Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-08

suit succeeds / shall ask them tC
: show whether they can or cannot.
/ Furthermore. when they ask for q
new franchise. L would ask them to
step into the lime light and answer
such questions as these:
1. How much of your S1,5oO.0O0 cap
ital stock is bona fide investment and
how much is water?
>. What does your stock sell for on
the open market?
). What dividends does it pay?
/. What are your operating eXpens-
es. other expenses, gross receipts
etc?
>. Is it not true that the 100000
of stock issued in October 1900 was all
water, and is now worth over 100 per
cent?
6. Is it not true that the 100000
of stock issued in October 1902 was
parcelled out among favored few.
and did they not make from % TO 80
cents on the dollar or from $4,000
to $4,000 simply by taking it at par
and turning ii over?
Truthful answers to such questions
as these will enable the people of
Rock Island TO know whether the COM
pany can afford to grant a ; cent rate
to the workingmen and to- pay taxes
on its franchise into the city treasury
If the company cannot reasonably
do these things then no one wants
it to.
| This. then. is the purpose of the quo
warranto suit. to make the company
incorporate in Illinois. vacate its fran
| chise, show up the facts and grant
such concessions for its renewal as
| fair minded men would say was just.
Lest there be any misunderstanding in
| the matter | now ask the company
to make such showing as | have sug
geSted: submit its affairs to the eN-
| animation of Il commission of cconom-
ic experts who are wholly disinterest-
ed. appointed by any fair means. or
before any competent impartial body;
let the result be published and then
let the people or the experts say
whether the company can reasonably
grant 3 cent rate at certain hours
of the day or make other concessions.
If the company will do that and agree
to abide by such decision then with
the consent of the relator | will dis
miss the suit. and l believe he will
consent.
Until such time a. such a showing
concession can be made. and shall
do my utmost 10 secure it.
HAROLD \. WELD.
States Attorney Yields defense of
his course in relation to the proceed
ings against the Tri-City Railway
company to which such general eX-
ception has been taken, might strike
the readers with greater force
had he confined himself more
closely to the establishment of the
tenable side of his official status in
the case. The conclusion that he
hopes the public will draw. that his
action is wholly without bias or pref jul
dice would he much more readily
reached but FOR the animus he dis
plays toward the corporation al which
the proceeding is aimed, and there
would be better prospect of the argu-
ment as Il whole finding favorable
consideration had he INDUCED in fewer
slurs at representative bodies of citi-
zenS. and less SANDER of the press be
cause these agents of public senti-
ment have seen fit to condemn his
course.
1t is but fair and just that Mr.. Weld
should have opportunity to defend
himself in the proceedings that he is
instituting against the Tri-City Rail
way company lin the name of the peo
pie" and to put up the best argu-
ment that he is capable of, notwith-
standing that to The Argus his com
munication seems designed largely for
political effect. In declaring as he
does. that the resolutions which
representative bodies of men i'm Rock
Island have adopted - condemning
what to the public mind is continued
persecution of a worthy public en-
terprise - have been inspired by the
street car company. or that the mo-
tives of said representatives are 9th
er than brOad-mnded and public
spirited. Mr.. Weld casts a reflection
that to the mind of The Argus is
hardly justified.
Regarding Mr.. Yields idea and eX-
PLANTATION of the prerogatives that re
pose in him as to the use of the peo-
pies name, there are naturally differ
ences of opinion. but there appears d
striking disparagement in his own
statement. While in the opening por
ton of his communication he sets up
the position that his duty is manda- |
tory in the premises. rather than dis |
crctiunary, toward the end of the doc |
ument. he admits not only his ability |
to dismiss the proceeding but his will |
ingness to do soft the company will |
do certain things that he suggests. II |
il is within the discretion of the |
states attorney to dismiss the pro
ceedings the question that naturally |
arises is. why was it not within his dis |
erection to decline it in the first place?
The position that the states attorney |
takes of course. is that he would dis |
miss the proceedings provided the re
Iator * willing. but he intimates quite |