The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-23


THE vINEwooD FRANCHISE.
The vinewood Park railway franchise
was granted by the city council last
night by a majority of one vote. This
action was somewhat remarkable in
the face Of positive assertions by MEM
bers Of the council who voted for the
franchise that they had no faith in the
company
The vinewood Park people have
something up their sleeve Their
whole scheme bears the stamp
of insineerity It is not rea-
sonable to suppose that. any man or
company will expend 100000 or even
half that sum in the construction of a
railroad which It is admitted and which
past experience has proved viii not pay
expenses. People are not looking for
places to sink their money when they
have no hope of returns. Still the pro
fessed purpose Of the Vinewood pro-
moters is to operate a suburban line and
nothing else.
Through these professions the Topeka
Commercial club gave its endorsement
to the proposed railway. Under this
guise the merchants and business men
were induced to sign petitions request
ing LudL a lLalAlnASC Nc - N--A-~N - -
company Nearly every enc Of these
men is opposed to a Kansas City cleo
trie line, and with good reason, for 1t
would undoubtedly cripple the business
interests Of the city and through them
the city at large. But all the signers
have is the oral assurance of the Vine
wood promoters that the Topeka fran
chise will not be used for a Kansas city
terninal-and a clause in the FRANCHISE
which with unblushing frankness the
Vinewood attorneys admit is not worth
the paper it occupies.
The franchise granted last night
places the city of Topeka at the mercy
of the Vinewood company. If they de-
sire to allow a Kansas City line to en-
ter Topeka, by their own statements,
they can do so and the city IS powerless
to prevent them. They may spend as
much or as little money as they Ike
in the construction of the line
It is strange that in the light of past
experiences the city council should
adopt an ordinance, granting a 20-year
franchise for the use Of the streets Of
Topeka, which had been drawn by the
attorneys of the corporation for whose
benefit the franchise was drafted. It
is strange that a long and complicated
ordinance like this should have. been
rushed through under a suspension Of
the rules without going through the
usual channels followed by measures of
much less Importance. It was almost
pitiful to see the members of the city
council sit apparently helpless in their
seats while the attorneys and promoters
of the Vinewood company told them
what they might or might not do.
Such wholesale intimidation was never
before witnessed in the council cham
Der of the city Of Topeka.
The state Journal has opposed the
granting of the Vinewood Park railway
franchise because it had no faith in the
plan and believed it to be inimical to
the best interests Of the city. With
only the signature of the mayor lack
ing to make the measure effective it
sees no reason to change its position
Topeka cannot afford to distribute val
liable franchises right and left. es-
peciauy when the result may be irrep-
arabic damage to the city. It may be
taken for granted that no Peoria dis
tiller nor anyone else will come to To-
peka to operate a suburban electric line
solely for the benefit of the city. If
the people Of Topeka think they have
found such an individual in the owner
Of the Vinewood Park railway it is time
for them to cure themselves of their
delusion He must eventually throw
off his mask and appear before the cit
liens with his true purpose revealed.
the evil effect Of the phantom Topeka
cannot afford to make a mistake. The
action of the council is most unfortu-
!