The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-11


pany promptly and cheerfully adopted as
its foster child
The listless public was duly impressed
with the substitute bill. The majority
wanted the subway and were indifferent
as TO how IL WAS 10 be obtained. few,
out OF their past experience, had more
foresight.
Tho creation Of the new subway would
be worth thousands OF dollars 10 the
Elevated company II could AFFORD TO and
would pay good rental, II driven to II.
The Issue was plain, and they resolved to
light for II. They proceeded TO organize
under tho name OF the Public Franchise
league.
The men who comprised this league
were for the most part business and pro-
fessional men OF standing In the com
munity. and OF ability equal to that Of
tho men they opposed. Among them were
Louis ID. Brandeis, one OF the acknowl-
edged leaders OF the Boston bar. who at
all critical points acted as unpaid coun-
sci for tho league Edward A. Filene.
head OF "A large and growing retail bust
ness; Laurence Minot managing trustee
for large real estate interests; b. +.
Keith, proprietor OF Keith's circuit of the
atres DR.. Morton Prince. distinguished
specialist, with a strong Inheritance OF
public spirit from his father, former
| mayor OF the city; George B. Upham and
| Edward r. Warren, who became Inter
/ ested In connection with their important
| and successful efforts 20 preserve the
beauty OF Boston common. James X.
Carter and Andrew G.. Webster. two OF
the most prominent leaders in the com
mercial organizations OF the city; Robert
Treat Paine Jr., former candidate for
the governorship OF the state; Charles NJ.
Cox, OF the chamber of commerce. and
Edward A. Adler, for several years secre-
tary OF the league. The league was also
I'm close touch with settlement workers
and through them with the trade union
lists.
At the outset it's members stood alone,
but these put their case before the united
commercial organizations OF the city, and
won over the name and influence OF the
associated board OF trade; and In the
name OF that organization a bill was in
troduced In the legislature providing for
the construction OF the Washington street
subway by the city. with lease on the
same terms as the former one.
% The elevated loudly proclaimed that IL
would never lease the tunnel on the same
terms with the old one, but the committee
on Metropolitan affairs, which had the
bills under consideration, received the
personal pledges OF eight well-known
business men that a corporation with a
paid-in capital OF at least N.coO.co would
was at a rental Of Az on cost In case
the Elevated company failed TO take ad-
vantage OF its option.
Philadelphia brazenly overlooked John
Wanamaker's offer TO pay millions OF dol
lars for public franchises and gave them
away for nothing, but Massa chusetts poll
ticians have never yet approached the
level OF degradation where II Is possible
10 disregard cold. staring cash. The bills
went over TO the next year.
Elevated railroad. through the
agency OF the unsuspicious Citizens as
sociaton again presented It's bill, and the
Public Franchise league, In the name or
the Associated Board OF Trade, presented
It's counter-plan, Apparently hghting
along the same lines as the year before.
i'm reality the elevated people were pre-
pairing for a fight In altogether different
quarters.
When the public hearings were closed,
they suddenly swept aside pretense and
came forward with n new proposition. Tne
subway which "a year before the ele-
waited had wished 10 build and own for-
ever. IL was now willing to build and sur
render TO the city free or cost at the
end OF 90 years.
But II was just year too late. The
people were now wide awake and In no
mood for compromise. They had begun
TO grasp the proper principles OF a public
franchise transaction, and TINS oiter
compared with the Public Franchlse
league proposition, IL meant net loss OF
sl5 900 900 10 the city at the end OF 80 years.
Moreover II still ignored the essential
principles-city ownership, short tenure,
adeauate rental and the referendum.
The legislature looked with warm APP
proval on the new proposition. and were
disposed 10 consider objection TO so maas
nanimous a concession a. almost imperu-
nent Powerful arguments against the
proposed move were made. but the legis-
iatiVe counsel OF the company, compla-
cent In the astuteness OF his move and
the servilty OF the legislature contented
himself with a perfunctory reply With
but two dissenting votes. the coYmittee
sent I'm favorable report and there was
no referendum clause. With customary
arrogance. the company even went so far
as 90 boast that no referendum provision
would ever again be part of a subway bill.
The Elevated company and It's agents
worked untiringly and relentlessly They
/ brlbed the cheaper members with jobs or
p otherwise. cajoled the friendly and
I threatened TO ruin the careers Of the up
right.
ON the other side the campaign was no
less strenuous The Public Franchise
league the Board OF Trade the trade
unions. aud the one newspaper I'm Boston
which consistently fought on the side OF
the public. stood together.
Tn the governor chair az that time was
Gov Crane Ills mind once made up he
proceeded 10 put his conviction into exc
cutlon.
In tho house the bill had passed tri-
umphantly. Amendment after amendment
sa feguarding the public interests had been
crushed with clock.work precision. Then
Gov. Crane made the announcement that
under no consideration would he sign the