OCR Text |
Show that these water rights are worth f 100,000, because some nameless individual has offered this sum to the cc; Lzj for its alleged ownership of these rights. -,;f If uch an agreement existed, it was without the knowledge, of a majority of the. City Council-rcer-tainly' without the knowledge of a majority of the' citizens who voted a million dollars in bonds for the extension of the municipal water system. Had it been the water bond issue would have been inglori-ously inglori-ously defeated. ' . ' The company seeks franchises woTth millions in exchange for property which it admits is worth only $100,000. . t . . V .. But who is the "private citizen" who has offered f 100,000 for these alleged water rights? Perish the ! suggestion that Robert S. Campbell, private citizen, ; made such an offer to Robert S. Campbell, general manager of the TJ.tah Light and Railway; company ! : However, this is as good a clue as any until the "private citizen" is named. N ' The Utah Light and Railway company is frightened fright-ened badly frightened. It has been driven from one subterfuge to another in its frantic endeavors to override the will of the people and secure a consolidation consol-idation and extension of its several franchises nnder conditions that would have the corporation master of the situation Various alleged concessions have been made in the endeavor to hide the real issue and lull the people into fancied security. Now it faces the fact that'a majority of the people's represents tives-have expressed themselves as unalterably opposed op-posed to granting any franchise which does not fully protect the people's rights. In view of this the threat is made, through the trust's newspaper organ,' that the company "will retire upon its present holdings and franchises and rights extending already about thirty to forty-two years, with maximum rates far above those which the proposed" franchise permits, and let the city, as best it may, go on without the properties in question" ques-tion" (meaning the alleged water rights), "while the company can utilize them for the improvements which it had projected previous to the city's offer.to acquire them." The people's representatives in the City Council should accept this challenge. Let the company's alleged al-leged ownership of the water rights in Big Cottonwood Cotton-wood be touted and also apply the city's authority to regulate the rates charged by the company for electric light and other utilities. That the city has the right to regulate these charges is admitted by the company's own attorney, in support of the pending pend-ing ordinance. By all means accept the challenge and take up the battle for the people. There is an opportunity here for the eight members of the Council who propose pro-pose to stand by the people which they should not lose. Acctpt. the Trutt's Challenge. To the eight members of the City Council who have given assurances of their opposition to the prantijig of the outrageous franchise grab of the . Vtab Light and Railway company The Telegram, for the people, tenders assurance of the highest esteem. They need, bat to stand firm for the rights of the . people and the gigantic grab is defeated. ' Their attitude will have the moral support of the great majority of the people of Salt Lake City. j Not one reason has been advanced why this fran- ' chise extension should be granted. It has been asserted as-serted that there was an understanding that the company should have an extension of its franchises 'in consideration of certain alleged water rights in Bjo- Cottonwood canyon which the city desires and which are claimed to be necessary to the carrying nt of the city's plans for the extension of its muni- jdpal water Mpplj system. It is further asserted ' ' ' . ' ' i '. . . . .- . j |