The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-05
ONE PROBLEM SOLVED.

! superior to ours il, intelligence or civic
virtue, but merely that they have been
| engaged so much longer than we upon
| the study of particular problems that
they have made more progress. A dull
| boy who has been studying arithmetic
for ten years will be able to solve prob
| lens that would stagger a very bright
one whose pupilage had not extended
| over six months. The particular de-
partment in which many of the coun-
| tries of Europe have surpassed our
| own is that Of municipal government
! This fact was first clearly developed
and established by detailed and con-
municipal government in the cities of
| Great Britain and of the continent.
| After working for some hundreds of
years along different lines, trying ex-
methods that demonstrated their own
worthlessness, and so hammering, out
of generation after generation of trial,
| the practical and desirable, the COM
sions as to which American cities are
! still largely in the experimental stage.
We might, if we would, copy some
| things from them to our great adyan-
! tage. The inherent desire of every
community to work out problems for
Itself, and the jealousy and inability
10 believe in the possible accomplish
| ments of others, which are peculiarly
| characteristic Of Americans have ca
lar stood in our way We are travers-
ing painfully the same old ground gone
over by other peoples in other ages
making over again the same old mis-
taxes, bearing the same penalties and
tending, at inf1Lite and unnecessary
iaoof ana sacrifice, toward the same
| goal.
An instance of this Of more than or
/ binary interest, because it is so simple
and because 1t affects the daily lives
OF SO manylof our people, is the matter
OF street transportation III large cities.
/ The people of every city in this coun-
try, OF hrst second or third rank, sub
| NIT to almost intolerabIe tnconyeni-
ence, and surrender, with a readiness
that Is almost beyond belief, valuable
| rights and privileges to an imagined
necessity for concession in order TO So
| cure transportation facilities. They are
studying and battling with this nrob-
lem, especially in the great cities Of
the country, In New York, Boston.
Philadelphia and Chicago, with only
the minutest satisfaction and with the
most tortoise-like progress. Corpora
| lions take possession of the streets
ana old defiance to the comfort and
safety of the public. They run trains
when and how will bring into their
treasures the greatest profit, with only
| such regard to the public interest as
VIII prevent general rebellion. there
| oy cutting off income. They utterly
defy public opinion Ii. the overcrowd-
ing of their vehicles, and the right of
every Individual who uses street rail
way facilities to comfortable seat in
exchange for his fare is ignored con-
| temptuously.
| we nave been told time out of mind
ana the majority of American peonle
nave actually seemed to believe II
that there was no help for this sort
OF thing. A municipal transportation
system could not be run, we are as
sured, so as to accommodate the pub-
lie and at the same time avoid f1nan-
cial bankruptcy The corporations that
nave secured most valuable privileges.
issued bonds and stocks against them
to the extent of tens of millions di-
v1ded the spoil and then demanded
that receipts pay some sort of return
upon this swollen aggregate. have
then turned about and told the people
that they must put up with such ac-
commodations as were offered or thew
| would get none at all. And all this
time any large city in any other part
of the world could tell us better; could
show us that the inconvenience that
we endure are wholly unnecessary; and
that, in addition to this, we are throw
ing away a public revenue and sur
rendering a public right of almost in
calculable value, which the people Of
countries that we regard as infinitely
inferior in intelligence and enterprise
| would have jealousy conserved.
A few of our metropolitan news
papers are at last becoming awake to
the fact. Here is what the New York
Tribune says, comparing the situation
III that city with the conduct Of the
street transit business In Paris:
The city of Paris grants franchises to omni-
bus and street car companies for limited
terms-from thirty to fifty years. 1t requires
them to provide seat for every passenger
and to stop the vehicles whenever passengers
want to get or off, at certain fixed stop
I. ping places. 1t limits them to a reasonable
rate of fare. 1t exacts from them a license
fee of $500 year for each omnibus and $500
a year for each car. 1t makes them divide
equally with the city all surplus profits above
certain fixed dividends. And finally it strictly
enforce all these regulations and require
ments.
There is no mystery at all about this
1t is a simple, business-like arrange
ment. Instead of making a present to
: enterprising promoters of enormously
valuable franchises..it disposes d. them
IL the market to the highest advan-