The San Francisco call., 1898-05-19
ARE THEY AGAINST TIP

HE theory which at least one newspaper ad-
 vocate of the proposed new charter proceeds
 is that it must be a good document because the local corporations opposed to it. No evidence has been produced to prove this allegation On the contrary, there IS excellent to believe that some of the local corporations favor the instrument. For instance the telephone monopoly is satisfied with it. That corporation IS completely protected from regulation by grant of power which means nothing. The water company IS indifferent The constitution prescrbes the method under which its rates shall be regulated
 But even if the local corporations were unani- mously against the charter that would not be valid grounds for favoring it. All capitalists, we believe, are opposed to anarchy; unsettled condition of affairs destroys the value of securities and interrupts business arrangements of all kinds Because this is SO, shall the remainder of the community go in for anarchy? If what set of men do or think is to become the rule for determining the conduct of others there is easy way of resolving all State and muni cipal problems If we accept MT. Huntington the especial bete noir of the commonwealth all we need do is ascertain what he thinks and then adopt the opposite view. True, there would be danger that occasionally Huntington would fool us by pretend ing to think one way while he was really thinking another; but danger prevails everywhere. No man, no State no community, is entirely free from it.
 But aside from the absurdty of reasoning in this manner-the general adoption of which would ele- vate us to the proud distinction of being com munity of idiots-we violate no confidence when we say that there is at least corporation in this city which favors the charter We refer to the Sutter Street Railway Company. For many years this cor poration has been endeavoring to 'bottle up Bush street In 1885 it purchased from the Board of Su- pervsors franchise and the expense of lay ing single track from end of the thoroughfare to the other Over this road for ten years 1t ran a car once day. Finally the Supreme Court dis pensed with the farce by declaring the franchise a utility Ever since this decision handed down the Sutter street company has been trembling in its boots-if corporation has any boots and can be said to tremble in them.
 The proposed charter, however, brings the cor poration comfort unalloyed. By loading down street railway franchises with conditions and making their purchase difficult the instrument renders it practically impossible for either the Market Street or Sutro Company to invade the Sutter Street Com pany's territory In case anybody seeks to ac- quire franchise on Bush street all the Suer Street Company need do will be to turn the machinery of the charter against him and he will be undone.
 We understand that the men employed the Slut ter street line have been requested to support the charter on the 26th inst As it is against their inter ests to encourage competitive street railways which, by failing to pay tend to reduce salaries, it is quite probable that they will comply In fact, they will probably do what the street throughout the city will do There are sufficient number of street car lines All are making money. The men have a good thing If it can be made clear to them that the charter puts quetus on further competition why should they not support it unanimously