Bisbee daily review., 1903-10-30
ANOTHER FRANCHISE AND NO RETURNS.

A regular meeting of the city coun- Gil of Bisbee was held during this week. All of the members of the council were not present, but a sufi- cient number were to constitute le- gal meeting. At that meeting an other franchise was granted. This time to the Bisbee and Don Luis Elec- tric line of railway. While the Re view has not copy of the ordinance before it at this writing, it is presum- ed that the report of the proceedings of the council in the news columns are correct. The provisions of the franchise, accoroIDg to these reports are, that the street railway line is granted the right to lay tracks in the city of Bisbee, and for twenty-five years are accorded the privilege of Op- erating an electric railway on the streets of Bisbee within the city linn it's. They are to give a fve-cent fare within those limits, and issue ex- change tickets to any other part of
 
 This brings us again to the subject of the granting of franchises. Since the granting of the gas franchise without first submitting the question 10 the people, the views of the Re view have not changed in the least. The giving away of valuable fran chises without a just compensation a return therefor, Of the valuable prop erty of the people is wrong in princi- pie and wrong in fact. This must be apparent to every person at all inter ested in their city's welfare. Cor porations do not seek these franchis- es, nor do they expend large sums cf money in constructing their plarIs unless they see in the future profitable returns coming therefor, for their af- forts, their labor ard their money. These privileges boloc : to the people. The people should 2 east be consult ed as to what they wish to give away.
 The new company coming into the city believes that Bisbee is to become a greater city. There is scarcely person in Bisbee but what believes the same thing. While it is conceded that an electric line will fill a need ed necessity and will conduce to the growth Of Bisbee and the comfort of it's citizens, nevertheless, in five, ten. twenty and twenty-five years hence, as Bisbee grows, this and any other franchise of public utility will have grown with it and to an asset of enor- nous value.
 Why, then, is it unreasonable; there fore, to say to these gentlemen who desire to and will occupy the ralua ble privilege of a monopoly Of the streets of Bisbee, We will permit you to occupy these streets, but you must pay us. the people, a fair eGciy- aient for this privilege?" Let this re- turn be based upon a fair basis, en couraging the enterprise, which leads to public improvement, while in it's is- fancy, but with carefully and jealously guarded restrictions as to the earn ings and the rights of the people. Surely the city is entitled ,r more than the bare privilege of being per mitted to ride on an 'ic aaf i0r i've cents.
 The Rev:ew strJr-'y c:.hssr>,s 'te r"bIic con .,I;ience lf a. s:cC ,n line ana believes that the promoters Of the convenience should be encourag- ed to the fullest extent. but standing firm upon what it has always consid- cred the city's best interests, t insists that the council had no right 10 vote away a valuable privilege belonging 10 the people without just and fair com pensation to the city in return. The day will come round in Bisbee wh en tha neople will realize the stand and