The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-09
WILL BEAR WATCHING.

The people of st. Paul should keep
their eyes very wide open and direct
ed upon the franchise for a new teIe-
phone company, which it has been pro-
posed to grant by an ordinance Of the
common council. The G 10 b e does not
pretend to know what Is behind this
ordnance; whether 1t would secure
Tor US a desired competition, or is a
speculative enterprise; in a word.
whether it is in the public, or in a
private interest. 1t does know that
every such proposition should bear.
and requires, close scrutiny and the
largest publicity. 1t knows, further
more, and regrets that it is obliged to
so state, that the people cannot afford
10 turn over the care Of their interests
to the present council without looking
most carefully into matters them
selves.
1t Is the fault of that body that
we are obliged to make this I'M
pleasant statement 1t has thus far
put itself on record in way that will
require considerable good behavior to
restore public confidence. It has DELHI
erately and officially violated the plain
mandate of the city charter. 1t has.
after full explanation of the matter.
voted to confirm appointments iIIeg-
ally made, in defiance Of the written
organic law Of the city. 1t has deliber
ately placed In Jeopardy large public
fT1fQpQCtc
ments in the way Of the prosecution Of
public improvements and greatly en-
barrassed the property holder and the
taxpayer in the matter of the board
or public works, for no purpose what
ever except stupid and stubborn
partisan malice. The abolition of the
board Of public works and the SUBJ
stitutfon for it of a single commits
stoner, as provided for by law. does
not In the least require the action unon
which the mayor and a majority of
the council have insisted. The plan
could be carried through just as wen
while allowing the public to take for
NAL proceedings before both the old
authorities and the new. until tba
courts decide between them. so that
no act of either would be fnvaudated
by the final decision This permission
has been forbidden, out Of mere devil.
try, as 1t would seem to the onlooker
We say, therefore, that the nubIic
whose interests have been secuted and
whose laws have been defied. should
as matter Of precaution, take it upon
itself to scan carefully the propositions
involved in this new telephone fran
chise. 1t is not good thing to have
any branch of public service given
over to monopoly. 1t Is an even
worse thing TO have franchises granted
unless they are asked for in good faith.
paid for in full value and subjected
70 conditions required for the public
good For example, we want no more
overhead wires strung upon the streets
OF this city in the business district.
and as few as possible anywhere else.
Neither do we want permission granted
to lay conduits on streets where as
phalt pavement has been put down.
ana tnus license the breaking up and
practical destruction Of this valuable
Improvement. All franchises that in
voive the occupancy Of any portion of
the public thoroughfare. in the afr
above or the earth beneath, should bo
most carefully limited, and considered
only after an exhaustive dis
cussion. 1t is therefore incumbent
upon the public to take care that no
special privileges shall be railroaded
through local legislature which has
not thus Tar exhibited even a decent
regard for charter regulations or for
the peoples rights.