The herald., 1897-05-19
PASADENA

PASADENA, May 1S.-(Regular Corre-
spondence.) If the city trustees refuse to
grant the Terminal road a franchise there
will be a settlement of the matter in the
courts, and 1t will be the liveliest contest
Pasadena has seen for some time. A paper
is in circulation for the purpose of obtain
ing subscriptions to fight the case in the
courts and considerable sums are being
pledged for the purpose. Among business
men 1t is quite generally considered that
the council in ignoring DR.. Thomas offer
to stand the expense of an election in case
two-thrds of the voters did not vote for
the Terminal franchise is an evidence of
the great weakness of their position and
that they know two-thirds of the people.
and more likely five-sixths, at least, would
be in favor of the same principles being ap-
piled to these corporations that are always
applied to business everywhere, namely,
fair and free competition. The idea of
municipal ownership is gaining headway
fast, and IL a vote were to be taken today
on the matter there would very likely be
good substantial majority for that meth
cd of conducting the lighting plant of the
city. The verdict Of other Municipalities
which have tried this is with practical
unanimity that it is an unqualified success
and that much is saved to the taxpayers,
besides better service being secured. If
Pasadena is to keep up with the process
sion of progressive cities she will proceed
to investigate along this line at once AMI
profit by the example of other commune
ties.
Here is an extract from Dr. Thomas
speech before the council yesterday:
And again I appear before you with
petition. notwithstanding the fact that at
least one member of this honorable body
has said that talk would do no good.''
believe there are members of this board
who are not only willing but anxious to
learn the wishes of the people whom they
serve. both through petition and argu-
ment. On former occasion presented to
yo,f a document bearing the signatures of
1432 of the voters and property owners Of
Pasadena, requesting that franchise for
an additional electric road into Pasadena
be advertised for sale by this board In
addition to that, now present YOU with
one containing 147 names of voters and
property owners. making a total of 1879
names out or total voting population of
between 2200 and $500. which is nearly three
quarters of the voting population of the
city. 1t does seem as though an appeal of
this magnitude should have weight, The
people are the power. and of necessity their
Will must prevail: and 1t is for the best
interests of every Individual to keen in
touch with the people and to help in the
uplifting and educating of the people on
the best lines possible. And the people
are looking. not only with suspicion upon
monopolies and trusts. but with vengeance,
and 1t is this sentiment that accounts in
a large measure for the very large vote
polled last November for Bryan for the
highest office in the gift of our people be-
cause they had the idea that he was to
all intents and purposes a peoples man.
While many of us believe that his educa-
tion had been along dangerous lines, very
many believed otherwise.
Gentlemen. everything in the line of
trusts and monopolies tends to bring about
antagonism between the great mass of
the people and the capitalist; and we'll It
may. There never will be any lasting
peace in this country so long as monopolies
and trusts are fostered by municipal leg
eslation. And / trust that Pasadena, a
place we boast so much of, will be the
last to lend herself to sustaining and up
holding monopoly; and believe she will.
l understand the price paid for the cleo
trio light plant is on the basis of s105 0OO
Mr.. Webster told me that one equally as
good could be built for $40. .0OO Sequel: they
are paying se5,0oo for monopoly. Who
pays the $65.0OO? The people. An old adare
which Is ysH less trite than true. saws.
Thrice armed is he who has his quarrel
just" =
In viev- Of the criticism by member of
this board of the genuineness Of the ret,-
tion prese nted to you on a former occa-
sion, l now have this proposition to rnake
K.
and hope 1t will be respected: If vo, will
order an election of the freeholders of this
city. barring. of course. every one whose
name does not appear on the great register
at the last general election and IL at such
election the proposition to allow a fran
chise advertised for sale inviting another
electric road to enter and pass through
our city on the lines indicated, is not car
ried by vote of two to one, then will
bear the entire expense of the election.
make this proposition on my own respon-
sibilty and without consultation with any
person whatever. I am confident 1t will |
carry by very much larger vote. The
criticism has also been made that our peo- |
Pie are not educated on this matter. Gen. |
tlemen, 1t is a terrible reflection upon the |
intelligence Of your constituents, with five |
daily papers giving all the information that |
can be had on the subject for the past |
three months or more. that they are uned- |
ucated and not qualified to express an
opinion as to what they want. No, our
people are not little children, that they
must be forced to take bitter medicine
whether they will or no.
BOLD BUT FRUITLEss
A stranger, who as was afterwards
learned, goes by the name Of Fagin. tried
D0ld game Yesterday whav, 1,o ,7,.,.o~ - |