The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-05-22
SHARP ATTACK
ON CORPORATIONS
Justice Gaynor Delivers Red
Hot Address to Civic Fed
GRAFTON. New York.
SAYS FRANCHISES SHOULD
NOT BE GIVEN AWAY
August Belmont in Reply De-
fends Organized Capital
in Business.

NEW YORK. May 2l-At dinner to-
night by the New York Civic federation'
to tho members Of the investigating COM
mlttcc OF the Federation on Municlpal
Ownership, on the eve OF their departure
for Europe. Superior Court Justice VIII
liam j. GaSnor made an attack on cor
poratons to which August Belmont
who was also a guest at the dinner, made
spirited reply.
Judge Gaynor said:
Tax on the People.
"In this day great franchises represent
nothing but perpetual tax on tho people
OF the community, franchise is grane- an
cd for ggg years Nine years Is moro reh-
sonable than 9S9 at this time In the MS
tory of the country. Certain rights arc
granted to great corporations under @ tne
hgh-sounding name of public 1arnCnlSes
which are nothing moro than gifls lhes9
gifts are bonded stocked, doubled up ana
Continued for many years, tax upon the
Shocks Moral Sense.
Even In this presence | say the action
| OF these corporations is something dis
honest enough to shock the moral sense
| OF the God-fearing people OF this com
Last week. In Washington, We had
| that great debate on the railroad as
system III the railroade be taken as an
| example, we snail nave pslolc Ho In W.
consideration some startling facts.
"The horrible crimes OF tho corpora
| tions have como to be understood oy the
people The people reoI@e on1eoted edai for tSe
| public wealth. bat for the ngsrandlzec
| ment of one man. which Is the reverse OF
| public sentiment and public demano.
| Corporations hnve taken private prop
| crty which can only be taken possession
of upon the assumption that certain
rights arc to revert to the owners OF that
property when. In fact. they are pFoNiu-
| ing no return TO the people
Must Destroy Favoritism.
1--WE have recently had explained to us
| how n certain man or certain interest
can carry freight from one section OF the
country to another for one-half OF what
| with one hundred head of cattle had been
| allowed to pass through toll gate by
paying one-half of what his neighbor had
| to pay. What do you suppose the people
| at that time would have donc7 why,
| they would have torn down the toll gate
and ultimately we Will tear down the rail-
| roads. destroy them peaceably II we can.
| forclbly II We must
Belmont Is Worked UP.
'I want to repudiate in the most un-
! qualified terms the insinuation that L
! manage-or that my associates manasc-
| than that of honest or of correct pur-
| pose. or with any purpose other than
| that of complying with every letter or
| the law. l think that every corporation
! and that every corporation manager Is
| entitled TO be heard In court first am
| that his action shall be tested alter the
| verdict Of tho court and not before. You
| know to what L refer, and therefore II
| viii not be necessary for me TO repeat
| IT, and / ar sorry that | have TO make
| this statement"
Seemed to Be Angry.
When Mr.. Belmont had concluded his
| tisH fnnRFY ha.t IT
| say he turned, and looking the justice
| In the face struck the table a blow With
his hard which caused the china to rat
| tie. Continuing, Mr.. Belmont said
Not Special Interests.
so anxious was this organization that
| absolutely impartial that 1t took every
step to free the commission from any
| POSSIBLE embarrassment to the federation
| other then that It should lean upon that
| body for It's expenses.
The federation has chosen their own
| committee, and. whatever the results
| may be. their work win bear no landmark
of any special interests, and least Of all.
| has there been made any effort 10 create
ony argument against municipal owner
| ship of public facilities, as has been IN
| tiuated here tonight
Glad He Was There.
IT wanted To be here tonight because
| 1t has been Insinuated by those who de-
sired to 6iscredit this commission that
! Il had another purpose ir view. Realz-
| ing that the subject before the people
was one that was going TO be discussed
en- the stump during our political cam
| EaignS end vitality concern the two ee-
ments Which the federation IS trying to
| bring together. the federation thoJght II
| should, II possible. obtain for the public
| n textbook on municipal ownership. 1
| knew that that would probably be said
| to you but from the fact thnt | am the
| representative Of a large traction com
| rany. ] thought that | would Ike to tell
| you myself. because IT has nothing what
| ever to do with myself
Wants to Be Right.
| i"At Tic meeting OF the commission 1
| said that II the result OF this investiga-
| tlon furnished an argument for the ac-
| ou,sitio by the municipalities or the
| properties which / have been elected 10
| manage that that would not deter ne.
| On the contrary, as a citizen, | welcome
| "A correct Interpretation of this subject :
Too Much for Mothers.
etr