| Show PROF PARSONSS PLAN An Expert Explains How Salt Lake May Secure Possession of Its Own Public Utilities Several topics that are just now of vital Interest to the people of Salt Lake I were discussed by Prof Frank Parsons of the chair of political science and history his-tory at the Boston university and president presi-dent of the National Public Ownership league before the economic league at the Ladles Literary club rooms last night The attendance was over 100 Prof Parsons Is i the author of several sev-eral works on municipal 1 topics and his conclusions are based on personal study of forty cities In this country and Europe Eu-rope After tracing the evolution of human relationships he has come to tho conclusion that the law of progress dooms the competitive system and private pri-vate monopoly and pre lots universal co opera lion Coming to the local situation he said that gas sold for Sl75 per 1000 feet whereas with the cost of coal and labor as It is it could be sold for a reasonable profit at 90 cents He proved his pointy b point-y quoting the rates in other cities The rates for electric lighting he found to be more reasonable than are made by many private companies but still higher than they are under similar conditions at Spokane Wash and higher than they should be to the small consumers Prof Parsons devoted much of his time to the subject of telephones declaring de-claring that the local company could cut rates more than half and then pay Interest of from C to S per cent on Its nvcstment Independent lines he said are In successful operation In many places and reduce the cost of the service ser-vice but the Ideal system Is the cooperative co-operative one As an example he told of the experience of Grand Rapids Wls where a cooperative company drove the Bell system out of business reducing rates from 36 and S48 annually to C per annum for residences and H8 per annum for business phones Four fifths of the subscribers are stockholders stockhold-ers and each subscriber may have one share of stock and one only The average aver-age cost of operation is 50 per year and 12 covers operation depreciation and Interest When asked by Mr Crane how he would advise Salt Lake to proceed to gain possession of its own utilities Prof Parsons said he would establish the Initiative and referendum get the legislature to permit the city to under take such enterprises then as the people peo-ple might vote to do so get fifty or sixty wealthy men to give notes to the banks for the working capital needed pay 7 per cent 5 per cent lo the banks and 2 per cent to the men who made the loan and finally pay the principal from the earnings of the public qervlce |
