The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-05-10

man who's on the road 10 the gov"
ernorship and maybe to the White
House. Well. you aren't. You're what
Dick Horrigan made you, and your
future will be what Dick Horrigan
chooses TO make It, I lifted you up,
and can tear you down just as easy.
And, what's more. by ----, I'll do II II
you don't sign the Borough bill. I'm
man OF my word, and before ever
you were nominated | pledged my
word TO have that bill put through.
The bill paid your election expenses.
IT,
Il paid my own election expenses.
You know Tint"
"Your personal expenses, perhaps.
But who paid for Darades, halls. ban
ners, fireworks. speakers. advertise
ments, workers and watchers aud all
the other million things that elected
your The men behind that Borough
Bill paid them. And they did II on the
understanding you'd Sign the bill"
"In other words" remarked Ben.
nett, "you made bargain for me.
Well, can't keep It."
"ob, Ill keep II all right. You'll
sign that bill or you'll
"Mr Horrigan," exclaimed Bennett,
controlling his temper with more and
more difficulty. "you said something
just now about our coming to show
down. This Is the time for 1t. I want
you 10 remember henceforth that !
wear no mans collaf-yours or any
one elsc's--and that you can't deliver
any goods you've bargained for In my
name. Ii | sign that bill 1t won't be
under your orders, but because think
II right"
"0h," laughed Horrigan, who thought
he began TO see the drift OF the 9th
ers mind, Il don't hold out for that.
don't care why you sign 1t as long as
you do sign It."
What do you think about the blu
yourselfT' inquired Alwyn. do you
consider II honestg"
what do care? It's got to be
signed, and
II care. And | think the bill is
fraudulent"
Getting tender In the conscience.
aren't you? Well
III you PUT II that way, yes. | think
this Borough bill is crooked from first
to last, But''-
Whats the matter with 1t? Ain't'--
"Let me explain" pursued Alwyn.
"This blu gives the Borough Street
Railway company the right to use
whatever motive power they choose to-
Ii gives them the right to charge FIVE
cent fares without any transfers. In
one paragraph there's a clause permit-
ting them to build subway II they
want one. BY another paragraphs con-
cessions they can build conduit and
lease Ii out for telephone or telegraph
wires. BY another they can do an ex-
press business. But all these provi-
sions are as nothing compared to the
fact that the bill gives the streets
above and below ground to the Bor-
ough company forever and eyer-not
for a term Of years, but until the end
Of the world, Ii delivers that route to
the company not only for our time. but
for always. and binds US and our de.
scendants to Its terms. That Is the
chief outrage of the whole thing. To
think that the
"Oh, we've got bowling reformer
In the mayors seat, have we| scoffed
Horrigan. IF Id known that
"The people have got man who Is
trying to protect their rights and prop
erty. Here's letter received to-
day. You'll recognize the name Of the
capitalist who wrote 1t. You know he
Is honest as well as wise, This is his
proposition; He will pay 100000 for
that same franchise, give the city 10
per cent of the gross receipts and turn
over the whole plant to 1t at the end
of fifty years. What do you think Of
that|
'It's a fake"
ut is a bona fide offer. He volun-
teers to deposit $1,O00,0O0 to bind the
bargain. Now, what ! want to ask
you, Mr.. Horrigan, is this: II the fran
chise Is worth $2,000000, why are you
and your faction in the board of alder
men so anxious to give 1t away for
nothing|
Look herew clustered the boss.
"T"--
II am looking" returned Bennett
'rve been looking deeper into 1t than
you realize. | asked you question
Just now. I'll answer 1t myself in
one word -'Graftv That Is why you
want to give away franchise that Is
worth $2000,000.'
Graft" snorted Horrigan contemptu-
ously. "The same old reformer howl.
| What's your idea of graft anyway
Graft Is unearned increment, Money
to which the recipient has no legal or
moral right. That ISL
$50! Then show me the man who
amt CRATER! A lawyer shows his
client how to evade the law, and he
takes a fee for doing 1t. What's that
but graft2 A magazine takes pay for
printing ain advertisement Its editors
know is d fake. What's that? Graft!