The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-02

had been reelected second time as
mayor by oyer $500 majority, third
time by 5000 and again fourth time,
last fall. by 1O.60O. In the last election
my majority was greater than the en-
tire vote for my opponent. l state this
to show that except the interests men,
toned, the people were with me almost
solid. 80 49, s.
THE FARE RAISED.
About December 10th last threat
was made by the company that II we
did not lie down and keep STILL fares
would be raised to five cents, as it
claimed a right to do by its charter.
1t had previously given six rides for %
cents. The fares were raised in due
time and then the cars did not pay for
their running. for the people would not
ride In them at that rate. They walk
ed, or rode with the other company
when possible.
'All the members of the council who
during the past year or two had been
hypnotized by the street car company
or had listened to the voice Of the
political charmer. had been defeated
by the people at the polls, and council
composed largely of new men was to
come in January 14th. The fve-cent
bluff was made to serve as an excuse
of the company. An effort was made
by the company to rush through a
charter during the last two weeks of
the old council, again extending Its
franchise for so years, in considera-
tion of a three-cent fare, but no trans
fers for less than five cents. l OPP
posed this and the company needed two
votes to pass II over my veto. There
was bOodling and corruption rampant.
In such cases those that are dishonest
and accept money for their votes new
er tell. nor does the briber; 1t Is only
when by accident some honest man Is
approached that 1t comes tangibly to
the surface.
zone of the aldermen stated publicly
and in the press that he had been Of
fered $4,000 i'm cash for his vote by
the company's manager. The latter. Of
course. denied this. We have had
boodling in Detroit In almost evry case
where valuable public franchise was
sought. and In every case the honest
public official who was approached, hut
who would not sell himself, has been
ridiculed by the press and prosecuted
by the corporations afterwards, because
he exposed their corruption, but gave
no absolute proof. Many a man elect
ed to the council who had all his life
been known as honest. has fallen to
the tempter. With such large amounts
of money at stakea large brides can
we'll be offered and are usually paid
for votes. The people must, however.
sit idly by and helplessly look upon
these things while their birthrght Is
being sold. 1t Is SO very difficult to
for gentlemen and are honorable men,
so-called. 1t Is considered by many n
legitimate business method. In one
such case. however, l succeeded In
trapping four boodlers in the school
board, who were selling seat contracts
for private gain. One was acquitted.
One tried to commit suicide. the third
left the country and the fourth was
sent to state prison.
"ro go back to the last ordinance.
the one of two weeks ago. 1t could
not be passed over my veto and there
we stand at the present day. Charg-
ing five cents straight which was held
up as a threat while the ordinance
was under passage. did not pay, SO this
company has come down to a three
cent fare also. We are waiting to see
what 1t will do next.
while Its franchise has still some
IA years to run. 1t is valuable prop
pie at a great profit for three cents,
or perhaps at even less rates. were II
not for the fact that 1t Is capitalized
on a five-cent basis and must pay in
terest upon such onerous sums. | be-
lieve however, firmly. that there Is a
good profit even upon the@Water and all
at a three-cent rate. 1t, however, be-
hOoves the people of Detroit to be on
guard for the next IA years. They can
scarcely afford to 60 to sleep nights.
Franchise -grabbers sleep not, nor
slumber. The efforts Of the people for
reform are usually spasmodic, and
when the spasm Is over, then again
begins the process of sapping and min
ing by neutrality-suspicious.. The labOrs
OF the latter are constant and unceas-
ing. always working in the dark, al
ways corrupting.
SAFEGUARDS.
There Is but single safeguard
against this corruptiong Of the people s
servants that I know of. Let no fran
chise be granted except upon vote Of
the whole people. This method may be
somewhat more cumbersome, but 1t Is
the only cure for the evils which now
threaten American cities. Evils Of gov
ernment can only be cured when the
honest masses attend the primaries.
Let the cry be: Don't allow your pri-
maries to be run In the interests Of pri-
vate gain. Let every citizen go. At
tend the primaries
But while our street car troubles
are not yet permanently settled. we
have been learning something which
perhaps may be of value to you here as
well as to other cities. We have learned,
for instance, when these franchises
have become so very valuable and are
bonded for such enormous sums, that
the companies and their influence ard
power become so great that they are
greater than the people and rule over
them. The offenseless one-horse car
with it's glass box, where passenger
deposited his nickle has grown into
an enormous corporation, in which are
financially interested men of influence
and wealth In every community. 10
perpetuate this becomes their aim. 1t
becomes a monster which fastens its
tentacles upon every branch of munich
pal government and whose corrupting
influences penetrate everywhere: an old
man of the sea. who cannot be shaken
off except by an almost superhuman
effort. At the bottom of this IS. of
course the constant effort to get a
franchise for nothing, or practically
so. or have 1t extended. which Is worth
millions. Money Is often protected ty
money. 1t is cheaper to bribe alder
men than pay in reduction of fares or
taxation that should be paid to the en-
tire people.
II believe that I can safely say from
our own experience. the experience OF
Chicago. New York. and other cities
that corporations owning or endeavor-
ing to procure public franchises. which
by their nature are .monopolies. and
hence very valuable. are responsible
for most. If not all, the corruption in
American municipal politics and Amer
lean cities. 1t has become very seri-
Gus question whether these shall rule
the people or the people them. What
I say with regard to cities applies
equally to the influence of railroads,
great corporations and trusts, with our
state legislatures and with congress.
The amounts Of money involved in
their affairs have. ] believe. become