"I don't see but that the city should have something, though.

Public sentiment is rather against gifts to corporations just at present." Cowperwood caught the drift of what was in young MacDonald's mind.
"Well, what would you suggest as a fair rate of compensation to the city ?" he asked, cautiously, wondering whether this aggressive youth would go so far as to commit himself in any way.
"Oh, well, as to that," MacDonald replied, with a deprecatory wave of his hand, "I couldn't say.

It ought to bear a reasonable relationship to the value of the utility as it now stands.

I should want to think that over.

I shouldn't want to see the city demand anything unreasonable.