Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-04-08
EDITORIAL


The city Of salem has before 20 Tho
problem OF municipal ownership oi
a public franchise, or corporate
ownership. There are now in exist.
ence two charters granted by the citJ
council for street car lines These
franchises we're owned by two cOrpOr.
ations. The managers Of these corpor-
atIons absorbed the property Of tie
stock holders. al small INTEREST,"
were wiped out The properties
passed into the hands Of receivers and
were sold out by order of court aud are
now owned By one company, the same
company being in control Of the Sa-
lem Electric Light and Power plant.
The manager. Mr. Ans0n asks a new
charter that will give that one con-
many. of which he ismtnIksr, frdn-
c,iise for a street car system fJr hity
years. This paper has published that
charter. which is now again ia tie
hands Of the license committee - the
city council.
There are but two ways Of deaiiug
win this question 81 street car fraE-
chisss. One is municipal ownership.
This Is undoubtedly the right theory.
The city should never part with owr-
rrShip and control Of it, streets. 1t
might lease them for a period Of
years. This plan is now followed 10
Chicago an1 New York. But is the
city prepared 10 own, operate and
maintain a street car line ? Many
cities do own and operate gas, light
water and car line plants. Have our
officials the intelligence and honesty TO
conduct such enterprises? II they
have not then they must turn over
the right 10 do so to a private cor
poratlon. Mr.. Anson has shown his
ability TO manage an electric light
plant and II given sole control OF the
street car lines OF this city might
make them a valuable property. He
isa self-made man. who started In
life asia poor boy iE Dubuque, Iowa,
and worked his way Up as practical
lineman and electrician. As a busl
ness man he has great ability. The
city OF Salem could have no better or
more practical man at the head Of its
car lines.
fMr Anson can get Il franchise
for the entire street car system OF
Salem he can no doubt so improve the
service as 10 be a benefit to the cap
ital city. He can possibly put IL on
paying basis, which could never be
done with two lines covering much OF
the same territory, and operating
some useless and Improbable lines.
Mr.. Anson has shown spirit OF en-
terprlse In his management of the
car lines, which has given Salem
the best service had by any city Of its
size In the west. lie has improved
the cars, has built the ears at Salem,
has given the people theatre cars, and
a perfect regular time card that is
very satisfactory.
II the city OF Salem desires TO give a
new franchise that shalltake up the
two old franchises IL can do no better
than give MIR. Anson "A properly
guarded franchise. Private owner
ship is not the best In our opinion
We do not believe in IL. We do not
believe that "A city should part with
It's streets To private corporation,
But unless the community wants Ia
take up the task Of public ownership
these franchises must'be granted 10
some one or the people must go with
out street ear privileges. ONnen hip
by the city leasing 10 a corpora
tlon, or ownership by the city and
employment OF "A practical man like
Mr.. Anson To operate the car Hines Is
the only alternative.
Ca,auh Cannot BE Cured