Show S THE GOOD OLD WAY The city council are still struggling over the street lighting problem How not to do it has been exemplified in the darkness of The outer wards at night < How to do it is the question of the hour The wfhole trouble lies in the determination of some members oH that body to introduce an Innovation Novelty is aittractlve usually tv > the public In this instance it is not so The people prefer the good old way but those members seem to thirst after something new The lack of money we know lies at the rOOt of the present evil If 5t were Hot for that there would probably be no attempt to assess a special local tax for a general < public purpose But we do not believe the exigency demands de-mands the proposed expedient There must be other ways to meet it and they ought in our opinion to be followed fol-lowed in preference to any makeshift It is a matter of doubt whether the council propose to act under the charter char-ter of 1865 or under the charter of 18S8 If tflie former they cannot adopt the front footage plan of assessments if the latter they will face the contradiction contra-diction of assessing < by the front foot I and Clearing objections according to the property valuation That is unless they pro ed as authorized In the same I act to levy in nivmoption to the hpnf fits upon the property within the district I dis-trict or levy and collect a general tax or draw upon the contingent fund for I the purpose I Close analysis of sections 25S and 259 of the act of 1888 fails to show any right to assess by the front foot for street lighting It bestows power to provide pro-vide the city or the inhabitants with water gas and other means of illumination illumin-ation by local assessments if necessary neces-sary But the front foot principle St will be seen applies specifically and therefore solely to local taxes for saw era ana drains and even in that instance in-stance is not required other nvebhods ibeing left open to the council A strict I construction which would probably be followed by the courts in rendering a i decision on a dharter provision fails Ita apply the front foot method to assessments as-sessments for street lighting Suppose it were adopted by the council coun-cil and fought by the citizens wfaere would the < money come from meanwhile mean-while to pay for the expense of street lighting Would it ndt come out of tine general fund Why not take this matter mat-ter fairly by the hand instead of taking I tak-ing the taxpayers by the throat The probability is tihat the city will fail to enforce a ifront I foot tax for street I lighting and we are sure it ought to fail because it is inequitable I and improper im-proper j i Street lighting is < for a general public r purpose Therefore itshouldfbepaid for out of the general public funds < Does any member of the council take the I S ground 6hat a lamp erected on any street crossing is put there for the special benefit of the property on tttie four corners The idea is an absurd I ity It is a street light for the benefit of < te public not a private light merely j for the benefit of adjacent property j It shOuld be classed < with street repairs and other public improvements as it always has been in this city But we Shaven the money to pay for it will be the rejoinder Tihat does not justify a departure from the regular right and only consistent nule Devise means to raise the funds not Clothe the city in darkness or attempt to introduce a doubtful and unpopular scheme to dodge l the issue i We repeat our suggestion that l the best possible terms as to rate per lamp be made with the company furnishing the ligWts < with the understanding that the money hall not be due until next October or November When the regu lar levying time arrives assess a tax j specially for street lighting or include jut In the regular general tax making tflie rate high enough to cover the ex penses for the ensuing year That will solve the problem That will avoid the existing difficulty That twill save a great deal of trouble That is the straight and narrow way Therein I our worried city fathers will find rest for their weary souls I |