The daily sentinel. [volume] (Grand Junction, Colo.) 1893-current, 1904-11-28
PEOPLE INTERESTED.

nor any particular party is Interested
in the franchise before the city couu-
Gil at the present time Because three
of the members of council. backed by
Mayor samplmer are doing their ut
most to safeguard the rights of the
city, the organ owned by the repubIi-
can party. is attempting to make it ap-
pear that the granting of an electric
railway franchise to GEORGE Smith is
q party issue.
No argument was presented by the
republican organ. it is questionable
whether its editor ever read the pro-
posed I franchise asked for by Mr..
Smith, but in lieu of any Intelligent
argument on the subject it commences
to howl for a republican administra-
tioD in the spring.
Now the granting of the franchise
to Mr.. Smith is not a matter of poll.
tics at all. In fact anyone attempting
to push a question of 80 much impor-
lance to the whole paople into politics
should be condemned unstintedly.
Mr.. Smith asks an option from the
city for period of eighteen months,
in order to make an attompt to sell
sufficient bonds to build such road.
In the meantime, should Mr.. Smith
fail in securing the capital to build
the road. the city has lost a year and
half of most valuable time
What Mayor sampliner proposed to
do was to safeguard the oity's inter
ests by having Mr. Smith and those
interested put up bond to indemnify
the city for this loss of time. in case
they could not build the road. 1t is
on the principle tI,ata man goes to
another and says, 81 want to secure
an option on that lot of yours for three
months. l think can sell it for IA
certain price" " The option is granted.
The man fails to sell the lot. During
the time of option another man comes
along and offers for the lot "a price
which was far more than the price at
which the option was granted. You
lose the sale of your lot, simply be-
caule you granted something fol Moth
ing.
Mayor Sampl'ner proposed to Mr..
Smith aud his associates that he give
such bond and we will leave it to
any oitizen with common business
sense whether Mayor sampliner's pos
ition was not correct
One of the republican members of
the council. Alderman Ramoy, was
distinctly unfavorable tothat portion
Of the franchise which permitted Mr.
Smith to carry freight and express
through the streets of the city. In
measure we agreed with Mr.. Ramey
on this point. On the other hand if
that privilege is not granted we can
not see W here the revenue to maintain
the road will bo raised. We under
staud that interutbau lines are grant
ed this privilege usually, under very
strict restrictions Now what would
the republican organ have to say, if
sweeping privileges of carry ing coal
and other freight through the main
thorouRhfare of this city had been
granted.
When it came to consider the ordin-
auce or franchise proposed the council
on familiarizing themselves with its
provisions saw at onoo how himsy it
was and were just as anxious as the
republican members of tho council to
hold a consultation together, in exeou-
tive session, that they might discuss
its provisions intelliGoutly and thor.
oughly.
We believe that if the franchise
is granted to Mr., Smith. with pro-
per showing from him, that there
should he incorporated in its prosi-
slous permission to carry freight in
especially constructed cars. as is
done in eastern iuterurbau roads
otherwise neither MIR. Smith or any
ono else could SEIZURE the capital to
build such a road as proposed.
The time is past when franhises
are @bartered away as matter for
speculation. There is no particular
reason whatever for profit to be made
upon a schume wherein all the the
people arc interested. There is less
reason why an attempt should be
mace to inject political fight into
a matter rs has bpeu atfamnted nv the