Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1926-02-26
PUBLIC UTILITIES
THEIR OWNERSHIP


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ership Of pubic utilities and always
has been. and ever win be. 50 long IS
people in their political unwisdom and
ignorance permit i, and % not take
thought for the future and their own
personal and private welfare.
/ You hear much IS 70 TIE taxes the
public utilities pay. Just remember,
that after everything Is allowed for IN
the way Of earnings. net. On their IN
estment, taxes included. interests on
bonds, wages. salaries. materials. sup
plies, new additions for equipment. de-
preciation. and all, then there il al
lowed at least 5 per cent for dividends.
Knowing the sum totals Of al these
items and any others that can be
squeezed IN upon any and every kind
Of pretext TO enable them TO get BY
with i, v0u see that eli the returns
are figured on q basis guaranteeing
them against any loss at all. So al
the bowls about taxes and such items
are not valid, as the whole thing is
paid for ont Of what the users Of the
service pay. and they DO pay and pay
al Of it, and then what is left is the
sweet morsel they fight for. If the
people could only see and know its
size they would be amazed.
Rest assured that there viii be no
lowering Of taxes while We permit all
non profit making improvements to be
put in through bond issues, interest,
and 50 on. as this matter is fixed
charge that must be met and got
through q direct property tax. Every
profit making Rablla utility should
be owned ana operated By the peos
pie, and the profits used to wipe out
bond issues, and then thereafter use
all surplus to reduce taxes, and ulti-
mateIy there should and would come
time when we can be tax-free city
and own and operate each and every
public utility; and all pay their own
way, and all public affairs then can. in
competent hands, be paid for out Of
these revenues alone, and even lower
rates made also as well. and such viii
come to be the meaning Of official
duty when people elect officials that
stand for these principles.
MeddIing With Private Profits
Ali corruption in public office has
been due to the meddling Of some for
private profits, no matter who or what
it may be OF have been at any time
in any form. Personal corruption has
to be present in the heart and mind Of
any that perpetrate public corruption
There seems to be sets Of conscienees
that are built On the departments plan.
For private and personal use (appar-
entIy) such persons are good people,
kind to their help. neighborss good to
the poor, and love their wives and
children, and provide well for them
and teach them these same principles,
but when It comes TO public matters,
in the direction Of profits for private
appropriation. then these same people
see red, all is bad that does not con-
duce to their private profitsl
1t is queer how all IS well in their
view as to public revenues but touch
the pooketbook nerve and see the fire
works and hear the howIsl We always
have and always will hear and see
such things till enough of the public
take action en- massse and put stop
to It. This western country e kept
stripped through the great revenues
taken from the people and sent east
through the eastern ownership OF
bonds and stocks Of about every form
of utility you can mention.
If we have to issue bonds and build
our own plants, we should also see to
it that we issue them in such small
denominations IS $50 and 500 50 that
we can put them into the hands Of
everyone in the community and thus
keep both interest and principal in our
midst and keep the money in circula-
ton right here among ourselves That
is sound sense and good finance. and
good business. Let US stop the drain
age on our resources and community
and keep the fruits of our production
returns in the form Of money or its
representative and credits in usuable
shape among our own people right
here all the time. That is the sound
est way to build up community
Monopoly Means Higher Rates
Another thing. The giving Of a
monopoly to q private company now
win mean higher rates again later on
for the reason that with oil, coal
timber and other natural resources
getting less all the time, and the
price higher. there IS one everlasting
great resource left and that 4 ou1
water power.
With il we can not only create
power and use the water for the city
but can also. together with the pres.
ent water system, use it as the be.
ginning Of complete ownership Of all
other public utilities
Il Is a mistake to grant any more
franchises to private corporations
10 private corporation ever comes inte
our community because they love q
and in the kindness Of their dear little
hearts just want to do Us a great
Service. ct 50 much per Serve. Do moi
forget that
Il Il were not for the ae&uanca d