The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-14

Easter offerings tCili not catch the eye OF
the multitude until they are property dd-
IertiSed IN the leading Scranton paper.
THE POLE TAX AGAIN.
In our LEGAL report of last evenings
session of tho tax committee OF select
council will be found complete
presentation of the various views ex
pressed by representatives of the elec-
trical companies affected by tho pend
ing dollar pole tax ordinance. Each
statement merits attentive perusal. 1t
ia the aim of THE TRIBUNE in this mat
ter, as in all similar issues affecting
in large measure the welfare
of the city, to give Gevery side
fair hearing and to reach
no conclusion withou. having first
honestly and earnestly sought to weigh
all the presented evidence. Ia this in.
stance we shall reserve tho right to de-
fer consideration Of the special pleas OF
the electrical company agents until we
can discuss them at greater length aud
with more care than is possible in tho
brief time elapsinS before these words
must be placed in. typs There has
bsen. in the recent discussion OF this
pole tax ordinance, rather too
much snap Judgment and too little
careful thought. We do not intend to
fall irto the error Of dismissiug, in
fippaut fashion, a subj &c: that properly
deserves the b=s5 aud most prudent
attention that can be accorded to it.
For the present, then. we SHALL contne
ourselves 20 4 summary of the actual
statements made before the tax COM
mi:tee, together with soma casual
comments with reference to the pso-
pIss aide Of the case.
In his statement in behalf Of the Il
Eliminating, Heat and Power company.
Dr. B. H. ThrOop dwels upon tho fact
that MS company was not aging diYi-
dends and did not expect soou to pay
any. Under the circumstances, he did
not regard tax on its polls as fai.
procedure on the part Of city which
had encouraged the location o: new in
d1striss here by offers of exemption
from taxation. \ similar statement
was made by F. Z. Plstt, representing
the Suburban Electric Lish: company.
The plea Of Richard O'Brisn, for tds
Western UuiOn Telegraph company and
the Central Telephone company WAS
in CORES pouding vein. and devoted
much attention to the smallness of the
telegraph company's dividends and the
increasing expense Of the telephone
company's necessary Improvements.
General Manager Archer, for the
Scranton Traction company. reviewed
the progress made by his corporation
during the period Of his active manage
ment, cited the liberal concessions
made to ths people OF Scranton and the
improved service given them. and stat
cd that arrangements were already in
progress for the introduction OF
safety tenders and of com oination poles
that would do away with IS per cent.
Of the supports now dotting Lacka-
wanna avenue. The speech of II. E.
Paine on behalf OF the board Of trade
was a contention in favor OF the ordi-
nance not chiefly because Of the rev.
snue thatits enactment would produce,
hut because it would reduce the large
present number OF dangerous and un.
slightly poles. The committee, after
secret session, decided to report the or.
dinance without recommendation.
Thus it will be seen that the funda
mental point toward which this whole
discussion must sooner or later tend
was studiously avoided There ia no
general wish on the part Of the citizens
Of Scranton to pursue policy Of black
mail and extortion toward these cor
porations. There ia certainly no wide
spread desire to unnecessarily harrass
them in the prop,r pursuit of their re-
spective business functions. The plea
that is made even by radical advocates
of the pole tax, does not assume and
dare not assume any such viru
lent shape. Intelligence and fairnss.
must charactariz3 action in this mat
ter, not malsvOlsnce, illlbarality, Gu.
pidisy or spite. What Scrantoni an
want ia such an enjoyment by the elsc
trical companies Of public franchises as
will give them reasonable Opportuni
ties Of profitable operation without en-
croachiug in!olersoly upon the people,
equal rights. THE TRIBUNE haS no
supported the pole tax proposition be
cause il believes IL to be a hating ant
compromising measure, and it ssei
no new reason to recede from
that position. On the contrary
1t believes that we can dC
better than to sell the right to de-
face our streets at 81 per DETACHMENT.
1t believes that before this agitation
shall have ceased we can persuade, il
possible, or. IL necessary, compel those
electrical companies, despite their pro
testations Of pecuniary en barraSsment /
to put every overhead wire In neat aut
convenient curbstonS conduits. spill
every ugly pole into kiudling wood an,
throw every ugly cross bar to the juul
pile.
1T IS INDEED significant that bushes
men who little more than one year ag
could not find words OF abuse emphati
enough to voice their sentiments to
ward Senator Hill, are now sOndin
delegations to him praying for his in
tercesslon and influence against th
proposed destructive tariff, 1t make
o decided difference whose OK Is gored
ADVERTISE EARLY.
II strikes us that the Democrat
managers Of the Pennsylvania ''ma
chine" are wasting good deal G