Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-27
GO BY THE RECORD.
Corporations Like Men to be
Judged by Their Deeds.
HOW OF THE OLD FERRY COMPANY

IL There Is no Law to Require Compa-
niles to Make Public improvements
Then Let rs Meet Those Who Come In
without . Law-City,s Interests First.
Anent the discussion of the ferry
franchise the Union takes exception
to the position of The ARGUS that
the contemplation of the require
ment. public good" as applied
to the service To be rendered by a
ferry company, under license of the
city and the state embraces public
Improvements. 1t is vigorously
commended in combating this theory
that '.such q construction would
oblige the ferry company to pay q
share in all public improvements"
That is not the view held by The
ARGUS. whose position is that the
ferry company can only serve 1.-the
public good" in all that the term i'm
plies by participating in those public
| improvements which affect it. The
folly OF attempting to involve it in
| improvements other than those di-
rectly affecting its approaches is too
apparent for extended discussion.
But it is maintained that the ferry
company ought to be required to
bear it's proportion of the sub
stantial Improvements on the levee,
and if there is no law which can
compel it to do so, then it is time to
encourage the company which volun-
tarily agrees to do it's part to the
extent of putting up q bond for the
faithful carrying out of its obligation
in the premises. II there is no law
to >reach those who ought to, then
let the city encourage those who
will.
The Record is What Counts.
AS to the present company's gen.
eral service and general disposition
toward the public, i. may be Judged
by its own record. Were it possible
for anyone to point to single in
stance in the history of the ferry
company, or of those who control it,
where there has been the slightest
manifestation of disposition to act
or to aid in the promotion Of public
Improvements, either directly or in
directly, it would be different, but the
company has the reputation-and
well-earned, too-of being an obsta-
Gle to the public good. rather than a
promoter of it. Indeed the little
batch of macadam dumped down at
the foot of Eighteenth street now is
the first that has been there for years
and it is only due to the controversy
that has arisen that it is there now,
as it was needed weeks ago fully as
much as now.
The Union, speaking of the purpose
OF the city to improve the levee,
while contenting itself that sit has
not yet passed the ordinance which
makes the decision operative, :"
thus it appeals '.we ask in all fair
ness and candor if a single thin has
been done or said by anyone ldenti-
fed with the ferry company indicat-
ing opposition to this movement?
And as to the ferry service proper it
is in ali its details the best on the
Mississippi river between St. Louis
and st. Paul. Nowhere in these
limits are safer boats or more fire.
quent trips; nowhere a daily service
that lasts from 5 a. IN. till mid
night. the boat all the time coming
or going"
Without commenting on the deep
interest manifested in this perora.
tion If the Union, even to the en-
ployment Of the editorial "we," it
need only be said of the old CON-
pany's disposition as to the improve
ments contemplated, or of its present
service, it can best be judged by its
general record of long years stand
ing. The emergency does not always
afford the example. 1t is the rule
that proves the case.
In other words, "there are rea-
sons why things are thusly Just at
l this time.