Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1920 — SCHOOL OF CITIZENSHIP [ARTICLE]

SCHOOL OF CITIZENSHIP

TWO WEEKS OF INSTRUCTION WILL CLOSE THIS EVENING. ' The addresses that have been given by the speakers at the school of citizenship at the court house have been very interesting and instructive. The address of Senator Harry E. Negley, of Indianapolis, who is president pro tempore of the Indiana State senate, on Tuesday evening upon the subject “Industrial Problems,” was an excellent presentation of this vital question. Senator Negley’s discussion of the present situation was clear and fair. He censured both of the political parties for their attitude toward labor. The audience was pleased with the senator’s address and much valuable information was received from the same. The Wednesday evening address was made by Attorney Moses Leopold on the subject of “Municipal Governments.” Attorney Leopold gave a very clear and definite statement of the several departments of citygovernment. He made his talk concrete by using Rensselaer as an illustration. He gave the names of the present city officers, how they receive their offices, their salaries, thejr duties, the terms for which they are elected or appointed. He discussed the city as a public corporation and its relation to the public conveniences of the people. He gave much time to our city light and power plant and the movement to build a new one. He says it is the plan of the city to build a new plant on or near the Monon rightaway. That this new plant will cost possibly $140,000 as agdinst a necessary expenditure on the old plant of more than $05,000 in order to take care of the needs of the city. It is estimated that a saving of more than $9,000 a year will be made on the item of coal. The cost of hauling coal from the railroad is from 60 cents to $1.20 per ton. The boilers to be used in the new plant will use a much cheaper grade of coal. The smoke nuisance which is so offensive to the patrons near the old plant can be corrected in the new plant. The chimney in this mew plant will be much larger and higher and the fires in the new furnaces will not permit so large a volume of smoke to escape. The new plant will have more than twice the capacity of the old one, and will be so built that additions can easily be made. It is the plan of the city to leave the electric water pump and the tower where they are now and operate the same by current from the new plant. ' . With the added capacity and the use of more modern machinery the city will be able to furnish heat units at about 4 cents. This wHI make it possible to use the electric current in ranges. Attorney Leopold said that Mr. Chamberlain, superintendent of the city plant, estimates that the improvement or rather new plant would not cost’the citizens of the city an additional cent taxes, but would be earned and saved by the faet .that more current and power would be used and that the expenses of operating would be sufficiently decreased. ' ~~ This address should 'have been heard by every citizen of the city. This, Thursday evening, Attorney Abraham Halleck will address the school upon the subject, "Taxes.” This is a live subject and Attorney Halleck has some very pronounced ■news upon the same. He will undoubtedly tear into “Jim Goodrich’s” late tax law which has caused almost as much unrest in Indiana as the Reds have in Russia.