The Mena weekly star., 1921-05-05
I.ET Ifs REASON TOGETHER.

deems too high charges for electri'
 service. There are lot of folks whs are so sore over it that they woult
 really enjoy the luxury of ordering
 the service discontinued, and would willing to be martyrs to coal oil lamps and candles. They want to tear uI the blanket.
 The Star does not propose to fnc any fault with these folks. They have the full and undeniable right to dc just as they please about the matter But The Star claims to stand, every day in the year, for what it believes to De for the welfare of Mena, and here's the situation as it sees it. If the ideas advanced by some would be carried out, the Commonwealth Public Service Company would be compelled to shut down it's plant. If that should come there soon would follow:
 No lights on streets.
 No water in the mains.
 Sewers useless and menace. Most of the industries of the town, including such plants as The Star, closed down.
 Many men thrown cut of work and the entire business of the town de- moralized. the community tabooed by visitors and everybody staying away and others glad to get away if here.
 It is not pretty picture, and yet there seems spirit on the part of some to make it reality. On the other hand, the recent years have put our city in debt, and we seek a way, by paying more, to get it on it's feet.
 Our waterworks was running be- hind and our city council wisely doubled the rate, and we gladly pay it.
 Our schools needed more funds and we were unanimous in voting up the tax from 2 to F mills. We needed yet more, and Mena citizens, meeting the emergency, have agreed to ac- tually contribute $5,G00 or more to keep them going.
 Possibly there has been some mis- management behind all these eondi- tions, on top of war prices, etc, that have affected all business, private and public, and probably the same is true of the electric concern, and while in the first instances the people know they must pay for any mistakes, they resent the idea of paying such for q foreign corporation
 That is but natural.
 But, today, perhaps because of mis- management, and perhaps not, the electric plant is in the hands of a re- ee;veT, and this receiver is acting in behalf of the people who have money invested in this plant, and under the direct supervision of the Federal court of the United States. Any fight Mena or Mena people get into with this concern at this time is a fight in the Federal court, and there the ad- justnent will be made wholly on the showing made by the contesting par ties. the Receiver and the City. And all this will be expensive.
 But there's another phase:
 These receiverships do not last al- ways. Eventually either the com pany will be reorganized and fresh capital put in and all debts paid in full. with operation continued under the new organization, or, failing to raise the money. the properties will be sold to the highest bidder, the cred itors paid according to their rights and the amount available, and the business finally closed.
 Here is where Mena might. other things failing, improve the quality and comfort of her blanket. If she feels--the taxpayers-that a munici- pally owned and operated electric plant would be success-that if could be managed so as to give the city better service or cheaper ser vice, then it would be we'll for our city authorities, backed by the taxpav- CTS, to get in line and prepare for the city to be a bidder for the existing plant when soid; oT. if that was noi the best thing that could be done. put in a new one, or encourage someone else to do so.
 While this is being considered. there Is no reason other plans, such as the Dierks proposal, should not be threshed out, and every effort made to secure satisfaction.
 These things appeal to The Star as mere common horse sense, and. in the meantime. 1t seems best to nav ouy bills according to the schedule that exists. and keep our blanket even tho 1t ehafes us considerably. seeking an the time for lower rates--a better Think it over. ' z Don't merely taIkl