The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-10
WHAT TO Do


railway company are both now made
perfectly clear. We can know exactly
what ought to be done and how to do
it. From the moment when the public
mind opened to the fact that the So
called compromise was really a sur
render, that the street railway COM
pany had obtained through this more
than they had ever asked before, with
out giving anything in return, sort Of
despair settled upon our people. They
knew that they were victims of trick,
but at it's first discovery they believed
themselves helpless.
This is emphatically not the case. 1t
now appears, not merely on the testf-
mony of he G b but by the opin-
ion of the best legal talent in the city,
from which there is, we think, nowhere
any dissent among competent lawyers.
that it rests solely with the city coun-
ell to place the city in as good a posi-
ton as it occupied before the disas-
trous resolution was passed last week.
The pardonable blunder of the council
In being misled by the advice of a, city
attorney whom it had every reason to
trust, and its further and less pardon
able error in permitting a matter of
such moment to be damned through
may now be repaired. 1t will close
every avenue of criticism and gain the
approval of every good citizen by TAX
ing the steps plainly marked out for 1t.
1t rests at this moment absolutely
with the city council not only to repair
all damage that has been done, but to
place St Paul in the way of securing
the payment in full Of the gross earn
tngs tax provided in the city charter,
and of every other reasonable demand
that it has made upon the street rail-
way company. Once more, regardless
of all that has passed, the full RESPONSE
bility rests upon the council. 1t can
make or mar the future of ST. Paul.
Remember the really terrible conse-
quences that will ensue if this path is
not followed. Let no man deceive him.
self with the belief that the city has
obtained anything whatever from the
street railway company. 1t is not
worth while even to compute how
much we should get from the imag-
mary 6 per cent on gross earnings, in
Guiding all other taxes. 1t is not worth
while to figure out whether that would
be financially gain or loss to the
city, because it need never be paid I'M
less the street railway company pleases.
1t is not worth while to consider the
building Of any extensions provided for,
the addition Of any improvements nor
any other item Of the things to be done
by the company as laid down in this
preposterous agreement, because the
city will have no power to enforce it,
We have had some experience with the
street railway company in the past and
know that it never acts for public ben
eft save under compulsion. It has
broken all its agreements whenever it
was to its own interest to do so, and
1t will act in the future according to its
own nature.
After six months from the entry Of
Judge Lochren's decree the street rail-
way company will come into actual and
perpetual possession Of all the pfivi-
leges conferred upon it by his de-
cision; and the city of st. Paul will
stand stripped and weaponless at the
mercy of the company. The latter can
build or refuse to build, pay or refuse
to pay. improve or refuse to improve,
at its own good pleasure; being liable
to nothing whatever except the or
binary tax rate on the assessed valua-
ton Of its property, and subject to no
regulation or control by any city coun-
ell.
This is what will happen if no &C.
ton is taken. 1t is something worse
than we have ever at any time contem-
plated. 1t is more abject surrender
Of all our rights than the street rail-
way company itself or any of its agents
has ever dared openly to propose. 1t is
waiting for US just beyond the date of
appeal to the supreme court. We can
turn aside this menace by completing
the appeal and carrying up the case in
time. That is one duty resting on the
council. Fortunately, these matters
are no longer in debate. We know Just
what viii happen If nothing is done.
and just what ought to be done in or
der that the colossal street railway
grab may be defeated. It is up to the
city council and the people.
Mr. John d. .O'Brien's remark that