The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-12-07
PUBLIC COMPLAINTS.

quite so many complaints from quite
so many sources. We have never re- /
ceived quite so lrany requests to eX-
pose this and urge that, etc. The
even at the risk of gaining
the reputation of being common
scold, allows itself to be the vehicle |
of thought through which the people
make known their grievances and
their desires. In doing 80 we are
sometimes made to criticise our
friends; but what must be done,
must be done, and that is our
apology for doing it,
Speaking of the Board of Mayor
and Aldermen, business man said
recently, II wish you would give
them roast, with my compliments.
1 have lived here now forty years,
and they are the most absolutely do
nothing set [ have ever seem" Now
mind you the HERALD does not say
that, whatever il may think. for the
HERALD has too many good friends
friends to know what other people
are saying of them, If nerchance it
may persuade them to "mcve on"
Speaking of the light question two
citizens Of this town. who bad re-
Gently visited a sister town not as
large as this, said, "the sixteen
candle power lights there, give nearly
IL not quite twice as much light as
| the said -to-be sixteen candle power
lights in Columbia do; and in that
town for residence use they pay only
25 cents per month per light" The
difference in light and the difference
in cost, makes Columbia pay three
or four times as much as the other
town mentioned. The name of the
town and the name of our informant,
can be had upon application. II am
opposed" continued one of the
speakers, ito submitting any longer
to these charges and this inefficient
service, and / wish you would call a
meeting of the business men to take
some action to protect themselves in
the future"
Speaking of the depot. we are re-
liably informed that Major Geddes
and the Railroad Commissioners are
making some very fair promises
We hav'nt much faith in these prom
ises. More often than otherwise
they are made to quiet an indignant
{ public. Railroads and other public
r corporations, combines and monopO
lies, will impose upon people in ar
, autocratic manner as long "a they
! can, and their great Muck a-Mucks
"dressed in little brief authority
love to lord it over the common
: people, until the people rebel, thel
they are as suave and pleasant anr
g promising as ever you saw. But thei
promises, like pie crusts, are easil.
, broken. They will clean up thei
r filthy old shack, now that public at
tent'on is focused upon it, but the.
q won't keep it clean unless they ar
= forced to; and even when clean tn
. smoke and smell and talk from tn
~ mems waiting room is the same al
>, most as If there was no partition be
, tween that and the ladies' room
"a And they will not supply waite
closets or dust closets unless the
. are made to. They complain tina
they have no sewerage for waite
q closets, but that does not prever
A., them or excuse them from not hay
n ing dust closets.
lie They ought to be made to do thes
Y. things, but whether they will or nc
4. depends upon the powers that b
of Why they are handled so gingerl!
ia Is a secret we would like to learl
of but cannot. II a man trespass,
h. upon their property or violates OF
Mt of their laws, be Ia pulled sans GER
ts mony. But when they violate tt
law, as they do every day, it tax,
more red tape to reach them tha
an the average business man cares
Ii unwind.
n The Railroad Commissioners hay
n. written that they intend to invest
e. gate the complaints from Columbi
n and give all the relief possible, b
q. In order to accomplish much goo
ng they must have the backing of Il
nv Board OF Mayor and Aldermen.
IN other words that the municip
a. authorities should be willing
make such municipal laws rs q
at needed, aud see TO their enforcement
ga For instance, the Board OF May
~ and Aldermen could require {
", Railroad to furnish q private ret
Ier ing room for the ladies, instead
by the shamefully public ones To
lie have, and fne them every dav IN
IN they do. win they do it7 tn
as could make Il the duty Of the q
Marshall or any Of their pOlicem,