Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-08
PAY FOE PRIVILEGE AND FRAN
CHISE


St. Louis has made veritable step forward
in the policy it has adopted with respect to
grsnfing Of franchises and privileges. II is
thus announced by the Republican: "It may
be taken as q fact rnzr the syEtem of exact-
ing compensation for the grant OF valuable
franchises has been fairly established in st.
Louis" Taught by what has often been
very dearly bought experience, city ought
not 10 confer on an individual, for nothing,
privileges which be can sell the next month
for large sum, and often does so. Privileges
granted without due consideration often be-
come genuine misfortunss for those who
GRAFT them. Wnat was humbly implored
for as favor, is aflerward haun!ed in the
face of the giver rs q right, a right to be en-
forced with the power OF the law. FAvoIs
indiscreetly granted convert the receivers
toto enemies and dictstors, hated by the
people, but irremovable and irfeclaim able.
1t would be out of the power of the receiver
of privilege 10 become a hateful parasite
preyipg upon a people who want to
get rid of him, ii the suthori
~ granting the privilege retained
In its own hands the power to curb the in
CRATES that petition when they want favors
and Cypress when they have opportunity.
By limiting the lime OF the grant, by re-
quiring the concurrence OF the municipal
authorities in certain cases, by requiring an
nual or quarterly reports as TO the use made
of the privilege, and in other wayE. sufficient
authority should remain in the hands of the
grsntsrs to prevent the abuse Of the privilege
TO the detriment oil the public welfare. More
than this-what is worth money to sell is
worth money to buy, and privileges and
franchises Of value should be conferred only
in return for fairly equivalent value The
Repa6licGn very correctly urges that the only
excuse for tearing up the pavements 10 lay
down pipes or railway tracks, is the public
need fori.. That public need iDsures bust
ness to the receiver of the privilege. Not
only does the franchise confer power to do
certain tbiDgp, but incidentally it often con-
fsrs along with the franchise the customers
who are 10 make it valuable, and is this
valuable adjunct 10 a business prof CT
TO be given without any return
or equivalent? By prudent care the
power to confer valuable privileges may be-
come very just and proper means of light.
ening the local taxation; property is trans
ferred and an equivalent value ought TO be
paid for the transfer. OF course the price
should not be exacied in a way that would
discourage enterprise; frequently the enter
prise does not at first bring profit, an the
payment required ss TO amount and lime, or
nature, should vary with the circumstances.
Public bodies always contain men who are
familiar with The subject we are discussing,
who can use their knowledge 20 as to save
present and future interests. The poles aud
rails that cucumber the city streets are an
inconvenience and an obstruction, and if the
public submit 10 inconvenience on account of
them, it ought TO have in return something
very different from the threat of lawsuil,
or the infictiou OF discrimination; it ought
10 have a just equivalent in shape suited
to the nature of the privilege granted, and
even then the privilege ought not to be so
grated without reserv alton as 10 make the
holder Of it able to assume diclatorial po.
sition toward the grantor.