Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-02-13
DO|NGS OF CONGRESS.
Tri-City Labor Body Takes Fur
ther Action i'm Relation
to Franchises.
MOLINE CITY COUNCIL ATTACKED

| 1UUk 49, tsk :
Resolut lions Covering Municipal Grant.
| Adopsed-AnotherL Lively Session at the
Industrial Home Yesterday-Health Pre-.
caution to Grinders Various Matters
Treated. .-s.sGF .-7t--
The Tri-City Labor congress at its
monthly meeting yesterday in the In
dustrial Home condemned the action OF
the Moline city council in granting an
extension of franchise to the street
railway company; approved the re-
port of special committee opposing
the grants asked by the company Gum
der the concessions outlined in the
Moline papersl and adopted the
following resolutions, framed and
offered by George f. Morgan:
Whereas, The question of grant
/ ing municipal franchises has become
n matter of general concern at the
present time, owing to the desire of
the Tri-City Railway company to
have it's franchises extended to rs
wears from date; therefore, be il
Resolved. That, while appreciat-
ing the desire for improved utilities,
we are in general opposed to that line
of policy which takes for the present
enjoyment or consumption the val
ues. privileges, rights and property,
which of right belong to the people of
the future.
Resolved, That present conditions
furnish no warrant for the extension
of public franchises beyond the mini
mum length of time required to in
sure financial stability, while the
probability of changed conditions in
the near future renders inadvisable
any material frightening of the fran
chises now enjoyed.
Resolved, That a proposition to au-
thsriZe 5-cent fare for long term,
without providing for possible changed
values of wages and material, and
without reserving the benefits which
will inevitably follow from growth of
population, would be n universal sur
render of public prerogatives that
cannot possibly be adequately COM
pensated now, and should meet with
general condemnation.
Resolved, That protection from ac-
cidents (to be secured by the adoption
of all new appliances that may be
needed during operation under any
franchises), and adequate protection
for future needed extensions, as well as
suitable relations for determining and
enforcing rights between employees and
employers, are features which should
never be omitted from franchises
under any pretense.
Resolved, That we urgently re.
quest our legislators at Springfield to
aid in securing such changes in pres
ent laws as may appear best adapted
to secure constant and thorough con-
troll by municipalities of those mat
tiers which should be made inaliena-
bic.
Resolved, That we especially in
sist that all laws permitting the dis
posal of franchises shall have q pro-
vision that before the grant becomes
operative in any case it shall be rati-
fed by popular vote.
1t was ordered that copies of these
resolutions be sent to the city coun-
ellis and members of the Legislature.
Animated Session.
The adoption of the above resolu-
tions was the final action of an ami
mated session of the congress which
lasted nearly four hours. William P
Gordon, of Davenport, acted as chair
man in the absence of President Ben
ton Davis. j. p. Dromgoole reported
the action of the franchise committee.
Peter Vermere moved that it be re-
ceived and endorsed. Fred Calkins
protested AS an employee of the
street car company's mechanical de-
partment he had always received the
best of wages and excellent treatment.
This was the case, he held, with all
men employed by the company, and
their feelings and interests should be
considered in passing upon such a
vital question, one, he said, that
should be weighed long and wisely.
Others spoke in a similar vein. n.
II. Nelson demanded that the rules of
the congress be adhered to in relation
to combining the discussion and vot-
ing to accredited delegates.
\ rising vote was called on YER
mere's motion, and it was carried, 81
to Is.
j. b. Welzenbach, of Davenport,
moved that the Moline city council be
condemned for granting the extension
of franchise to the Tri-City Railway
company. Thomas Mccain said he
had devoted considerable time to study
of street railway franchises, and he
was willing to confess that he was not
posted yet to the extent that he could
vote intelligently on questions per-
tanning thereto, and he did not believe
there was man in the room who
could. William P Gordon called N,
II. Nelson to the chair while he adj
dressed the congress. He said the
congress surely had not won any fresh
laurels in the stand it had taken on
the franchise question. Labor, in his
opinion. had plenty to do without
in such matters. Thus far
its voice had no effect. Labor had
lost, and in consequence had fallen
back about ten years.