The San Francisco call., 1899-07-03
ANOTHER MONOPOLY DEFEAT.

J OF the public, the Market-street Railway Conl,
- pany was virtually accorded all the rights and
privileges necessary for the extension OF street rail
way facilities to the northeastern part OF San Fran
cisco In accordance with views The Call had re-
peatedlv expressed complete provision for the cork
screw line through the Post-street system with its
connections and extensions legally made by the
Board of Supervisors. An effort to include the new
franchise on Grant avenue and Bush street was de-
feated
1t was noticed, however, that Mayor Phelan ex-
pressed his entire Willingness that this franchise
intended to perfect the control OF the north end of the
city by the Market-street monopoly should be award
ed Il see many advantages in il" his reported
language Upon this change OF front, IN the face OF
his ostenatious resistance to the original Market
street scheme, The Call has already commented But
has not yet exposed the full extent and the reach
erous nature of the fraud which it fully intended
to consummate to-day. 1t has now become apparent
that in order to lull the community into security the
Grant avenue and the Bush street robbery was kept
in the background, with the deliberate intention OF
forcing through the Board of Supervisors after the
legitimate corkscrew line had been secured,
This is practically a holiday which good citizens
are preparing for the due celebration of the great
event that for the first time gave man controlling
influence in his own government. But action upon
the four franchises not yet reported, OF which the
Grant avenue and the Bush street loop is the prn-
cpal will not be deferred through the action OF the
Market-street Railway Company but by causes be
yond its control. No man ever knew the Huntington
monopoly in any Of its numerous disguises to delay
the completion OF fraud from patriotic motives or
from any manly impulse
There nothing surprising in the treachery Of
the railway reservng these four franchises for what
it expected to be a separate and independent exhbi
ton OF municipal corruption But its confidence that
il could actually secure the Endorsement OF majority
OF the Board of Supervisors simply astounding
and fortunately misplaced The Call has
fully investigated the situation, and has given every
Supervisor who can be reached opportunity for
explanation It is happy to announce that at least
six of them namely, Supervisors Perraut Byington
Deasy, Lackmann, Kaben and Collins have distinct
ly announced that they will not for the four
franchises or any OF them But for the position taken
by Supervisor Collins yesterday hostile action
by Mayor Phelan could be relied upon, the defeat or
the victory OF the Market-stree Railway monopoly
might have rested exclusively with Supervisor Heyer
Although for the reasons stated the public interests
safe and it is doubtful whether the four fran
Chises will be reported by the committee the attitude
OF Supervisor Heyer deserves serious treatment The
advocates OF the Marketstreet robbery have repeat
edly Dragged that they had a Supervisor in reserve
who the right time would range himself against the
community Tested by his voluntary declarations
that Supervisor Heyer above all others should have
been the reliance of Superintendent Lynch would be
inConceivable. In The Call of May 81 he said: Il
will oppose the granting OF the proposed franchises
to the Market-street Railway Company as long as l
have a vote in the board x x On MOndav I
voted against the attempt grant the proposed fran
chises and shall continue so to vote until the end
OF the chapter"
When interviewed Saturday last he professed
ignorance OF the facts in relation to the four fran
chses, with which he perfectly familiar when his
positive intentions expressed as we have quoted
them declared that his entire information on the
subject derived from the newspapers and de
ClIned to intimate which side his vote would be
cast On its face this attitude is hard to explain 1t
spreads deep scarlet color over the insinuations
that have been frequent against the ultimate in
tegrity OF Supervisor Heyer. Fortunately through
the announcement OF Supervisor Collins his impor-
tance in the controversy has ceased But if possible
he should assuredly make some explanation to the
people. Such treason to common honesty such re-
voting indifference to appearances would be in
volved in his detection from his ncorruptible asso-
ciates, is hardly credible Even Judas Iscaro did not
precede his immortal infamy by proclamation of his
own integrity. There is not a pen in the United
States sufficiently vtriolc do justice to the kind
and the degree of apostacy that was attributed to
Supervisor Heyer, although it has really become in
consequential.