The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-04-11

means. There is one feature OF the
contest which will have to be consld-
cred, regardless Of which side wins.
II 1t is any ways close the bitterness
between the candidates will continue,
and this bitterness will be carried
into the national convention so the
winner does not stand any more show
OF the presidential nomination than
he does now. This is the logical way
to consider the question from an I'M
biased standpoint.
The differences between Hartman,
the railroad magrate and President
Roosevelt has been intensified by the
former claiming that the latter was
mixed up In transactions IN Tue
campaign of 1904 which night be
considered questionable. The presi'
dent comes out and In the vernacular
Of the street says that Hartman Is a
liar. The country at large will take
AS little interest in this misnnder-
standing as the people OF Lemhi
county take In the controversy which
has been going on between The Re-
corder and the editor OF the other
paper. One thing that 1t will have
a tendency to prove to the general
public is that President Roosevelt
has to some extent lowered the dig
nifty Of bis exalted position by being
too free with the prerogative OF
every man of calling another a liar
] In the past two years Roosevelt has
settled several of bis controversies In
this manner; and the people will be-
gin to think after while that all
public men are liars except the preSi-
, dent OF the United States. II our
memory serves us right this is the
fifth or sixth instance in the past
two years In which the president has
! settled his controversies by calling
, some of the most prominent men In
( the nation liars. To some men the
! word liar Is a very handy epithet,
and to their small mind answers the
+ place of argument.
Z ~
We are not egotistical enough te
think that the idea of forcing those
having franchises to pay a part Of
! their gross earnings, into the nlunic
Y ipality was original with us, but WI
can hardly remember when we die
g not believe this was the proper thinl
! to do. The result of the municipal
e election in Chicago furnishes evi
Q dence of the fact that even the re
. publican party is coming to thi
y plan of settling the franchise ques
: ton. Busse, the republican nominee
D for mayor was elected by some four
J teen thousand on this issue alone
Q Dunno favored absolute city owner
q ship OF the street railways, Will
g Busse favored twenty year fran
Q chise, with five cent fare good TO
. any part Of the city, the Traction
t companies to pay fifty-five per cen
Q of the net earnings Of the business T.
!. the city. or course In a city th
| size OF Chicago, with such an enor
: nous street Car business, can well al
7 ford to pay a man for continuou
D services to look after the citys in
!. terest In the net income OF the bust
i ness. In an ordinary place like Sal
Q mon this could not be done, but !
s would take only an hours work of tn
q city clerk or chairman of the boar
: to 90 over the books of corporation
7 holding city franchise. This /
e why The Recorder commended tina
Il Mr.. Andrews should give a small pc
!. cent of the gross earnings Of the bus
e mess of his possible electric ligh
0 company to the city In place OF
r portion OF the net revenue.
!, 1t Is a reasonable proposition tina
4 a corporation or private individua
: would not ask city to give ther
the use Of its streets for any purpos
unless he or they anticipated goo
a returns from the favors thus granted
!, III the present electric light CON
n pany were asking for an extension c
q their franchise we would have jus
4 as strongly insisted that they b
!. made to give the city some comper
n sation for the use of It's streets
n Quarles 4 QuaIles now have cor
n tract with the city which the cit
can not abrogate without the consen
OF the grantees nor can the grantee
$ usurp privileges during the life Q
a their contract. We think 1t Is
great mistake for a city government
8 to grant franchises indiscriminately
!. Mr.. Andrews had perfect right t
4 ask for franchise to build and opel
!. ate another electric light plant. O
!. the other hand the board of vlilag
d trustees are the representatives 9
n the city and should safeguard til
;. rights Of the city, as we'll as tn