The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-26
A SHAMELESS DEAL.

Let US assume that a wealthy citizen
owned very large and populous region,
cut by highways, over which the privilege
of running street railways for the benefit
of his tenants would be very valuable and
should bring the owner handsome reve-
nue.. In the handling of interests so large
and valuable he would be compelled to
employ large number of agents. In that
undertaking he would exhaust all possible
means to secure the most intelligent and
trustworthy persons. Among so many
agents it is unlikely that he would ind
them all inspired by sense of the highest
fidelity to his interests. he expects to
discover traitor here and there. He is
not always disappointed in these expecta-
tons, but when he does find an employe
unfaithful to his trust ne Furnishes him
not because he might thereby satisfy q
grudge or even recover what has been
stolen, but as a warning to his other en-
ployes that such practices will not be per-
mitted.
If he discovers that his agents have dis
eliminated among applicants for the privi-
lege of running streetcar lines over the
highways; that in one case an applicant
is charged 5000 for one such privilege and
another only $500 for one equally or more
valuable; that although in the case of the
applicant who paid tie larger sum an
additional fixed charge of certain per-
centage on his earnings had been made
part of the contract, in the other case there
was no such stipulation; that a certain
applicant was invariably favored above all
others, not only to the extent of granting
it such privileges, but also with the &C
compartment of a charge less than one
tenth of that levied upon other appi-
cants-if the private owner should see all
these things he would instantly infer that
his agents were diverting to their own
pockets the revenues to which he is en-
titled, that he has been defrauded, be-
trayed and deceived, and that in wise
protection of his interests a felony prose
cution against his unfaithful servants is
necessary.
When, however, instead of private
owner, ready, willing and compelled in
self-protection to protect his interests, We
have municipality in control, these wise
rules Of business and justice are permitted
to slumber. Thus are immeasurably in
creased not only the incentive and oppor-
tunities for betrayal of confidence, but
direct invitation to rogues to secure the
positions of trust. If there is a single sue
cessful business man in San Francisco who
would permit such conduct on the part of
his agents as that which the Solid Eight
of the Board of Supervisors are practicing
toward the City, and would neglect to hold
them accounta bic under the severest penal
ties which the law provides, he would be
curiosity among business men.
The Solid Eight have carried their dis
examinations in favor of the Market-street
Railway Company far beyond the reach of
any excuse that this company may give
excellent service. That, in any event, is
ground for preference which the law is too
wise to permit, for it amply meets that
contingency by imposing obligations
which any successful applicant must
observe in order to enjoy the privi-
Ieges of his franchise. The proper
measure OF the value of such privilege is
found not alone in the element of public
convenience, but in that element modified
by the advantages which the holder re-
eeives. Thus, however desirable it is on
the part of the public that there should be
an electric road to the new racetrack at
Ingleside, the privilege cannot honestly be
granted to one company to the exclusion
Of another which desires to maintain a
rival line, nor to the favored company in
violation of the laws governing the grant
ing of such franchises, nor to such COM
pany on the basis of granting privilege
in which the holder will receive all the
financial benefit and the municipality
none.
The penal laws of the State will never
command respect until they are enforced
with equal severity against both private
and public Indicators, and San Francisco
can never claim to be progressive city
until its citizens bring to bear in the con-
duct of municipal affairs those forces OF
justice and decency without which ordi-
nary business cannot be conducted.