The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-10-21
GOOD FOR MAYOR HEAD.

Progressive and we'll governed cities
are requiring the owners of street car
companies to contribute something to the
expenses of city government. The policy
of giving franchises to street car com
a few men at the expense of the whole
community.
Mayor Head, Of Nashville, Tenn, has
just effected a settlement with the
street railway companies, as q cOmpro-
mise decree of LITIGATION between the
city and the street railway company,
that has won for him first place among
Southern Mayors. Upon his election as
the charter of the street railway COM
panies for causes deemed by him suffi-
cient and to prevent the consolidation Of
companies without the authority of the
city and without paying the city for the
franchise. The litigation has gone on
several years, the city losing some of its
contentious and gaining others. The mat
ter became ar issue in city politics and
the people supported the progressive and
determined Mayor in his just conten-
ton. His opponents said the litigation
would drive capital away from Ten
! nessee and work serious wrong to vested
interests. Mayor Head knew he was
pursuing a policy that was just to the
railroads and demanded by his oath to
regard every interest and right of the
municipality, and he has won his fight.
His emu contest for the right to
tax franchises and to make the city
bigger than the street car companies
has been won, though in the settlement
some concessions were made. The Nash
Vile News thus states the agreement
reached:
by terms of the settlement the city
secured the recognition of the right to
purchase the street car system at any
time after twenty years; also a guaran-
tee that the company will expend not
less than 81, 600, 900 in the improvement
Of the system; also the donation of a
park at a cost of SIZE, 600, and the pay
ment to the city Of 2 per cent upon the
~company's gross income to be used by
the Park Commission for the improve
ment and maintenance of the city's
parks. After the company's gross earn
ings aggregate $1,000,0 900 then the 2 pei
cent assessment will be increased to
per cent and continue perpetual.
"All Of this is done without one cents
expense to the general Taxpayer, and
18TH -,x - 49, o~l~ - 49, n~-1- g.
mission not less than $40, 900 for park
PURPOSES the first year. The company
will continue to maintain it's usual stree
corner transfers in addition to the cen.
: trail transfer station.
. THE settlement of this litigation wa.
secured without a dollars cost to tn
city, as per agreement, all costs and at.
torneys' fees heretofore paid by the cit.
/ will be refunded, by the street car com
pany."
= If all executive officers had the wisdom
: and the grit possessed by Mayor Heat
the great corporations would be made t
j, pay just taxes for their franchises en-
, the burdens of taxation upon the peopl
hand when men who aspire to executiv
and legislative positions will not b
n afraid to fight the giant common carrier
: enjoying special privilege and exemp
not ready to make this fight ought to b
elected TO stay at home. And they wi
be i'll North Carolina in the future.
, One more week in which to register
HaVe NOu d0na 60 Nat2