Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-26

In an interview with a Register re-
porter, which is published below.
Mayor Sweeney sounds timely note
of warning concerning the granting of
valuable franchises to applicants there
for, without just and equitable con-
sideration. The Mayor has given the
matter much thought, and mis- views
are worthy careful consideration. lie
says:
Viewed from a standpoint of the
best interests of the city, the present
seems to me to be crucial time in her
history. The almost unprecedented de-
mand for the grant of new charters
which cede to the petitioners the public
utilities for long term of years with
practically no compensation to the city,
is, to say the least, fraught with dan
ger and well calculated to cause those
charged with the disposition of the peo-
pies property to ponder we'll the prob
lem before deciding to vote away the
trust confided in them.
If the city of Wheeling has need of
relief from harmful and onerous con-
ditions inflicted by the present holders
of franchises, the remedy is not to be
found in the grant of equally liberal
ones to other corporations, which are
apt to be absorbed by the existing COM
panies, the city being left to bear the
brunt without compensation for the ces-
sion of valuable rights, while a few
promoters ar no great personal expendi-
ture or sacrifice reap a handsome re-
turn at the expense Of the people. 1t
seems to me the city occupies the posi-
ton Of a man with tract Of ground
who permits the. erection of a manu-
featuring establishment upon his land.
Re would surely not grant the use OF
his land unless he was given a repre-
seniation in the business or in some
maner participate in It's profits. From
these conclusions I am firmly of the
opinion that the public utilities have
already been SO seriously encroached
upon that no further concessions should
be made without full consideration Of
the interests of the city that the people
may receive their full and just equiv
ale t for the in sstment made by
them.
After all, tie question of municipal
grants resolves itself into a purely
business proposition from the city's
side, compelling it to take into consid-
Grafton the present facilities afforded
the populace and whether the new
grants asked for are necessary or tend
ing to improve existing conditions.
Upon the same principle that promoters
Of new towns find it a desirable feature
to attract industries by the offer OF
free sites for building. municipality
might be justified in making a free
grant of the property Of the people to
secure something which we do not now
possess, but in determining the neces-
sity for such grants more care and con-
sideration should be given than has
been the recent custom Of those in
trusted with the control Of the peoples
property
L regret to say that so far as my
knowledge of new franchises goes it ex-
tends only to their introduction into
Council or the committee, as in a re-
cent instance the determination of the
grant seems to have been prearranged
and practically granted before the for
NAL action of Council. Municipal
ownership in its broad sense, like all
other economic questions, is liable to
great abuse. but if the consideration
of such questions is founded upon pure
business principals and ample time
given to consider them in a spirit of
fairness, little il any criticism would
result, for there can be no censure
when questions are handled and decid-
ed upon fair and equitable principles
with due regard for the interests OF
the city and full and complete COM
pliance with the will of the people who
are the creators of its lawmakers.