com
missioner Phillips realize now that
they we're too credulous and trusting,
but Commissioner Menefee says the
new schedule should prevail, whether
il is fair or not.