Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-02-03
SPIRIT OF THE MEETING.
Mr.. Morgan Raises an Issue as to the
Labor Congress Railway Action.

has inadvertently placed both the
Tri-City Labor congress and some of
its members in false light, which it
is desired to have explained.
In the report of action had by that
body, as the same appeared in Mon
days paper, the statement was made
that IAN attempt to have the COM
mittee instructed" Gas to matters
arising out of the street railway dis
cussion) was defeated, thus leading
the public tn think that the congress
endorsed the proposed extension as
outlined by the company This con-
struction is amply borne ont by the
assumptions of the editorial on the
subject next day
That the feeling toward the COM
pany is friendly; that the congress
has declared in favor of the extended
franchise if ample concessions in the
public interest are made: and that
some members have expressed n will
ingness for unconditional surren-l
der" is all true. But the congress
does not stand in the attitude of be
ing willing, as part of the public, to
take whatever the company offers in
the way of concessions, or the lack of
them. That question was expressly
reserved for future consideration
Feb. u.
Mr.. Lardner, the manager, has
fallen into the error of misrepresent-
ing the position of the congress in
regard to our action already taken.
Over his own signature, in Moline
paper, he put it in more positive Ian
guage than The ARGUS, and saws 1.-The
Rock Island papers so understood it,
and so reported it How easy it is
for inaccuracy to grow into misrepre-
sentation.
Grateful we can all be for what cleo
trio street car service has done for
the three cities. The past losses in
cident thereto, however, should be q
closed chapter. The present COM
pany succeeded to the rights and
franchises after the money had been
spent, and presumably the sale was
made on n business basis. Why sup
pose it otherwise? The lines at pres
ent are Self-sustaining, according to
the manager, except that the reve-
nues will not vet permit such renewal
of the lines as prudence dictates that
they should have. 1t is reasonable to
suppose that in the very near future
it Will do that. The company ought
not to ask the public tic believe other
wise, at least, without submitting the
fullest statement of its affairs that can
be made. The public interest in fran
chises already disposed of entities it
to that o.sideration at all times.
Laboring men, in company with
all citizens. are willing to place conf
dence in n home corporation when in
terests are mutual. In return for n
grant of 20 years or more, in which
the city shall be in important respects
deprived of redress or power of COM
pulsion, the grantees should submit
to all regulations which can be prop
erlv asked-not according to their
Interpretation, but as justice dictates.
We all have a legal and actual interest
in the disposal of the streets. Had
this not been the case, the company
would not have cared what the labor
congress thought about franchises.
it seems remarkable that the company
should insist on being entitled tC an
extension without buying it through
material concessions to be guaranteed.
We, a citizens, recognize the desire
of the company to be placed on Il foot
ing where it can borrow money at
lower interest. There can he no Oh
lection to assisting it in that direc
lion, but the public has right to eX
pect much in return. how much it is
not for the company to determine for
itself. GEORGE E. MORGAN.
81 6 -,