Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-03
PAY THEIR OWN WAY.
When the Value of Franchises Is
Appreciated Cities May Be
SeIf.Supporting.
TALK IN THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.

Interesting and Radical Paper Read by
Charles Richardson Would Give No
Rights of Way in Cities for More Than
Twenty-Five Years Mayor of Toledo
Opposes Giving Them at AII-ModeI of a
Franchise Contract.
indianapolis, Dec. 3-The National
Municipal League closed its sixth ses-
sion yesterday afternoon. Resolutions
Of thanks for courtesies were adopted.
a resolution was adopted referring the
model charter back TO the committee
with power to complete it and report at
the next session. and giving the COM
mitee authority to fiji vacancies and in
crease its numbers. The following res
oiution was adopted: Resolved. That
the executive committee be requestedto
appoint a special committee to procure
information and to report at the next
annual conference what, if anything
can be done by the league TO promote
the interests Of the municipalities in
the matter of competition in asphalt
street paving"
Paper on Municipal Franchises
Charles Richardson read a paper on
Municipal Franchises" that attracted
attention. He said in part: 1t is only
during the last few years that any con-
siderable portion of the residents of
American cities have begun to realize
the immense value and Importance OF
their local franchises. Long before the
attention OF the people was called to the
subject shrewd finanCiers. professional
politicians, and party bosses had fore
seen the harvest of wealth and political
power to be reaped by those who could
control the giving of municipal fran
Chises. The financiers saw the vast re-
turns for small OUTLAWS, and unlimited
opportunities for stock watering. stock
gambling. and the manipulation of mar
ket prices. The process of capturing
franchises from the agents of the people
has progressed so rapidly that in some
cities there seems to he but little left
for the public to control.
What the Committee Favored.
THE lack OF wisdom and foresight
which has been shown by most of our
cities in connection with their franchises
may be fairly likened to that of a tribe
Of Indians selling for few beads the
land which would have yielded them an
ample and permanent support" Rich
ardson said the committee on municipal
programme is unanimous in the opin-
ion that the city should be free to
choose for itself between the policy of
leasing its franchises or of retaining
and operating them for its own benefit
in any given case, and she uld be clothed
with ample power for acquiring and
managing public properties.
Twenty One Years the Limit.
The committee is also convinced that
it has been demonstrated by abundant
experience that in the interest of the
public when a city grants franchise
to a private corporation, association. or
individual. the term of such grant
should he limited TO u definite period.
not exceeding twenty-One years; in adj
ditiOn to any other form Of compensa-
ton the grantee should pay the city
n percentage of the gross receipts from
the exercise of the franchise, at the end
of the period the plant Of the grantee
should become the property OF the city
If the latter so desire. either without
further compensation than the original
grant. or if additional compensation be
paid. il should not in any way include
or be based upon any valuation of or
allowance for the franchise itself.
which at the termination of the grant
should ipso facto revert to the public"
ONE PROBLEM THAT Is DIFFICULT.
Therefore the Committee Leaves 1t to the
Towns Mayor Jones Has Views.
Proceeding the sneaker said: The
tendency Of successful companies to
try to conceal or disguise the extent of
their profits makes ii necessary for the
agerts of the city To have very fun
powers Of investigation. The question
whether it should be the policy OF city
To try to obtain the largest pecuniary
returns in relief Of taxation for the
service To be rendered to the citizens IS
a difficult one. But that each city
should have the power To decide this
question in It's own way. in the light of
its owE reed and experience. is clear
In discussing Richardson's paper
Mayor Jones. of Toledo. o. said: 4
feel constrained to announce myself as
being unalterably opposed 10 any grant
Of municipal franchises for any purpose
whatever. and l take this position as a
matter q principle. / maintain that
the idea OF granting franchises to pri-
vate individuals or corporations TO
minister to city in social |
is as wrong in scien-
tific theory as IL Is mischievous
and destructive Of what is best in mu-
nicipaI life in practice. The whole idea
of granting special privileges to a few
people to make profit off all the rest of
the people * un-Democratic and conse-
quently is opposed 10 and stands in the |
way Of progress toward the realization
of our loftiest and best ideals. the |
equality Of all men before the law"
Edward W. Bemis. OF the University
OF Kansas. in discussing Richardson s |
paper. said the tendency was toward |
shorter franchises. and all should be |
reVocable at will. |
The executive committee of the league |
has elected O. NcCHntock. OF Pittsburg, |
and Hector Macintosh. OF Philadelphia |
members Of the executive committee 10 |
I'LL vacancies. The committee has alse, |
received formal invitations for the next |
meeting Of the conference from Detroit. |
Nashville. Milwaukee. Columbus (Ohio). |
Syracuse IN. ". and ST. Paul. The |
decision viii he made later.
Stone Has IL 900 Plurality.
Harrisburg. Pa. Dec S.-The official |
returns OF the late election show that /
stones plurality over jerks is II7sI2 |
nHiciaI vote fnr governor. STONE Ra-