St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-05

street car companies should be made to
pay q large lax for the privilege Of oc-
cupying the streets. he talk about the
generosity nf street car companies which
had substituted eleegr.c power Tor horses
disguised him. lie submitted these
figures OIL
street Hallway Operations:
'',rhe cost of Opertng horse lines per
car per mile is IS cents. an avera ge OF
thirty large systems in the UniSed
States: cable lines, l315 cents per ear
per mile, the average OF len large syS-
tens; electric lines. 1913 cents per ear
per mile. the average nj twelve large
and small systems. The cost in Minne
apOlis, nv informant states, is 95l cents
per ear per mile. The cost in each in
stance covers everything; interest on
capital invested and water. nlalnte-
nance of way, ofrOlling stock, OF power
plant and fuel, labor, Oil, etc. with the
same population the patronage or cleo
| trio systems is always larger than or
others. Therefore the spectacle is pre-
scented Of halving expenses, increasing
business and praiSing and banqueting
the men vino profit thereby as being
quite above and beyond the ordinary
mortal. Let Us have more hard common
sense and less fuIsome tiattery hereafter
when writing OF electric railways and
their owners.
Mr. Owen has examined
The Toronto System.
There the use OF the streets is leased
to the highest bidder FOR not more than
year. The city regulates fares ana
transfers and gets percentage or the
gross earnings in addition to the price
nf IN Ai ba
lessee was maintaining track and roll
ing stock. paying per cent profit on
cost Of plant and paying the city on the
gross earnings nearly $1,000 month.
The lines were long, the transfer Sys-
tenn comprehensive and the rate or rare
| five cents, six tickets for a quarter and
twenty-five for dollar. Tickets. good
two hours in the morning and two IN
the evening. were sold to accommodate
lab0rers, eight for a quarter, and school
chIldren'S tickets ten Tor quarter, all
tickets being good for transfer prIYll-
eyes. The lines were operated by
horses. The introduction OF electricity
then in progress would, 1t was prom
Used. bring reduction of fare.
Parting shots
In conclusion, Mr.. Owen said:
with municipal ownership of nat
ural mOnOpOlies. water works, lighting
plants ana street railways the Improve
mentS that are constantly being invent
ed W0ud benefit the public instead of
few individuals. and at least TWO OF the
| forces now induStriuuSly at work cell
Trailing the wealth of the nation into
| dangerously few hands would be de-
! strOyed. Newspapers would be lifted
! above the suspicion OF being owned.
/ subsidized or influenced by such mo-
/ nODOiieS, and city councils would be
! free from the chronic imputatiOn they
| now lie under of being subject TO the
! same forces And finally. such owner
! ship would greatly simplify the taxation
! problem in cities, by the proper and
! Just utilization of natural advantages
/ TOr paying directly or indirectly all, or
nearly all, the city's taxes.
The committee OH resolutions sub
! mitted number OF reports at the even
ing session. but no action was taken on
them. it being decided to postpone dis
cussion on the various subjects en-
braced until today. One of the resolu-
! tons declared for the enactment of
law which would provide a penalty tor
cOnceaing property 10 eYade taxation.
! 'Ehe law 10 be strictly enforced and the
| penalty severe enough to deter possible
! Offenders. This resolution was signed by
| a portion of the committee, the others
| deeming the measure unnecessary.
! Another of the resolutions provided for
! special assessments for all railroad
lands. when it is necessary for the
streets, sewers, etc. TO be bettered.
This special assessment, however,
should by no means exempt the railroad
companies from paying taxes Oh the
gross earnings, as al present. The con-
! sir an at
also be changed so that men owning
and improving farms, city or town lots
should not be obliged TO pay more taxes
than the Spectator who holds lands for
| speculative and sale purposes.
A third resolution opposed the grant
ing OF any and all franchises TO copora-
lions or Individuals. IT. however,
franchises were granted they should he
taxed according to their valuation. or
upon the gross earnings. The laws
should also be so changed as to exempt
only $500 worth of personal property,
| instead Of $1,000. and amendments
should he made TO the tax laws that
would do away with attempts to tax
credits.
Several papers were read during the
evening. among them one on Local
Option in Taxation" By c. j. Buel, in
which he argued that the matter OF local
taxation ought to be left with the com
munlties themselves. Ii town, village,
or civ were DESTROYS OF eXemptIug from
taxation buildings and improved land,
they ought To he allowed to 10 so. The
subject was thoroughly discussed. The
meeting decided to have a committee
conference with the Alliance with a
view OF securing hearing before that
body. with papers on Taxation Tor Va
cant Railroad Lands" the conference