Show T IS not infrequent that cities are subjected subjected sub sub- t. t IT to unjust because of r advantages taken by contractors or or city employees or by the by-the the deliberate misrule r r of city officials It is only a few years ago since the citizens of Tacoma were i made the victims of a a swindle on the 1 part of C. C B. B Wright owner of the i- i works water-works valued at and ands andi s i through the systematic efforts of Mr Rf Wright a valuation valuation of was placed upon the property by expert engineers and the city purchased it for that amount Fortunate Fortunately y the treachery was discovered and proved the bond was repealed and the city was saved a loss of a a million and a half of dollars 1 We V e ai are are now now confronted with a a similar case s from th the extreme e East but but it it is o one of broader dimensions and of m more more more-de- f d de liberate and and down downright perfidy THe fh Philadelphia g gas s works are valued at 4 40 being probably the best piece I of property owned by that city Two Twos companies made bids for the thirty years t lease of this this' property The Baker syndicate a reliable company offered to make the lease on terms in every way ways similar to those of the U United Stat States States' 1 Gas Improvement Company except that tha in addition they proposed to pay and per annu annum i during the t term rm of lease This Tins alon alone 1 amounted d to a consideration of J 1 to the city and the company to to td which the contract was voted propose propos propose to pay nothing and to make an extra extra charge to private consumers The bitter opposition with which the th thel met had no effe effect ti 7 for when tl the previous question was moved by M Mr Van Osten the measure went through by a vote of 78 to 52 While this act act i imay may not receive receive the sanction of th they the mayor mayor and and he promises to to veto it the the incident serves serve's to show the power J of f combines and trusts and emphasizes th 1 danger of centralized power and th the need for government by the people Think of it the it-the the common c council uncil of of ofa a representative American city in the pr pie e sence of a throng of ot citizens and in the face of their emphatic disapproval a act act upon a measure involving millions of f dollars worth of property J 00 |