Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-12
Franchises Expiring.

ON the fifteen miles of opposition line
straight fare of 3 cents IS charged, with
no transfer While it is not shown that
Mr. johnson owns this competing three-cent
line he has Endorsed and backed II. and for
the PURPOSES OF convenience il will be term
"a the Johnson line
/; falls out that number of franchises
Of existing lines have been expiring and
others are due to expire IN the near future
II Is necessary to have them renewed by the
city council When "A charter is to be re-
uewed the three-Cent pcopls go Before the
council and ask that they be given the
charter under contract 10 charg.t only =
cents.
The Cleveland Electric Company demands
the charter and offers To sell seven tickets
for - cents and to give practically unlim-
tied transfers. In several instances the
,ity council las granted a charter TO tn" three
cent people, whcrcUpun the Cleveland Elec-
triC Company has sought by injunction to
prevent the operation OF tn" line under that
charter The johnson lines have been served
with suTnc iurty-uine inJUnctions. They Is
tsrIdtr thIt the fifteen mules OF threS-Cent
lines that they have thus far put into OPP
Grafton represent an injunction cont -Sttd
and DISMISS Tor every mali mile.
The question naturally arises Ii Mr. John
son is not shown to toe financially Interested
II. these competing Zines what is his OBJ
jet in lighting .Or them; Some OF his
friends Will say that he does 1t for the pub
lie good Some OF his enemies insist that
ms object IS selfish and political Some
others say that he is in the fight just for
the love OF the game There is no ques
ton that hr is in it and that il places him
IN position to make It mighty interesting
for politicians and business men of Cl@Ve-
land.
ny decision of the court last Tuesday
it was held that Mr.. johnson could not be
said to h- financially Interested in the com
petng roads. This is regarded Il signal
n All 4sf rail l.
way friends The principal basis of con-
tention in tn" injunCtions prayed by the
Cleveland Electric Company against the eS-
tabliShme mt of the thr-e-Cent fares has been
that Mr.. Johnson was financially concerned
in the competing line. in violation of the law
which prohibits a city official from being Il
party to any contract made under authority
OF the city council. There Were other OBJ
tectiOns of technical character, but this
is the keystone OF the arch. If the injunc-
tons prove ineffective there is nothing to
prevent the city council in the future as
the franchises expire, from renewing them
In favor of the three-Cent lines.
The only recourse Tor those who sympa-
th!ze with the Cleveland Electric Company
Is 10 elect "A city government common coun-
Gil and mayor which will refuse to grant
charter To the promoters of the three-cent
scht me. MIR Burton is going into the
campaign with the understanding that the
settlement Of the street car question is to
be left in his hands for thorough investi-
CATION and honest settlement on a basis
which in no event shall be less favorable
to the city than sew IN tickets for quar-
ter, without any zone IestriCtionS. with uni
VerSal transfers. sufficient cars to secure
adequate seating facilities and with the
tensions and terminals as required from
time TO tim+ by the council.
In another chapter | shall go at greater
length into the street car question. | have
made some inquiries into other conditions Of
the coming mdyoralty campa .gn. but / IS tCo
early 10 forecast the outcome. Mr.. Ihnson
has not bppn nominated alfhpIpb "a vi
be. and his platform has not been an
nounced. 1t is evident, however, that MIR.
Burton Will be required to oppose an exist
Ing political machine which controls every
branch of the city government and the
election machinery. Mr. johnson will have
a popular issue. 'hrer-cent car fares not
based on theory. but demonstrated by exist
Ing operation of fifteen miles of Enc.
The city ticket. which was nominal ted
with Mr.. Burton, will, it is said ALLEVIATE
the votes of a portion of several classes.
Some of the Germans have declared feud
against Mr.. Burton because a Tery popular
police justice was left off the ticket by Mr.
Burtons demand. 1t is said that organized
labor is resentful because it was not repre-
sented on the ticket. One of the candidates
on the ticket is bitterly opposed by many
OF the Catholics. portion of the negro
vote has threatened TO revolt because of
the attitude of Roosevelt and Taft on the
Brownsville matter. The greater part of
that class of voters who insist upon liberal
excise laws are fearful lest change of adj
u.inistration would put the lid on.
The present administration is very liberal
and gives the foreign element which is
very heavy among the voters. considerable
freedom. Mr.. Johnson will insist upon joint
debates. He is a rough and tumble fighter.
and Mr.. Burton is very conservative and
dignted The boys expect to some
lively scenes when the two come together.
Mr.. Johnson also proposes that there shall
be joint debate between each of the OPP
posing candidates on the rest of the city
ticket That is. the question of taxes, of
public improvements of control of city
funds. of disbursements. of public schools,
etc. shall he discussed between the two
candidates for the office under whose juris-
diction these questions would fall, leaving
the two principals to go at each other as
they may choose.
a statement will be given out by Repre-
sentative Burton within day or two which
will say that the interest of the national
administration In the mayoralty contest
has been exaggerated, and that, while
President Roosevelt consulted to
Mr.. Burtons candidacy. the President is
not backing that candidacy nor is he TAX
ing any share in the local campaign.
great many republicans have felt that
il unwise political move TO let the
impression get abroad that President
Roosevelt and Secretary Taft were taking
part IL the local campaign. Mr. Buttons
forthcoming statement is designed to allay
the irritation created by that impression
which had been permitted to get abroad.
y. o. NJ