The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-03-11


 in the Dartmouth college case where they contended that a charter was the 1 same as a contract. Charters, he held, ought only to be a license and as such subservient to the will of the people. Talking of vested rights, nine out Of every ten cases he maintained ought, he said. to be termed vested wrongs. The lack of interest in city affairs by re- spectable citizens had brought into American politics the "boss" The cit ies without bosses, he said, were few and far between. He had even heard of them since he came to New Haven Coud applause.) By virtue of the power conferred upon him the 'boss, " MT. Head contended, was one of the most dangerous objects of American political life to-day. When it came to local government western cities, he said, were far ahead of those in the east.
 Mr. Head spoke at length of his la bors as mayor of Nashville and of some of the reforms that had been brought about during his term of office. He told how. on taking office, that he found the gas company's franchise was about expired, and how he made set clement that after ten years the city should have the right to purchase the works at valuation exclusive of any franchise values. The company also voluntarily reduced the gas from $l5O to $1, and also agreed to pay the city 5 per cent. of the gross income, and this was what he thought a corporation ought to pay to every city which gives | 1t its rights and protection. (Applause). The public, he contended, should come first and dividends second and corpora tions which were not satisfied to do that ought to go out of business and hand it over to the public (applause).
 Speaking of the electric lighting of the city, they were playing to the local company, when he took hold of office, sS5 for each arc light and IS cents per kilo for lights for private use, They ultimately reduced the former to $65 and the latter to 10 cents. The city, which was paying before over $490OO per year for lights, was now getting double the light for the sum of $23 350O.
 MT. Head asked what they were pay ling in New Haven, to which some one lreplied 12 cents per lSilo, which brought forth the remark that he always had been told that the Yankee business man was shrewd and far-seeing. At the above price, MT. Head claimed, they were only making a profit of some 400 per cent.
 MT, Head also referred to trouble he had with the telephone company, which, he said was charging to muoch, and now the city made the company bay a tax of S1 per box and an ad va lorem tax on poles and other materials. This was done after the city had been fought from one court to another, a final decision being at last handed down in favor of the city for that amount. The people, he stated, were so enraged over this obstructionary &C., ton by the company that they have passed @ law giving any company the Isame rights throughout the state as the present company has,
 Street car litigation was another thing referred to by Mr. Head in his address. He contended that the peo- lple ought to have the right to have satisfactory transportation and should be in position, when not properly supplied, to take over the business and control it. A public official, MT Head Iheld, was sometimes placed in a pecu- liar position, for he was abused by his enemies and suspected by his friends. MT. Head concluded his address with a strong appeal to the young men to study the problems of city government and take an active interest in the same. l During the delivery of his address MT, Head was intently listened to and fre- quently applauded,
 Mayor ]. B. DfmmiclI of Scranton, Pa, was the first speaker introduced by President Hadley. He told of his entry into political fife and the various Iexperienees he had met with as mayor of Scranton. The only "boss" they know in Scranton now is the people. He had Introduced the merit system which Imade it impossible for loungers to ex- list. Since taking hold of office he had divided the city funds equally among the city's responsible bankiig institu- tions and every penny of their money was made to bear interest. Every off cial had to give his whole duty to- wards the community. and every mar from the highest to the lowest had tC realize fidelity to business and ws made to know that political power Vcould neither make nor mar him. The saloons were tightly close on Sunday but he had permitted so-called socia centers where boys could play baseball on Sunday without interfering with tho general cuiet and repose of the day He had also permitted Luna park tC iopen on Sundays with music, but nC exhibitions to be given and he had alsC allowed Sunday evening concerts under certain conditions.
 He also spoke of the efficient police department of Scranton Want ot funds, he claimed. was the greatest l T 1