Show UP TO MR DEAN DEANA AFTER A FTER GOING THROUGH the I form of considering c the fran franchise franchise francie chise cie extension asked by the Utah Light Railway R lIway company Hewlett HewItt Fernstrom Wells and have approved the ordinance desired by the corporation and rec recommended recommended recommended it for adoption by the council The form of deliberation was wasa a farce and the conclusion might as aswell aswell aswell well have been written out by the majority of the committee long ago ag since it was known in advance they would grant anything the company wanted and would not insert any anything anything anythIng thing distasteful to the company Fernstrom and Wells in par particular parti particular ti ular have been consistent persis persistent persistent i tent advocates of the corporations demands and just as persistent in their opposition to the peoples rights arid and wishes j The whole subject has been dis discussed discUssed discussed cussed so thoroughly it is unnecessary to point out at length the objection objectionable 1 able features of the franchise ordin ordinance ordinance ordinance ance as it stands approved by the committee Briefly it concedes a I forfeiture clause applicable only to the street railway franchise and at it attainable t only by fy i action of the council sustained by a court decree That is to say no citizen on his own initiative can ask for forfeiture be because because because cause of violation of franchise pro provisions provisions provisions visions and it remains only for the company to maintain maint in control of the city council in order to do about as asit asit asit it pleases with street car ca service As Asfor Asfor Asfor for the lighting power and gas ser service service service vice there seems se ms to be no relief in incase incase incase case the service is inadequate The price of light gas as and street streett t i railway fares is s irrevocably fixed in inthe inthe I Ithe the franchise and it iti is not subject to regulation by the council as It should be br b For fifty years the people of Salt Lake are to be compelled to pay the prices named although there is a weak proviso pr viso that in case there is s any ny improvement in methods which shall reduce educe the cost of manufacture and distribution of electricity ele the city and company shall share equally in a readjustment of rates incident to the improvements This may mean some ting t g or nothing as the thc company shall shaH construe tt ft If the present ser service service 1 vice were based b sed on the improvements Im In vogue elsewhere there would be bean bean bean an immediate and heavy h avy reduction in inte tie fie minimum price e fixed by the or ordinance ordinance Again the council committee has I agreed to abolish the privilege the city now has of using without charge the poles and of the company for wires wire So long as tat right exists the city is in position positIon position tion to establish its own plant With the right cancelled the city is at the th mercy of the company for another I fifty years The moral is very plain n the company does not intend to leave the city any leverage whereby muni municipal municipal municipal cipal service can possibly be established established without an entire new system of poles the disfigurement of the th streets and a heavy outlay of capital which would wo ld be unnecessary under existing franchises The only redeeming feature of the I franchise as drawn by its committeemen is the promise of a reduction in domestic lighting charges and for that the people have Mr Newhouse to thank because he offered to give such service if granted tie tze existing franchises As it stands the ordinance is wholly wholly ly Iy bad It concedes great privileges in sri return for comparatively insignificant cant concessions it eliminates safe safeguards safeguards safeguards guards now owned by the people and it perpetuates a practical monopoly for a half century on terms which no modern city administration would ac accept accept accept as a business proposition It appears 31 pears that councilman Dean holds the deciding vote in the council and that upon him will hinge the adoption or rejection of the fran chase when it comes to a final vote Mr Dean has a great responsibility and whether he lie realizes it or not nots s reputation as a citizen is s at stake He is in position to make or mar m r his public career and his decision will willbe willbe be watched with anxiety f by every resident of Salt Lake LakeIt It is up to Mr j d |