The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1922-01-21
JOHN I. Jensen IS AGAIN ELECTED
PRESIDENTOF TRADES ASSEMBLY
Chosen by Unanimous Vote For Sixth Term; Representatives
Of Duluth Unions Define Posi- ton on Proposed Heating
Franchise; Would Have G ny Get Right to Build Plant.

al exception, have contested de-
mands by the city in the. courts for
| adequate service to the public. And
!: when the city attempts to treat with
them firmly and in the public in
terest they have way of either
beating around their contract or go
ing to the state legislature and ask
ing that they be put under the jur-
| isdiction Of the stat. beyond the
pale of municipal control
I'm the light Of such experience
the city cannot be too careful about
giving away valuable franchises. In
the matter of central heating plant
there is an open question. The prop
Osition is new here. It is an expert
ment. The people are slow to mi
tate a public enterprise and it is
argued that if this franchise is
granted for the central portion of
the city and the people residing
therein once enjoy the comfort and
convenience OF. central heating, there
will be a demand for the same kind
Of heat in the. settled resident and
other business portions Of the city.
"A private company will not be
anxious to extend such service be-
cause it will not be as profitable
as will be the service in the central
section. This situation, it is held,
will prompt the people to demand
that the city take the plant over
| and extend the system to sections
of the city that are sufficiently pop
1o{o >k.c =, r.
is therefore commended that such
would be the shortest route to the
city ownership of a central heating
plant or plants.
It this view is accepted it is i'm
portant that the franchise contain
sufficient safeguards to protect the
city and to permit the people to ac-
quire possession of the plant at the
actual cost of construction less de-
probation, and above all no fran
chise should be granted unless and
until the private parties seeking ii
shall bind themselves in their con-
tract with the city not to accept
the jurisdiction of the state in the
event a law is passed similar to the
street railway law, but that they
shall promise and bind themselves
to remain solely and wholly under
the jurisdiction of the city.
another view is held and adj
vanced by some very good citizens.
1t is said that if a private company
once gets a foothold and occupies
the city streets, avenues and alleys.
it will be difficult to get rid of the
company. They always find a way
of frightening timid voters about
increasing the citX's debt, complain
ing about. bond issues, the ineffi-
cheney of city management. the loss
Of taxes and SUCH We who have
passed through municipal ownership
campaigns are familiar with their
tactics.
Now the fact that a number of
business men have interested them
selves in the matter of public heat
ing, they have shown that it will
be a good thing for them and in
some respects for the city in that it
will in part do away with the smoke
nuisance. If central heating is good
for the business section Of the city
it should be good for all settled Sec
tions. The cream of. the business
is in the business section. Their OBJ
ject is to get heating service and
profit. The city's object would be
to give service at cost, without
profit. The benefits to accrue from
sectional central heating plant will
be enjoyed largely by property own
ers and occupants OF buildings in
the central portion. There will be
sions into territory Of doubtful value
from a profit standpoint.
Duluth. is well situated for CEN
trail heating plants. Such Should ul-
| timately be built in sections. The
| exhaust steam in several manufac-
turing plants could be utilized 70,
| certain territory in the extreme West
End and West Duluth. The city in
Generator, which is to be rebuilt
could be constructed to supply pub
| lie heat to the West End. A com
bination large heating plant and
| power station could be built in the
central portion of the city, such as
the plant of the Duluth Edison com
pany on Commerce street east of
Fifth avenue west. Additional unit
plants could be built for easterly
tsectiOns.
The city cannot undertake such
an enterprise without the consent
of the legislature. An enabling act
must first be passed giving the city
| the right to issue bonds. That means
a delay Of but one year and an ad-
ditional six months to submit the
question to the voters for their an.
prevail Or disapproval. In the in
terest of the whole city the business
men interested in the proposed fran
I chise could be invited to join with
labor and other greaps of the people
In a demand on the legislature for
the necessary authority to build a
public heating plant. ,,,. 80
| Your committee therefor recon-
mends that the above conclusions be
approved and submitted to the judy
| ment of the city commissioners"