Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1895-03-18

Electric Railway Legislation.
The legislative reports tell us that on
Friday Representative Ball gave notice
Of an act to revoke the charter Of any
railway corporation using motor other
than provided in its charter.
It has time and sgaIu been asserted
that the charter OF the Wilmington City
Railway Company gives that company no
power to use electricity as motive
power and the assertion Is probably cor
rect, as the charter was obtained long
before the trolley road WAS ever thought
of. unless 10 has been amended, which Is
not within our recollection.
We recognize the good that has been
accomplished for the city in the intro
duction Of tho trolley system by the
Wilmington City Railway Company and
have due regard and confederation for
the moral rights involved IA the invest
ment OF large amount OF money and for
the enterprise and push Of those who are
IN control of TIE company At the same
time we do not forget that 10 return for
the convenieuces and improvements
which have been placed at the disposal
OF our citizens the Wilmington City
Railway Company is the recipient Of
Immense privileges which have not
cost II one dollar
Not satisfied With the privileges IL
freely enjoys this company assumes to
pre- empt the whole county and prevent
others from building roads from suburban
towns to this city, which Il 10 unable at
present TO build itself
Now it must not be for moment
supposed that the General Assembly will
have any disposition TO revoke the
charter Of the Wilmington City Railway
Company, but 10 should undoubtedly
compel the company to amend It's
charter so as to give 10 the right under
its franchise TO propsl the cars by cleo
triclty
In amending the charter the power to
use electricity should only extend to
those lines which are now actually built
and In operation, and the Wilmington
City Railway Company should, II they
want to extend their electric lineB take
the same chances and conditions Of 80
doing which anybody else may have.
It is a burning shame that the towns
around Wilmington which have for year,
been knocking at the doors Of the Genera
Assembly for permission to connect with
this city by electric road should be hello
up by the Wilmington City Railway
Company which claims the rights o.
electric railway traffic in the wholi
county to the exclusion Of all others.
The merchants. tradesmen real estat'
owners, mechanics, would all be benehte,
A. these roads out into the country wer
promptly built and It looks as though tn
only way to get them is 60 make Il 50 no
for the Wilmington City Railway Com
pany that they will DO glad to confn
their operations entirely TO the city o
WILMINGTON.
We must not be- understood as decryiul
the good work which has been done b
the Wilmington City Railway Company
but 30 far as these outside reads ar
concerned, this dog.in the manger polio
should be elIeotually tquelched and, II
Is necessary to revoke the charter {
squelch it. we say revoke It and let th
company get another. under which I'll
powers would undoubtedly be consider
ably curtailed
And these suburban roads should all /
given charters, without merger or con
solldation clauses, under such favorabl
conditions as would ensure their earl
building