The Washington critic., 1888-01-23
RICHARD II. sYLvEsTEH....",Ed Editor
WASHINGTON. JAN. %, 1883.
srnrrr RAILWAY FRANCHISES.

\ blll mas Occn introduced III lnC
House of Representative 'by re-
quest" which shows that it did not
originate there, ''to repeal the acts in
cooperating the Washington and
Georgetown and Metropolitan Rail-
road Companies Of tile District, TO sell
at public auction the routes Of such
companies, and grant new charters for
coaoratons TO operate such roads,
thereby securing a revenue to the Dis
trict of Columbia from the street rail
roads"
Such legislation rs here proposed
is neither just nor wise. Neither
should it be resorted to, excepting in
extraordinary cases where II corpora
tion by its mismanagement OF mis-
conduct has made itself amenable to
the forfeiture of its charter, or be-
come so financially involved as to call
for n receiyership. Even then the
statutes point out the proper recourse
for creditors or stockholders, without
the necessity OF special legislative
interposition.
In the matter of the street railway
companies above mentioned it is not
apparent that any cause exists for their
violent and summary extinction.
They are great and successful enter
prises and Of high standing in the stock
market. They represent paying in
vestments and big profits, yet they
are no less credit and indispensable
convenience to the city.
If in any respect they fail to answer
the purpose for which they were Gre
ated, il may devolve upon Congress to
compel better performance of their
obligations to the public. 1t may be
expedient to make their franchises,
which are so valuable TO themselves,
also a source of revenue to the Dis
trict; but the proposition to put their
property up at auction, wipe their cor
porations out Of existence, and set up
n street stand for the sale of new
franchises, would prove but a poor
way Of adjusting grievances now COM
planned of or Of advancing the business
interests Of the National Capital.
Charters may be amended or modi-
fed when any necessity is shown to
exist for u change, but vested rights
should never be repealed, unless it
clearly appears that the welfare of the
people for whose accommodation they
were granted, would be better sub
served by new DEAL or where the
act of repeal is based upon the mu-
tual consent and agreement of the
- parties concerned.
Ii is not likely that the bill to which
reference has been made will ever
come up for consideration, but it is
unfortunate that such measures should
be given even the prominence of an
introduction.
Schemes of this character are calcu-
lated TO produce unfavorable inn
pressions abroad. They have Il
tendency to drive capital away rather
than invite it hither.
Who sgoing to buy street railway
franchise with the understanding that
whenever any dissatisfied citizen
lays n complaint before Congress the
purchaser can be peremptorily solo
out?
Men Of means and enterprise, moi
fully advised of the situation, are
thus led to believe that chartered
privileges for carrying on business in
Washington are more to be avoided
than sought after, for the reason tha'
they lack the all-essential element o.
stability and are liable TO ruinous in
reference.
We do not wish to be understood
as advising that the street railway
corporations be carefully let alone
Quite the contrary. Let then
not only be compelled to utilize thei
franchises to the highest possibl,
benefit Of the community, on th,
patronage of which they subsist, bu
contribute Of their gains to the sup
port of the Government in such man
ner as just business principles suggest
Let them be regulated wherein the.
need regulation; but so long as thei
charters are not ireparably an,
flagrantly violated they must not b
moddled with.
CoIoNEL FRED. GRANT, the son o
his father, made short speech il
Boston Saturday before the Middlese,
Club, whose guest he was. Said tn
Colonel, in the course Of his re
marks:
~ have always believed that tn
greater part Of what was wise cam
from New England. In my ow
family the wisest part Of it descende
from this part of the country, and
thought would come here an
learn"
We are not criticising at all, but W
should like to inquire why the ColonC
didn't 60 to New England before il
ran for Secretary Of State in Ne
York.
SENATOR EDMUNDs mas an article o
'The Tariff, not For Revenue Only
but also for Protection and Deyelol
ment, " in "Harpers Magazine" fc
February, and it is very cogent an
convincing, but the senator does nC
show wherein tariff for Protectio
permits "IIarpers Magazine" " h