OCR Text |
Show STATEMENT In the near future the citizens of St. George will be given an opportunity oppor-tunity to vote upon two issues which will probably determine the progress prog-ress of the community for fifteen to twenty-five years. One issue is being presented to the citizens of St. George by a committee com-mittee called the "Sponsors' Committee" for municipal ownership of the power plants and distibuting systems which serve the citizens of St. feorge- This committee, with some members of the City Council, have investigated the possibilities of municipal ownership and have become converted con-verted to the fact that it would be an economic advantage and benefit to the citizens to own and operate their own electric system which supplies the citizens of St. George and adjacent territory with electricity. The interest of this group favoring municipal ownership is the interest inter-est of the citizen who is converted to the principle after due investigation. investiga-tion. This committee has no financial interest in the outcome of the election and is not being paid by anyone in order that the matter may be presented to all the voters of the City of St. George. This sponsors' committee com-mittee is causing to be circulated a petition to secure signatures of those in favor of the municipally owned power plant. In doing this, they are following the law as prescribed in Title 25, Chapter 10, of the laws of the State of Utah, 1933, which in substance provides that the citizens may initiate legislation by securing signatures of those favorable to the particular par-ticular legislation equal to fifteen per cent of the voters who voted in the last election immediately preceding the filing of the petition for the office of Governor. This law provides that any group of citizens may sponsor the legislation legisla-tion and upon securing the required number cause an election to be held for the voters of the city to vote upon the proposed ordinance, in this case, an ordinance authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds to construct a municipally owned power plant and distributing system. This power plant and distributing system is to be paid out of the net revenues of the plant (the voters' property is not liable to be taxed to pay any part of these bonds). The law further provides that thirty days prior to the time of the election, the group in favor of the legislation shall submit a written writ-ten argument or pamphlet not to exceed two thousand words which must be mailed to each voter. It gives to those opposing the legislation the same opportunity to submit a pamphlet to be mailed to each voter containing con-taining the arguments against the legislation. This being so, the voters of the City of St. George may rest assured that they will have an opportunity opportun-ity to read and analyze the arguments of those both for and against the legislation. The other important issue to be presented to the citizens of St. George and to be voted upon by them is the question of whether or not the Southern Utah Power Company will be granted a fifteen year franchise giving them the right to furnish electricity to the citizens of St. George. The Southern Utah Power Company, through a group of local citizens, has formed a sponsors' committee and is circulating a petition which will compel an election to be held on the question of whether or not the City I of St. George will grant them a fifteen-year franchise. If 15" of those ! voters who voted for Governor sign the petition sponsored by the Southern ! Utah Power Company, and their friends, there will be an election held upon the question of whether the franchise requested by the power company com-pany will be granted for a fifteen-year period. If a majority vote in favor of granting the fifteen-year franchise, and also votes against muncipal ownership, the City Council will be compelled to give them the franchise for fifteen years as proposed in their petition. If a majority votes against giving them a franchise for fifteen years, then and in that event, the question ques-tion of the length of the time of the franchise if one were granted would be up to the City Council to determine whether it would be for one, five, ten, or fiften years. On the question of granting the franchise to the Southern Utah Power Company, the same procedure will be followed as on the question of whether we will have municipal ownership of our electric plant and system, sys-tem, that is, before the election is held, those jn favor of granting a fifteen-year franchise will cause a pefUion to be filed, signed by 15 of the voters, and will submit an argument in pamphlet form not exceeding two thousand words which pamphlet will be mailed to each voter prior to the election. Those opposing if will submit a pamphlet containing an argument against it which will be mailed to ail the voters before the election. It is urged by the sponsors' committee favoring municipal ownership that the citizens study the issues carefully, consider ail the arguments, and all the facts presented in the pamphlets for and against the issues. Take into consideration the benefits that the city will receive by owning their own system, paying for it out of revenue from the system, and then keeping keep-ing the money at HOME. Take into consideration the fact that the Southern Utah Power Company, Com-pany, who has served St. George fcr twenty-five years, is naturally anxious to secure an additional franchise. It is good business for them to keep the franchise, if possible. It means dividends to their stockholders, and by the way, a majority of the stock is held outside of the State of Utah. Take info consideration the fact that if there are net earnings made by the Southern Sou-thern Utah Power Company that most of the money wilt be sent out of the State. Take info consideration the fact that if there are net earnings on a municipally owned plant the citizens of t h e community, and adjacent territory, will receive the benefit, that is, instead of dividends being sent out of the State, dividends will be paid to the citizens of St. George in the form of lower electric light bills and lower taxes. The committee sponsoring municipal ownership believes that if all these matters are taken into consideration, and if you will study the arguments argu-ments of both sides and take into consideration the respective interests, and will see what ether communities who have municipally owned plants are doing, that when the day of election comes that the citizens will turn out and vote overwhelmingly in favcr of the municipally owned plant thereby voting to build up ycur community and keep the dividends at HOME. SPONSORING COMMITTEE E. ERIC SHOW, Chairman ARTHUR COTTAM BYRON TAYLOR NEWELL FREI GEORGE P. LYTLE WILFORD SCHMUTZ ALBERT FAWCETT PAUL SEEGMILLER ANDREW McARTKUR JAMES ANDRUS |