The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-08-15
Capital GoccipI
BY Der E.. WILLIAMSON.
(staff Correspondcnt.)

Columbus, o., Aug. IA. - Electric
railway companies are getting very
busy in Ohio and councils In the state
will do well to examine critically re-
quests for franchises that may sud
denly come in. There is not an elec'
trio road in the state which does not
contemplate extending its lines, IL only
to one street. Extensions are as cer-
tain as that cities will grow
Under the code that has been drawn
up and which is now being inspected
by few lawyers selected by the
State Bar association. franchises will
not be so cheap as formerly. A clause
that the governor Is said to be pre-
pared to insist upon declares that ev-
cry corporation seeking public fran
chise must agree to pay to the city
in which such concern seeks to oper-
ate, a per cent of the gross receipts.
Any franchise granted after the code
is adopted must contain that provision
to be valid. Hence the desire upon
the part of the railroads to get fran
chises for contemplated extensions un-
der the old law, when franchises cost
way of entertaining certain pliable
councilmen.
In Columbus there is already case
in point. For several years the peo-
pie of West Broad street, in this city,
have asked for double track. Traf-
fic is heavy enough to make II neces-
sary. The company has suddenly
awakened to the necessity, though be-
fore the supreme court decision that
made the extra session OF the legis-
lature possible, It was given out that
the road would not be improved with
double track, for the present at
least.
Citizens have become aware Of the
conditions and are now threatening
to enjoin the company from proceed
ing until 1t pays them such a sum of
money per foot as would pay their
street assessments, thus taxing them
before the code goes into effect about
as much for the first few years as
they would be compelled to pay under
tho code.
In other cities this activity will be
manifested by seekers of franchises,
so they will get what they want be-
fore the new law goes into effect.
In the light of experiences in the
session last winter, however, 1t is
really too much to hope that the Leg
islature will enact law that will in
any manner compel the electric roads
to pay just proportion of their dues
to the public, from whom they receive
so much without the slightest rem4n- |
Grafton. Every act that confuses the |
railroads in the slightest degree has |
been passed upon by the attorney gen.
eral and declared invalid, so as to |
discourage litigation tkat would result |
in the payment Of just claims against
the companies.
It is even hinted that some wise
legislators have had the fklnclRs |
taxation clause edited Into the code |
as a fulcrum upon which to place the
lever to pry out some expense money.
This session is going to cost the men,
bers of the legislature pretty penny
If they can't devise some means to
get some of 1t back. They have drawn
their salaries for the year and many
of them have doubtless spent the
whole amount by this tiSE or have
invested 1t in such a manner that it
is impossible to get 1t back for pres
ent uses. These men will require
to sustain them. By get
ting something into the original draft
Of the code so obnoxious to the cleo
trio railroad interests, some of them
doubtless figure that to kill it after
It has been up for passage would bring
returns.
1t is well known fact and no.
body knows it quite so we'll as the
people themselves - that
bills are introduced frequently for nc
other purpose than to form a basis
FOR settlement. Whether the present
plan, introduced honestly by Governor
Nash, will be used as a lever is prob
but there are those who
would he willing to wager that clause
Jf the governors code will never be
enacted into law.
Still this will not excuse councils
from vigilance in the premises. II a
sufficient number of franchises are
granted, present owners of railroads
will not care whether the clause Is
in or out of the new code. So sud-
den determinations o. the part of
electric railroad companies to extend
heir lines, will warrant painstaking
Investigation as to whether 1t Is real
y the intention to construct the road.
II there is no intention to construct
before next year there Is no hurry 4
about the franchise. If the governors
plan goes through the cities will tp
able to secure good deal of money.
II 1t does not, the cities will be just
as far along to wait a little while
anyhow.
1t is said by one Of the men who
mas seen the draft of the municipal
,ode that 1t does not provide for the
merit system save by suggestion. In
ohio municipalities the merit system
has developed into a good deal of a
arce. 1t consists, In Democratic towns
If keeping Democrats In office and In
republican towns of keeping Repub-
leans in Office. So 1t will make lit
lie difference whether 1t prevails or
not. Theoretically 1t is probably
good thing. but its operation In most