The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-30
THE sTREET-RAILwAY QUARREL.
The Plea Set Up by the Present Own
OF the Property.

Market Letter (Philadelphia)
Elsewhere in this issue of the Weekly
Market Letter we give a synopsis of Judge
Showalter's recent decision to the con-
zenS' Street-railroad Company, OF Indianap-
oils, to reduce its fare from 3 to cents. IT
is simply reiteration of his former opin-
ion, ana declares the act invalid lis to
be presumed that the case will be carried
to the Supreme Court of the United States,
and it is likely several years will have
passed away before a final decision is
handed down. In the meantime the new
management of the company, whose char
ter expires in 1901, will endeavor to make
peace with the citizens and municipal au-
thorities of Indianapolis. Whether or not
it will be successful depends upon the rea-
sonableness of the demands which the In
dianapOliS authorities may make upon the
company. They have long been bitterly
hostile to the company, and, perhaps, not
without reason. In the days gone by, when
the company was directed more as part
of a political machine than an investment
property, there is no doubt there was ample
reason for the bitter antagonism mani
Tested. But those days are of the past. A
new manag mt now controls the property,
a most valuable one, by the way. 1t is COM
posed of men who stand high in Philadel-
phia'S business and financial circles-men
of undoubted ability and integrity-men who
ought to- and no doubt viii eventually,
command the respect and support of Indi-
anapoliss leading citizens These neWcom-
ers took hold of the property with but a
single object in View-to save the company
from being wrecked on the rocks placed
ahead of it by INSCRIPTIONS politicians
years ago. They are willing to meet the
Indianapolis people more than half way.
No reasonable demand will be passed I'M
needed. But justice is justice all the world
over. Indianapolis people also have a duty
to perform, and it is certainly not their
duty to complete the work of destruction
begun by politicians. 1t would be a blot
upon the fair name of the city were it's cit
liens to persist in efforts to wreck the Drop
erty and thus cause enormous losses to
-aVNr -
understood, those who created the existing
hostility. but people who bought the COM
pany's securities in the belief that they
were making an investment in property
that would be encouraged and protected by
the residents Of the city in which it is
located. Indianapolis cannot punish those
now who have been unjust to her in the
past. and to attempt to punish the present
security holders of the company will, with
out doubt, work an irreparable harm to the
beautltul doosler city Let the citizens of
indianapolis meet the management half
way. and we are prepared to assert that
the result will be highly beneficial to both.
Justice only be required to settle all
trouble. Residents of Indianapolis must not
overlook the important fact that the Sys-
tenn of street-railway transportation at their
service is one of the best in the country
The equipment is superior, the roadbed is
smooth and even, and kept in good repair;
the schedule on which the cars are run Is
frequent and regular and the employees of
the company polite, courteous body of
men. In addition, there is the advantage
of a ride with transfer for cents, and
the various routes are so arranged as TO
afford easy, quick and convenient ngress
to and egress from the center of the city
to the suburban districts All this too, for
5 cents. Here in Philadelphia we pay cents
for the same service. Baltimore charges 3
cents with transfer on any single system,
but 10 cents when it is necessary to ex-
chance to another line The same is true
of many other cities in che Union not equal
in size Importance to indianapolis. IN
deed we believe we are not exagCerati ting
when we say that so far as service condi-
ton of equipment and other physical fea-
lures and the system of transfers in force,
no superior in this country. In view of
these facts, we can see no reason why an
early and amicable relation should not be
established between the city and company.
and we believe this can be done if the par
ties in interest are willing to treat with
each other in a spirit of justice and equity.