Powell: Private waste-removal companies spend 60 percent of what public waste-removal companies spend per customer, yet give their customers at least as good service.
Powell's 1st Claim
Private waste-removal companies spend 60% of what public waste-removal companies spend per customer. Does Freeman disagree with this?
No, there's nothing he says that objects to that comparison. In fact, he seems to accept that they spend different amounts, because he's saying private companies choose to serve "less costly" customers, so that the companies don't have to spend as much to serve those customers.
Powell's 2nd Claim
Private companies give their customers at least as good service as public companies do.
Does Freeman disagree with this?
No, there's nothing he says that makes it sound like one type of company provides better/worse service than the other type.
Powell's 3rd Claim
Private companies work more efficiently than public ones do.
Does Freeman disagree with this?
Yes. This is Powell's conclusion and Freeman says it's unwarranted. That doesn't mean that Freeman believes the opposite, but it means that Freeman doesn't find Powell's logic convincing.
Freeman thinks that it's possible there's an alternate explanation for why private companies only spend 60% as much as public companies do to provide a comparable quality of service --- the private companies get to cherry-pick doing business with the cheapest customers.
Meanwhile, public utilities have to serve everyone, even those houses way up on the hill or on the outskirts of town (the ones that are more costly to serve).
Goal
Look for something like,