The Indianapolis journal., 1897-04-20

1t Is Well that the people of indianapolis
should understand the situation. During
the next four years the coterie of promoters
who have capitalized the Citizens Street
Railway for 5000. .0OO-three times its actual
value and what ii has cost is determined
to hold and tighten its grasp upon Indian
apolis. 1t proposes to practice its extor-
tions and continue its high-handed disre-
gard of the people until the S5,0O0.O00 of
stock. which does not represent a cent of
actual value. shall be made property by
paying dividends extracted through exorbi-
tant fares. The Journal does not claim to
be a prophet, but the next attempt of the
coterie will probably be an effort to set
aside the act of the Legislature terminat-
ing the charter of the Citizens Company
in 1901. II this can be done, the $1,000, 900
of stock which il should be made "A felony
TO issue, will be given value through the
imposition of exorbitant fares. If these
aliens of every municipal interest succeed
they Will continue not only to extort five
cent fares during the next generation, but
will seize and tear up the streets refuse
to pay for paving and make good their
claim that the streets practically belong
TO them. If these promoters visit the city
IL will be TO open rooms for the purpose
of bribing members of the Legislature. A
class of lobbyists who steal pending bills
from the files of clerks will be in their en-
ployment. Their bribers will be at work
monopoly is pending.
Do the people of Indianapolis propose to
submit? If they do not they must unite to
act. If the present law terminating the
Citizens charter is not strong enough, and
can be annulled by legal bubbles, let them
see that no legislation shall receive the at
tention of the next Legislature until an act
shall be passed which will end the life of
this exasperating combine" When such a
law is enacted let steps be taken to COM
pei the company at once to comply with
the law. When the City Council grants
another franchise let it insist that the prop
erty shall be capitalized for not more than
it is worth. to the end that no claim can
be made for high fares in order to pay divi-
dends upon fictitious stock and bonds.
To accomplish this there must be deter
able attorneys regardless of politics. must
be employed. Every candidate for the
Council must be, pledged to stand by the
citys interest, as in the future the fight
will come in the Council. Really loyal
citizens must be on their guard lest the
foreigners use their money and their en-
ployes to carry primaries. AS action may
be necessary on the part of the Legislature
both parties should select candidates who
when elected cannot only be relied upon
TO stand for Indianapolis, but who can ex-
ert influence
1t may take time, but if the people of
Indianapolis are in earnest they can break
the grasp of the monopoly, and by doing
save the people hundreds of thousands of
dollars annually. In years not important
a duty has devolved upon the people of In
dianapolis as that of bringing the street.
railway company under subsection. Civic
pride individual independence and personal
interest should stimulate. every good cti-
zen to take a hand in this conflict which
the managers of the Citizens Company
have thrust upon the people of Indianap-