The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-12-24
NO MORE C|F IS
OF Franchises to BE
Given In Canton.
C0UNC|LMEN OBJECT
To Gratuitous Distribution Of
Municipal PriviIeges--Mr.
Stein Has Something
to Say.

The gift of valuable franchises by the
city to companies desiring to construct
improvements is likely to become a
thing Of the past II the ideas of some
of Canton's councllmen are put into
practice. The introduction Of an ordi-
nance grantig numerous privileges to.
the Central Heat and Power company
has been the occasion of making this
question a subject of animated discus
sion among councilmen and others
interested.
Viewed from the standpoint that
street railways, electric lights, gas
for heating purposes and other i'm
provements of a like nature have all
been for the public welfare it has
been the recognized custom to grant
franchises to the companies asking
them without demanding any compen
sation for the city in return. Judged
from another view point 1t is charged
that while these are matters of public
welfare for which franchises should be
granted without demanding any recon-
pense from the grantees yet 1t is true
that the companies or corporations
to which the franchises are given de-
rive therefrom great financial benefits
for themselves. Hence, the question
is now asked, why should not they
in consideration of the privileges
granted, give to the city some COM
pensation for it's liberality. this COM
pensation to be in such form as will
be of most value to the public good?"
To put the matter in its most con.
densed form 1t is proposed to demand
of companies asking franchises some
consideration in return for the grea;
privileges granted. A councilman sal
in discussing the matter that IL the
street railways had been compelled to
place lights at street intersections at
their own expense instead of at the
city's, If the electric company had been
obliged to light public buildings and
the gas company to heat the same free
of charge to the city, large items Of
expense would yearly be saved the tax
payers and the tax levy greatly re-
duced.
Mr.. Stein and Mr.. Lichtenwalter
members of the city council, have open
ly expressed themselves as being In
favor of demanding considerations in
return for the granting Of franchises
To a reporter this morning M. Steir
said: "The time has now come in the
history of the city of Canton when the
granting of franchises without com.
pensation should be stopped. believe
the city ought to have and has the
right to demand some remuneration
for the privileges, which the COM
panies and corporations are so lavish
in asking and which are virtually the
means of making their fortunes
While am in favor of all public i'm
provements l believe the time is past
when the city has to surrender every
thing in order to get them. The lines
ought to be drawn sometime and the
sooner the better. l know that here
tofore nothing has been asked of those
seeking franchises, especially of those
improvements in which the city stood
greatly in need, but times have change
and the more valuable these franchises
become as the city grows, the more
eagerly they are sought. The matter
ought to be agitated and I, for one
am in favor of demanding considera-
tions for the public benefit of the city
in return for franchises hereafter 10
be granted by it."