The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-09
ON STREET RAILWAYS
INFORMATION PRESENTED BY DIR.
SHAW, OF REVIEW Of REVIEWS.
Result Of His Investigations Showing
the Contrast Between American
and European Systems.
New York Evening Post

Inc Assembly speclai committee on rail-
roads. which. since Monday. has been sit
ting in this city inquiring into the city
street-railway operations and organizations.
met again this morning at the Metropole
Hotel.
DR.. Albert Shaw, American editor OF the
Review of Reviews. was asked by the COM
mittee to give his views of the municipal
ownership OF street railways. He was the
most interesting witness of the session. The
only place abroad where the public admin
istration had been carried to the point of
fullest demonstration, DR.. Shaw said, was
in Glasgow, Scotland, whose population
very large. but compact. George Francis
Train, Dr. Shaw said. In the sixties, was
the first man to attempt to build street rail-
ways in Europe. the first line. short one
being built in Liverpool. Train attempted
to get a franchise for a railway in Glasgow,
but the Council did not care to give such
franchise TO private company, and so he
went TO Parliament and got franchise. The
city built the tracks and issued bonds TO
cover the cost of construction For twenty
years the railways were operated By pri-
vate company under onerous terms. the
company earning good dividends for the
company and the city. Last year. when
thorities proposed to take over and operate
the plant themselves. Their decision was
backed by public opinion and additional
powers therefor were readily granted by
Parliament which had been satisfied by ex-
perience that Glasgow. which had made
success in operating it's own gas plant. could
satisfactorily operate the street railways
too. The private operating company, whose
lease had expired. established bus line
I'm C1a tho NOT wit hn "a IL
ways. but the competition was unsuccessful.
The city made very low special fares for
worklngmen in the early morning and late
evening hours, and for school children too.
The Glasgow idea of not permitting a
private company to own any part
the Shaw the said sssn
such a success that it has been
adopted by all the chief towns of England,
municipal ownership and operation of
street railways. In London, however, pri-
vate companies continue to operate the
trains, but as franchises are expiring the
London County Councils are taking over the
franchises and releasing them TO private
companies, the purpose being to increase
conservative than the provincial cities, and
Ii will be Some time before ii will become
as progressive as Glasgow or the other
cities.
There has been enlightenment, Dr. Shaw
said, of public officials, so that now they
are more careful in demanding better SER
car companies. AS the street railways in
Europe are not so we'll patronized be-
tions, the vested interests are not so vast
as in this country.
THE FOREIGN LINE.
1.-THE fellow who is apt to get the worst
of it abroad said DR.. Shaw, making a
random observation. sis the fellow who APP
plies for municipal franchise, and not
the city. 1t is the aim of law officers
of foreign cities to get the best Of the bar
gain for the benefit of the people and not
for the advantage Of the corporations. The
consequence was that the corporations felt
that they had to rely on the good faith of
the municipal authorities. who had charge
Of the fixing of rates, the number of cars
run, etc. and We're careful to not violate
chises under which they operated"
Dr. Shaw said that he knew of no street
railways rally abroad IT., that were subjected to
York. In nearly all cities abroad, the ed
ittor said. persons were not permitted to
permission being given for certain num-
Der to stand upon the platforms.
That would not answer for the peoples
demand for rapid transit in New York,
would it?' asked Mr.. Wade. NO DIR.
Shaw laughingly answered "Such drastic
rules would. 1 think. lead to violence and
DIR. Shaw said he believed American COM
panies ought. in return for the great privi-
leges they hold. to make increased invest
ments TO enlarge their facilities and give
the people better and more comfortable
service. do you Think Mr.. Wade asked,
ways here would do away with present
evils" II have never advocated municipal
ownership DIR. Shaw replied. II never
there is nothing in existing charters rers' to
prevent legislative remedy, 1t might be pos
sihe TO bring the whole business of tran
x.s 81
efficient public supervision to the end of
giving the people relief. The city authori-
ties here and elsewhere. think. ought
have conferred so freely on the compan-
les. / recognize, on the other hand. too,
the exceptional enterprise of our COM
panies and the immense advantages our
communities derive from the transit facil-
tiles they possess; but enterprise would net
had better and more closely guarded the
winch they SO literally disposed
'Do you think. Doctor" Mr.. Wade asked
"a system ought to prevail by which a
workingman has to pay night and morn
ing ror peing carried to and from his
money i'm the form of dividends, is used TO
help pay the taxes on the property of the
Standard Oil Company the World Building
'' IN - Enrorean cities" DR.. shaw said. "a
reduction of fares is made for working
men who travel in the early morning hours
Il
DO YOU believe municipal government
ought TO be entirely taken out of poitics?'
DR. Shaw was asked. 81 should be in no
haste" he answered. Ito put transit
systems under political control.
do you believe" he was asked. ''in the
municipal ownership of street railways in
| this country?
''My opinion" he replied, "is that we
| have very much TO do first before We can
| approach as practical questions the ques-
! tons Of municipal ownership OF railways in
| American cities"
DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.
1.-The differences between the demands for
| transit in New York and London are so
great" DIR. Shaw said, that IL would be un-
| wise TO attempt make n practical COM
parison between the conditions i'm the two
| cities. The general patronage of street cars
! is very much greater here than in European
/ cities"
What do you think city ought TO re-
ceive from private corporations in payment
! for the privilege to use the city streets?"
| I'm Paris" DIR. Shaw answered, 1.-The peo-
! pie are content TO have the government
| share in the excess profits of the operating
| companies. In German towns the city Cow
1 eminent Is really in the hands OF the tax,
| payers. and their policies govern. The men
| who pay one-third of the taxes en-
| titled to elect one-third of the city officials
| a board OF directors run q railroad here.
he a m -