The San Francisco call., 1908-07-18
UNCONSCIOUS ACCESSORIES TO AN OUTRAGE

" from training affiliations appears
unable understand that the public has any rights which
the United Railroads bound respect 1t
that these officials by They
suffer from an unfortunate state mind that governs their attitude
toward the public corporations generally had
pudes been commonly known and recognized before election
the result have been the defeat of these the polls
may be that they do for Office but that does free them
from the obligation of considering public questions point
Of of their constituents In other relations Of municipal
these supervisors useful and valuable but this single
held they occupy the position OF attorneys for the public
corporations.
These prompted by stand taken by certain
supervisors IN relation to the controversy the Suffer
railway franchise This the public corporation
maintaining monopoly of the ciys principal thoroughare by
trick and by refusing sort OF compensation the city for
franchise capitalized millions This corporation
doze the supervisors giving everything nothing by
subecng travelling public inconvenience and by working
the situation reduced simplest argument of
any offered on the other side except that the controversy
hurts business" Undoubtedly business but why?
Because managers are using an advantage
position unfairly and dishonesty obtained to denv ms; public
demand Because they secured franchise by bribery they think
they ought be given another for nothing presumably by
reward Does anybody dispute the facts
We quite that certain citizens of prominence
activity protesting to represent this that civic body have
appeared before the supervisors in support proposition
make ratutous grant OF the franchise question the
aoad out the single argument they have urged deals with the
inconvenience to the travelling public arising from the present
or That inconvenience Railroads
oaCkal the city INTO granting npudent demand These super
OF whom have spoken gentlemen repre-
senng bodies making themselves accessories to an
attempted outrage the public
Let suppose the time approaches for the exp
ton OF existing franchises the United Railroads should determine
service or substitute osecars all over te c
Tor year. unless 1t granted franchises for
tree OF all compensation the city, that would analogous
would hurt business" We do not doubt that He
same supervisors and the civic gentlemen would found
urging another surrender the corporation
We do not believe that these gentlemen protesting repre-
sent civic bodies truly representative this matter and we
venture to say that II the question submitted
ses Tor vote their action would be decsvely epudiated by
the membership
The labor council which has made full examinations of the
facts and history OF this question
careful report condemning the proposed grant No attempt
been made by OF the corporation advocates
showing The single that the present
business and therefore the city its rights
This is simply and nakedly form of blackmail
The Call does charge that these supervisors others
VINO advocate the grant consciously this bold
INVASION OF the pubics rights There inmaon dis
honesty corruption but is the fact that their has
onscued their Judgment that they unable things
they really with the result that of them working the
same KIND OF mischief the city the boodlers did hire