The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-02
THE M ETALS
BLACKS BRILLIANT IDEA.

BLACKS BRILLIANT IDEA.
Councilman T. r. Black. patriot, re-
former, and leader of the American"
party in the council, has evolved a
thought He would tax the street rail
way company for the franchise extern
sions it needs to improve its system,
and make the tax on a sliding scale.
Also he would insert a proviso in the
agreement to be made whereby the
city would have the right 70 acquire
the company's property by paying a
stipulated percentage price. The de-
tails are not important; the main thing
is that Black originated the plan.
On general principles, franchises for
use of the city's streets ought TO pay
some return to the people, and thav re-
turn should be based on the gross
earnings of the concern using the
streets. Heretofore Salt Lake has not
exacted any such compensation for
franchises, and if the record is .re1nera-
bered Alright this council, including
Black, has given some important new
franchises without discussing comp;n-
sation to the city of any kind
X < X
As business proposition, however,
it will strike the public that Blacks
proposal lacks some of the convincing
factors which go to guarantee the sin
certify of the idea. Black and his COM
mittee on municipal laws have had the
street car request for extension of
lines and other material notifications
of franchise before them for months
For some obscure reason they have de-
layed and postponed and fooled away
time until with summer almost gone
the company is still without assurance
as to what it may expect.
A committee bent on transacting
public business expeditiously would
have either granted or refused the
privileges in ten days at the outside
But, after months of hesitation, Black
brings up a new scheme of his own
evolution.
Why? Is it to protect the public or
delay the game further? Who is going
TO profit ultimately by the game? Just
what combination is urging it; and for
what reasons?
1t may be good business to postpone
the reconstruction and Improvement of
Salt Lakes transportation lines: but
if II is Black has failed to show why
it is a good thing. The expenditure of
from three to four millions may be I'M
important 10 the city as compared with
Blacks assessment scheme, but as
practical prOft-gaineT, the people
would probably prefer to have the
street car money spent at once and the
improvements made available some
time this year or next rather than wait
Blacks pleasure and retain the hope
lessly inadequate system they now
have.
Mr.. Hartman bought the broken
down, dilapidated, demoralized system
in Salt Lake as an investment: lie
stands ready TO put millions into it
and wait for his returns from The
growth of the city and the encoura Ee-
ment OF travel; he says he wants TO
make it the best street railway system
in the country. II is barely possible
Mr.. Hartman may be unable TO see
the friendliness of Blacks game: and
IL is always within the possibilities
that the new owner of the system NAV
conclude his improvements are not
wanted in a city where the council
leaders propose TO tax enterprise. dis
courage expenditure and hold up the
first man who shows any indications
of progressive faith in the future of
the city.
Blacks plan ought to be called AN
Ordinance to Discourage Hartman"
That, or some much ugler title would
fit it exactly.
The Herald holds no brief for Mr.
Hartman, but it does believe that his
acquisition of the street car line prom
ises more for Salt Lake in actual cash
gain than ten times the tax Black pro-
poses to place on Harriman's invest
ments here. The city and valley heed
better transportation. The suburbs
have been held back by poor service
or lack of service; the city itself has
--4.s-A