The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-10-23

scented, With Revision by the City F,
at Stated Periods-seven Per Cent
Tax Yearly on Gross Receipts.
Strong Gains to Cincinnati.
Hon. Charles Dick. Columbus. o.:
Dear Sir-So many people through
out the state have called upon me for
the facts about the street railroad sit
uation In Cincinnati that 7 would like
to have the truth about It made known
as widely as possible. especially since
Mr.. johnson and others who attack
the curative amendment, so-called,
grossly misrepresent the Rogers Jaw
in order TO create prejudice against
the curative amendment
In order to understand the Rogers
law IT is necessary to recall the street
railroad situation as II existed In Gin
cinnati at the time when that law was
enacted. Our different routes had
been from time to time established
and franchises therefor granted by
that we had altogether perhaps 20
different routes and franchises. some
Of which franchises were to expire in
four or FIVE years, some in eight TO
ten. some in ten TO twelve, and some
of them from fifteen TO twenty years,
and one OF them, beliye. had yet
twenty-one years to run when the
Rogers law was passed. Some
one of these franchises was expiring
almost every year. and there was, in
consequence. a continual controversy
going on over renewals. Il was de-
sirable. inasmuch as they had all been
consolidated into one road, to have
them all expire at the same time. and
have all the routes subject to the
came conditions. That was desirable,
not only for the street railroad COM
pany. but also for the citizens Of Gin
cinnau. One purpose Of the Rogers
law was. therefore. TO fix a time TO
which all these franchises would be
extended, so that they would in the
future all expire at the same time.
/. It was. therefore. provided b.
the Rogers law that the municipal au-
thorities should have the right to ex-
tend all the franchises by so much
time as might be necessary for each
one to make them all expire fifty
years after the date of the passage Of
the law. The average the different
franchises. taken altogether. had to
-un at the time the law was passed,
was sixteen years. Consequently, the
Rogers law extended the franchises
Of the Cincinnati street railroad not
'or fifty years. but only for thirty-four
Tears.
2. In the second place, while on @
lew of the routes, as then established,
the company was limited TO six tickets
FOR a quarter. yet on a number OF
ether routes 1t was getting more than
cents; on some of them cents. I'm.
der the Rogers law the city was au-
| thorized TO make a uniform fare on
all of the routes not exceeding 5 cents.
II D.
acted the company was not required
| by any statute to give transfers. I'm
| der the Rogers law a general transfer
| system was required, and was at once
| established by the city and put into
| operation by the railroad, so that Tor
| 5 cents, from the time when the Rog.
| ers law went into effect until now. one
can ride in Cincinnati by taking a
transfer anywhere from ten to fifteen
miles.
4. Before the Rogers law the street
| railroad company paid taxes on its
property. and all its property. accord
valuation was fixed by appraisement
just the same as all other property is
appraised. AMI In addition. on some
| of the routes, the street railroad was
paying to the city 214 per cent on its
gross earnings. and also a car license
fee. Under the Rogers law the rail-
road was required TO pay. not only on
all its property the same as anybody
Il
yIoss earnings 10 the city, and also
he same car license fee. in lieu of
which latter tax, under a law passed
recently, the street railroad now pays
- the city an additional per cent on
It's gross earnings. making a tax OF
per cent altogether on its gross
earnings that II pays to the CITY,. 1t
also pays TO the state. as you are
aware, what is called an excise tax
OF l per cent on its gross earnings
making a total, in addition To the reg
llar tax Oh It's property, Of per cent
on its gross earnings. AS a result
there is not a corporation in Ohio that
pays more taxes. | think il can De
safely said, in proportion TO its proper
ty and its capital and its business
than the Cincinnati street railroad.
8. But returning TO the Rogers law,
while it provided all these require
ments ami imposed all these burdens
It also further provides that at the ex.
piration oil ~ years from the time
when the Rogers law WAS passed. the
city shall have the power to again re-
wise all the terms and conditions oI
the grant, including the rate of fare tC
be charged. SO as TO make it less Il
the city oficials. then in Office. shall