The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-12-14
TRANSFER STATUS
It is Made Plain by Councilman J.
New. Ford.

Ss@S~S~N
New. Ford.
The issue of transfers as applied to
the Traction Company and the City
Council has bee in lively agitation fol
months and the end is not in sight
If it had not ben for the deter
mined position of the eouncilmen, haV'
ing a greater interest in the welfare
of the people than in the Traction
Company, the transfer issue, which in,
wolves valuable extensions, would have
been settled long since in favor of the
corporation.
The question of transfers has in q
sense, been discussed to a FRAGILE, at
least in the Caucasian, whose sole aim
and porpose is, and has been to sufe-
guard the people against the unfair
demand of the company.
In a communication to the pubulic,
Councilman J. New. Ford has given in
a concise statement the status of the
several ordinances which have been
before the City Council recently, en-
bracing the ordinances by Mr.. Boden-
heimer, Mr.. Seofield and Mr.. Lowen-
thai.
In his summary, Councilman Ford
says:
The RESIDENTIAL differences in the
Seofield and Lowenthal ordinances are
First-No invalid franchises are val
dated.
Second-Sehool children and stu
dents attendink colleges in Shreveport
secure cent transfers, good during
vacation.
Third-Transfers are good at any
point ON any line other than one on
which passenger pays fare from any
point on first line-on next passing
car.
This right is a safeguard for the
Traction Company by the regulations
and penal ordinances.
Fnnrth-First car to Leave earlier
during March and April.
Fifth-Policemen, etc., and inmates
of charitable institutions secure free
transportation.
Sdxth-The accommodation Of the
public by requiring enough cars, made
obligatory.
Seventh-Maintenan of paved road
beds written into ordinance.
Eighth-Five ieent fare to Fair
Grounds.
Ninth-Protective appliances requir-
ed,
Tenth-A submission to election at
which qualified voters owning prop
erty are electors.
Modest requirements, arethese not
The difference between the ordi-
nances of the three councilmen named
could have been stated with even great
er brevity had Mr.. Ford been so in
clined. He could have said, as the
Caucasian would say, that though the
ordinances of Mr.. Bodenheimer and Mr..
the Traction Company would
have been vested with all their de-
mands while the people would have
been left with a transfer privilege,
which practically would have failed
to meet the anticipation of the public,
in connection of the exclusion of fran
chises whose value in dollars and cents
cannot now be cumputed fairly.
It is fortunate for the people that
the Traction Company has failed to
secure from the council what they had
assumed could be obtained almost for
the asking, as in the years past, when
the council esteemed it an honor to
grant this corporation every request
and every demand which would
strengthen its hold on the city
Fortunately in the present contest,
it is not quite so easy, indeed it would
seem impossible for the Traction Com
pany to secure majority of the coun-
cilmen, who, apparently have greater
interest in the people than in the
Traction Company, have the unquali-
fled influence and support of Mayor
Dickson.
From the Caucasian's view Of the
question and all that which is involv-
ed in the issue of transfers as pre-
sented in the interests Of this company,
it would be almost crimianl to yield
to any request or demand, which may
IEot be equivalent to the value of the
extension of the franchises desired
Is it possible nor it is probable,
that the anxiety of the Traction Com
pany to secure the extension of their
franchises may be due to some offer
of purchase by men reputed to be cap.
litalists who desire to place invest
ments in Shreveport.
At any rate, it is clear that the fran
ehises if extended to the limit desired
by the Traction Company would possess
a greater value than without an ex.
tension.
All that for which the Caucasian
would plead lis in brief: A square
deal for the city and the people.