Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-02-12

(Public Service, Chicago, FEB, l9OS)
Such reckless promotions as the
one described In this article not only
brings disaster and opprobrium upon
the people directly interested in them
but tend to intensity the general and
unfounded district Of soundly organ
lied and capably managed public
utility corporations that prevails In
some communities. When, in order
to induce the granting of "a fran
chise, promoters promise to provide
a public utility mt rates known to be
inadequate to meet the cost of fur
nishing that utility, they attemp. the
impossible, and the result can be
nothing but failure, bringing disap.
pointment, disgust and financial loss
to the misled community. We
submit that 1t is the duty of city
governments to protect the people
against such palpable frauds.
Omaha is not as proud Of its "in.
dependent" telephone company as It
expected to be. The reality turns
out so completely and amazingly
different from the prospect that the
thousands of good Omaha citizens
who voted to give the independent"
franchise are wondering why they
have faith in human promises.
The Independent" telephone
movement Is responsible for many
, cases Of bald Misrepresentation and
, reeking fraud, but its Omaha case Is
q the very superlative Of bad faith and
. constituencies manipulation. The
promoters of the game, as Is usual,
/, promised the impossible and deliver
q ed something else. The same trick
q had been turned in many American
cities before, but the knowledge o.
10 this fact did not prevent majorit!
a of electors In Omaha from votin,
" away the privilege for the game II
W their city two years ago last Novem
"a ber.
n AS an extenuating circumstanc
"A for the people OF Omaha, let 1t b
,r said that the game, In Its prosperity
ir form, is most alluring--most an
community will fall for It" to us
De the language OF the chance-takin
or fraternity. Some suave and nicel
~ dressed gentlemen appear upon u
,o scene with tn announcement th'
-, they have come to relieve the dei
!. people of the exactions Of grin
IA ing monopoly" In furthering tn
no relief work, these patriotic gentl
,.h men beg most eloquently to be
~ lowed to invest large sums OF mon
mr. in the city in the construction OF
ost telephone plant. Most any ci
an likes to welcome Investments.
Bid for Labor Vote.
a. Furthermore, these capital-lad
gentlemen point out that the &C
struction OF the plant will give wo
to a large number OF men, and
operation of the plant, after II
ern completed, will furnish perman'
APP employment to many. A good tn
be say all, for the Industrial devel
ment OF the city. But the gr
ing prize offered Is superior teleph'
oc- service AT rates much less than
ady city has ever heard OF before,
course, the promoting gentlen
gus say, this is to be a great and pre-
ssh- able business enterprise, II Is not
and be merely a philanthropic endea'
OF and the good people of the town
has be let in on the profits. Becaus
with local financial interest will work
eks' the future welfare OF the busln
Wall street Is TO be deprived OF
ness opportunity to invest In the en-
,cia- prise and what bonds and stocks
nily be spared by the hackers OF the
has moters will be graciously sold
dur local people on basis that
for bring at least 10 per cent annu'
rong How cruel TO shut grasping
rned street out OF such splendidly pa
Is to securities! But poor Wall stre'
Mrs. used to being deprived OF t
burg ,25 and SO per cent securities
land. even had to stand aside and se
these OF Mhler's So per cent Franklin
their dicate securities go into the b
thing of frugal workingmen and conf
widows.
After voting a franchise 70
y. ,romoterH. Omaha got Its Ind