The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-27
DECLINES The LEAD.
Mayor Dodge Will Not Con-
duct Movement Against
the Law.

Mayor Dodge will not accept the lead
ership of the movement against the
street railway law of $685. The move
ment was started some time ago by
the board of public work of Holyoke,
and after securing the sentiment of
mayors and selectmen throughout the
state Mayor Dodge has been asked to
take the lead.
| In a letter to the Holyoke men yes
terday, Mayor Dodge declines the lead
ership for reasons that will be appre-
ciated by ALL He also suggests the
ACCESSIBILITY of calling a meeting of rep
resentatives of the different towns and
cities after the state election rather
than before, for the reason that men
will know who has been elected to rep
resent them at that time, and may
be governed accordingly
Although he declines to preside,
Mayor Dodge has offered the hospital
ity of the city to the delegates i'm case
the meeting is held here, and will ex-
tend accommodations offered by the
city hall
The mayor first heard from the Hol-
yoke people in August, and in reply to
that letter, sent the following, stating
his views on the new law:
In reply to yours Of Aug. a. would
say that, in my opinion the railway law
of 1898 is very unsatisfactory so far as
our city is concerned.
In the first place, every city and town
ought to have the absolute control of
the surface, at least, of its own streets,
this right to be exercised through the
proper local board, without the right to
appeal to any state authorities.
Second-Every community should
have a right to impose whatever condi-
lions it sees fit in granting railway
franchises, so that the community in
terests may be protected in all cases,
and so that some adequate return can
be made in case of valuable franchises,
and especially those which result in eX-
ira expense to the municipality. For in
stance, in most streets where there is
considerable travel, the cost of repair
ing is increased 100 per cent with a
double railway track, as all the travel
is carried to the sides. The streets re-
quire spriukling more frequently. and
in some cases where sprinkling would
not be otherwise required, If there was
no railway therein.
One-half at least of the carting of the
snow is occasioned by the railway
tracks, and the companies ought to be
required to pay one-half of the ex-
pense. AS the law stands now they are
simply required to remove the snow
from their location in a manner salts
factory to the superintendent of streets,
while as a matter Of fact they sweep it
to one side, while the city has to cart
it away.
The tax which is received from the
railway companies is totally made
quate to meet the expense which they
cause, and as every locality differs in
the requirements in reference to the
construction and care of the streets
and in the amounts which the roads
can well afford to contribute, in my
opinion, the whole matter should be
left absolutely in the hands of the local
authorities. They should be given con-
troll so they could summarlly compel
the railway companies to do what is
fair
First-In the obligations imposed
when the tracks are laid.
Second-The sprinkling and care Of
the streets.
Third-The sprinkling of streets.
Fourth-The time and manner of
running their cars.
therefore think that the law should
be repealed and ample authority be
given to the local authorities as have
above suggested.
The second letter received by the
mayor was SlSueu ny O5SdI =. etlJ u
the ward of public works, Holyoke,
and reads as follows:
Replying to your favor of Aug. go
relative to the street railway law Of
1898, sent in answer to ours of Aug. a.
we have received a number of replies
to the letters sent out by us. Nearly
all the cities and towns heard from ia
vor a change in the law, and it has
been suggested that a meeting be held
in your city, it being nearly in the
centre of the state. to discuss this mat
ter and decide what action will be talk
en- toward petitloning the legislature to
change the act.
I'VE do not want to presume on your
good nature, but would suggest that
you assume the leadership in the mat
ter of calling an early meeting, which
is necessary for obvious reasons. If
you would do this, we will be only too