The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-02-06
ALDERMANIC OMNIPoTENCE.


with practically alteration from the form desired by
Mr. Graves and his associates the city council possibly
takes the ground that it better stroke Of business
to let Mr. Graves have his and insure the work being
done than to insist restrictions the public has right
to impose and thereby risk blocking the big project Pos
siby that is the way the council considered the matter
Argument to induce such conclusion might have been
convincingy presented that other seemed
reasonable or just The operation of the councilmanc
mind is mechanical process that frequently leaves Ordi
nary comprehension dazzled and dizzy, far behind
From all outward appearance this encounter with the
council has been about the easiest obstacle Mr. Graves has
met In his successful important industrial
factor of the Inland Empire The council simply handed
him what he wanted for all time to have and to hold sell
give away.
Until the creation Of city councils the future had been
generally considered the province of the Almighty Ordi
nary morta content to leave the disposal of eternity
to Providence
dsl'ensaton has been inaugurated, however,
with the age of organization. century monopoly of
public utility privilege has become insufficient and in
hntsma in calculations OF the modern corporation. 1t
demands valid claim community for long time
shall last And city councils calmly parcel out fuurty
in accordance with this demand
The process recalls remark of Puck not comp-
mentary to the good sense of mankind.
Being equal to this the councilmanc mind never hest
tates second cnching their everlasting bargain with
provision creating eternal monopoly. The wisdom
of making the franchise the city open high
grant considering its hold all future generations
appeals fOrclby snowflake shifting a granite
boulder The line of reasoning actually followed brought
forth the conclusion that if the city is to be sewed up it
must be sewed up tight and the council accordingly orders
the sewing calculated to hold long after gen
eratons of councmen's descendants have returned to
earth.
There is apprehension felt that Mr.. Graves will use
ls franchise ght detrimental to the city's in
teres But the grantee makes guarantee of the future
in return for the boundess public privilege he seeks He
will do what he pleases with it. If he sells it to interests
that design to dictate the exact degree of transportation
facilities this city shall command that is his affair.
And the whole country is getting startling demonstra-
ton at this very time of what it to be held down
a railroad manipuator's idea of proper development.
Hill and Hartmann preferring to employ the earnings
of their lines in Wall ST. speculative warfare rather than
in railroad expansion unite in the declaration that the
country is developing too fast 1t must wait until they
give permission for further growth pile up its products
to rot and shver through winter for fuel They have
elusive franchises What you going to do about it?
But the Spokane council is manfestly superior to all
consideration of this sort 1t is possessed of sublime
knowledge that future conditions will vary from the
present state consequently they exert themselves to
future government every possible worry by arranging i'm
atfa ed in dVanc