The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-01

seek or desire is to secure justice for
the people.
Those who are trying to obtain long
term franchises with fixed conditions
claim that what they ask is necessary
to secure justice to investors
ITO one the municipal ownership and
operation of public service industries
appears to be the only way in which
the fullest measure of advantages de-
riVable from such Industries can be
made a certain heritage for the people.
ITO the other legal rights acquired by
legislative enactmentS granting long
term franchises, fixing prices for ser
vices to be rendered, and limiting the
compensations that can be demanded
by the city, appear to be the only way
in which permanency, security and
be safeguarded.
both are wrong. Both are chasing
an igniS fatuus.
''It is right that the people should
have every advantage they can justly
claim, but the object sought will be de-
feated by the means used to secure 1T,
if the party of popular demands are
permitted to entrust large, complicated
and highly technical industries to the
management of municipal governments
not properly organized and regulated
to operate them successfully.
ut is right that investors should
have permanent security for the profit
able use of their investments, but the
object sought will be defeated by the
means USED 10 secure II II dependence
is placed upon legal rights conferred
by enactment secured in defiance of a
protesting people; by enactments the
people believe were corruptly procured;
by enactments the people believe to be
unjust Amidst all the uncertainties
of the present situation one thing is
certain. No corporate right secured
for long term of years by a legisla-
tive enactment the people believe to
have been corruptly procured, or that
the people feel to be unjust, will ever
live out the term of the grant. Attempts
to maintain rights so secured will in
evitably lead to a conflict between the
people and representatives of corporate
power in which corporate vested rights,
regarded by the people as vested
wrongs, will be wiped out by the peo-
pies imperious vengeance, as crisp
paper may be destroyed by a flame of
fire.
through .sociaiizing public service indus
profit al and Up private O. ownership odious
through anarchy induced by unjust laws.
What these people and what investors
really want and must have if the best re-
will be secured, but not on the basis adj
R6 b by are n9f gded b9 cerr Ref p SrG
ciples cannot be depended upon to form
niate and 6 apply G the on f }s
will be permanent, right and just, but their
ments out of which such conditions can
by combining regulations. necessary to
alton of public service industries success
regulations necessary to render corporate
ownership and operation of such indus
measure of advantage than it is possible
for them TO gain by any other means. In
liable employment for their capital pfedg-
ed by the faith of the people founded on
knowledge of the facts, showing establish
ed conditions to be right and just; A
porate rights does not exist in human at
fairs IRIS u,o,,,0.,o +,n,.,, so,,t,on %
the problem and will cause the people to
say TO investors: This is our business For
its purposes we will employ your capital
under your own management. We will
insure your investment against impair
for it's use While it is SO employed. and
When we are d dn;s with tn it we viii hand It
yantages that can be secured from the
agT Tega e Win y 9n shall be yours
Such an offer the people can afford to
to accept. 1t holds the scales of justice
in an even balance. For both parties to
TT musf be Is expected mat acceptances
by existing corporations for a time will be
tice are correctly applied in the provisions
of the permissive general state laws. and
enacted to give legal authority and eff
feet to the necessary regulation and
and by corporate investors of the Justice
of the conditions SO created, can safely
be depended upon to bring about q COM
pIete transforma ton from the present
condition of chaos and antagonisrn to a
mutual confidence and satisfaction. Such
a step of progress will be an, epoch max
ing demonstration of the ability of the
American people to govern wisely. 1t
will demonstrate that the American peo-
pie have the judgment and the courage to
do right when the right is pointed out to
them in a way to appeal to their sense of
Justice. Who will lead the people in
effort to win by educational methods this
peaceful victory for right and justice?"