Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-12-16

who have followed the progress and
development of this question. there
really seems 10 be 10 reason why 1t
should not be settled even before the
alicrmanic campaign Of next spring.
There is nothing that the people
have demanded either In public mass
meetings or through their representa-.
lives In the city government that has
not been conceded by the traction COM
panlcs.
Universal transfers. up.to.datc street
ear service, comfortable cars and plcn-
,y of them, rapid transit. handsome re-
Enumeration to the city, courteous and
careful treatment of the public by the
companies employees, streets along the
right Of way sprlnkled and swept In
summer. ana the snow and slrsh re.
moved In winter: all these and other
advantages which have been cnumer.
a,ed In previous editions Of this paper
are guaranteed the people In return
for II franchise of reasonable length.
Evcrybory who has given the mat.
ter any study or attention knows that
II the city could own the street rail-
way companies tomorrow II could not
give the public any such service as
this, nor could II do 30 In the course
Of twenty years to come, II ever at all.
Tho enormous expense OF acquiring
the property and rolling stock of the
companies would simply swamp the
city. ana then IL It ever did get the
system into working order 1t In ten
chances to one that 1t would be In the
hands of lot of hoodlum hangers.On
Of political parties who would give the
people the kind Of service they have
ben used to for years ut the City Hall,
and who would probably steal the sys.
tenn, the city and public blind.
In addition to all this the people
have come to u full realization of the
strong. In fact, impregnable position
which the traction companies would
occupy II after all that has been said
and done the whole thing should be
thrown into tile courts.
They have an endless variety of ar.
guments, almost llmltless grounds of
law ana equity to stand upon In de-
Tense of their rights II they should be
finally forced to do so In the courts.
II would mean endless litigation that
might be carried even as far us the
limits OF the companies ninety. nine
year rights. which they are now will.
Ing to waive, with the almost abso.
lutte certainty OF victory for them In
the end.
The people do not want any sucl,
thing as this.
They want the traction question set
tied ut once, and IL 1t should be unset.
tied ut the next spring election there
vii! be such an expression of public
opinion In the election of Aldermen rs
will settle the matter very speedily
thereafter.
That II Is clearly the will and en-,
phatic demand of the general public
that the long drawn out controversy
between the companies and the city be
brought speedily to a close is evident
ly quite apparent to the great major
| !ty of the City Council, Il body the
members of which of late years mt any
rate manage To gauge pretty accurate
~ the public temper particularly the
| individual Aldermen In their respect
i've balliwicks.
.,s for the work of the Council Com,
m,ttee on transportation that body Ii
evidently working honestly to make
tie best terms possible for the people
IN the discussion of the ordinance now
pending before It.
This ordinance IL In almost every re-
Spcct a reasonable rational measure,
and satisfactory to the public at large.
OF course there is the usual talk
about a referendum IN reference to IT,
hut j, Is the belief of many that should
the people be thoroughly educated in
regard to lis provisions between now
ana next spring, Il referendum would
result In lis adoption by the people.
Taken all in all the outlook is good
for speedy settlement, something that
Will deprive demagogues ana gallery
players of a valuable asset, for which
the great mass of the population will
be devOutly thankful.