The Wrangell sentinel., 1924-07-10
TAXPAYER FAV0RS MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
 OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
Communication


 A matter of great importance to every citizen of Wrangell is now be- fore the City Council.
 It is understood about town that two applications are before the Council for an electric light and power franchise but that neither franchise meets with the entire ap- proval of the Council. AS the fran chise favored by the Council must be passed on by the voters it would seem that the voters should let the Council know during these prelimi- naries where they stand and avoid the possibility of mourning the ex- pense of more than one election
 The Council have made it plain tLat their meetings are not secret but open to the public. In spite of this it is seldom that one of us at tends a meeting and we listen to a lot of rumors that are more or less erroneous which we must admit is not fair to the Council.
 At present the voters around town hear rumors that both appIi- cations for an electric light fran chise ask for a twenty-year fran chise. This is bound to meet with a lot of opposition. Twenty years is too long a time to turn public utili- ties over to any concern. Then We hear that both applications ask for tax exemptions on the plea that the Territory requires them to pay a license of $500 but that the Council is going to insist on a tax rate of s100 per year Now, MT. Editor, if
  this rumor should happen to be the facts, can you tell your readers why an electric light and power business any more than any other business should be tax exempt or practically so? Every business man in Wran- gell pays a license to the Territory
 If an electric light business is not profitable enough to pay the reasonable city tax required of every other business, then it is not sound business proposition and is not worth the attention of any busi- ness man.
 But there can be no doubt that any company having a monopoly of the light and power business in Wrangell are bound to make good profit on the investment and they
  most certainly should pay their full share of taxes on the same basis as other business institutions and not ask for what practically amounts to subsidy from the city.
 Then we hear about town that the franchise is assignable; that the city can give the franchise to sr individual or to a company who can turn at once and sell the franchise for a good sum of money. It seems to me that as our community wei fare and progress is going to be de- pendent to such a large degree on the electric light and power fran chise that we should go a little slow on this matter. Ten years is a long time-let alone twenty years-and the interests of the towns future
 
 should be carefully safeguarded. Why should not the town own all its public utilities? No one could look over the financial records of the town without being impressed by the fact that the city water sys- tenn has been a profitable source of income far beyond its cost of con- struction and maintenance, and tn : city's finances would be sadly crip- pied were the water revenues cut off. Perhaps public ownership of an electric light and power plant would not be practical here, tut if not. at least we can hesitate about