The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1920-08-06
ELECTRIC RATE TO
ASCEND In MONTH;
COUNCIL TO MEET
Understood Board of Public Works
Has Instructions to Submit New
Increase Schedule.
MUST RAISE MORE MONEY;
BOND ISSUES ARE SKELETON
Council Cannot Blame Skepticism of
People When People Are Not
Told OF Expenditures.
(By j r Rison, Jr.)

IL Is fum0fed on g0od autn0rlCy
that the electric light and power
rates are to be given another boost
at the regular meeting of the city
council next Tuesday night. 1t is
said that at the last meeting of the
council the board of public works was
instructed to make up new sched-
ule of advanced rates, although moth
ing official was given the newspapers
that this was done in reporting the
details of the council proceedings
along the usual lines of keeping the
people in the dark of the doings of
the city management, apparently.
1t is further understood the city
is under financial strain, and that
the revenue is not sufficient to meet
the budget of necessary expenditures.
Of course the city water and light
plant must bear the burden, because
the various bond issues do not carry
any provision whereby the property
owners pay for the capital expendi-
lures but this burden has invariably
been shifted to the users of light and
power and water, including those who
do not share in the city's permanent
assets. There is still no charge be-
ing made in the water and light plant
ledgers for depreciation, and when
the big machine breaks down or a
new boiler or other master repair is
necessary the large property owners
"dodge" the issue, SO to speak.
And, at the same time Paris, from
a civic standpoint, is going backward
every day instead of forward. There
has been no marked pro rress for ten
years, unless it may be said the set
Ting basin was a forward step, al
though made compulsory by the
condition of the water. The whole
trouble with Paris seems to be the
lack of money to do things with, not
withstanding municinal facility
paying a return net of more than
$12,000.00 a year. Whv means
cannot be conceived to secure the
necessary money or why action is
not taken along any conceived lines
with this end in view, the people
don't seem to know. The general
opinion seems to prevail that those
having control and to do with such
affairs are not able to cope and
to pursue same, or else they don't
want to. But, for what reason the
"don't want to" is nobody knows def
initely. 1t is no wonder the people
are skeptical, when nothing is ever
told them about how their money is
spent, even though it is assumed il
is properly disbursed.
1t is presumed the council will
take some action in the matter OF
failure to have the books audited in
accordance with the state statutes
which have already been violated
This failure thus far has only tended
to cause further skepticism. The
city council cannot blame the people
as long as the people are being kept
in the dark. for any private opinions
they NAV form as to the situation OF
affairs. This condition will contin-
ue to exist, until the council takes
the people into confidence.
Surely there is some reason why
the thousands Of dollars secured by
bond issue few years ago for GER
tain purposes, has been on deposit
without drawing any interest, althC
on it's face it wouldn't seem gooC
business. The people would like tt
know more about it, and relieve those
having to do with the handling of il
of any responsibility, if that relief
is due. The people certainly wan
to be fair in these matters, and n(
newspaper wants to print articles o,
criticism cf the town it exists in, mo-
continually be forced to pour out 1T
ewn editorial digests and condemna
ton because of lack of attention t.
the peoples side of GIVE questions
and particularly when there is M
personal feeling in the matter.
There is no denving the fact tina
the personnel of the city council i
of honorable men, and thus the,
should get together, adjust the ap
parent existence of majority am
a minority membership, and even tn
defeated. deal with the people on
more cooperative basis, instead o
waving the red flag in their face:
and insisting on handling their at
fairs without any seeming regard TO
them. No people can be expected t
stand long for such treatment, an.
in Paris they have certainly had en-
ough of it, and thus are speakin