The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-20
FREE STREET CAR RIDES.

THE MOST RADICAL PROPOSITION that has
come under the observation of The Herald IN a
4 long time Is put out by Tom l. Johnson, the
irrepressble mayor of Cleveland Mr.. johnson calmly
advances the idea that municipalities should provide
an absolutely free street service for their citizens
and guests The novelty of the idea IS startling but
Mr.. johnson advances some good arguments IN sup
port of it.
He says that in all big buildings an elevator ser
vice provided for tenants and those who visit them
for the transaction of business. Nobody would think
of charging fare Tor elevator rides, and yet somebody
must pay for the service Of course those who pay
the tenants of the buildings On the same principle
Mr. johnson believes would be good public policy to
furnish free street car rides at the expense Of the
era taxpayer.
Certainly this seems Utopian theory. At first blush
the expense OF purchasing the systems and OF oper
atng them afterward looks great too entlte the
project to serious consideration. 1t might be accom-
plished by the issuance of longtime bonds but no
revenue would be provided to pay the interest on the
bonds as they fell due. If such plan could be worked
out at all 1t would necessarily be very gradual pro
The purchase OF the street car lines would, of
course, be the first step. Then, If there profit
in operating them sufficiently large to warrant re-
duction in fares this could be done The reductions
would be made, little by little until the dream of free
service became a reality. Much may be said on both
sides of the question and much that Is good.
In the first place, it viii be argued that the bur
den of the increased taxation would fall those best
IT.
community On the other hand, they would not enjoy
corresponding benefit. The street car Is the poor
mans carriage" A good-sized percentage of his
wages goes every week to the street companies and
in many instances proves serious drain his purse
"The rich they ride In chaises." chiefly, and have
for 1t IS they enjoy manifold
advantages which the poor cannot hope to attain Free
street railway service would doubtless cause howl of
terror from the wealthy element and its introduction
would be bitterly fought. But Mayor Johnson doesn't
really believe his scheme IS practicable, at least just
at present He does offer suggestion, however that
Is entirely feasible and that should be taken to heart
by the authorities of all city governments lie says
Pending municipal ownership in one form an
other every city should henceforh be most careful in
awarding franchises for public utilities to restrict the
term of years the franchise has to live, and to pro-
vide very definitely for the acquisition of the rights by
the city. All street car franchise rights should be
based on Scent fares and it should be explicitly stipu
lated that the streets turned must remain free
territory By this I mean that no city government
having the rights and interests Of the citizen heart
viii grant to any street company heneeforth, the
privilege of operating any street to the exclusion
of any other line The ideal way for the city, under
the system of private ownership, to grant franchises
would be simply for the operation of the road the city
itself building and maintaining the tracks and hold
ing them in ownership. If however, this cannot be
DONE then the corporation seeking franchise should
be required to give the Of its tracks to all corners
the payment of a proper compensation for such
use"