The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-15
PEOPLE GET A SHOW
IN FRANCHISE CASES
Des Moines Method Is a Great
Contrast to the Secret and
Cumbersome Methods Un-
der the Old System.
10y Carl Bernhardt.)
ARTICLE 8,

At this point III the consideration "!
the Des Moines Plan. it may be We TO
stop for moment to see how the plan
actually works. was extremely for
tunate while in Des Moines to be there
at time when franchise was III The
process OF being considered and grant
ed. And it was not the least interest
ing day which | spent in Des Moine.' 10
be actually on the ground wheI this
was being done.
have already mentioned the fact
that for years the whole town OF Des
Moines has been disturbed in thu mat"
ter OF it's street car system. l have ex.
planned for prolonged period there
has been litigation over the question
as to whether the public service cor
poration really had franchise under
which 1t could do business in Des
Moines. This has Lei to serious im-
pairment of the street car service in
that city. which has worked a tremen-
dous hardship on the laboring men,
who rely on the cars for Transports
ton to and from their work. AS the
distances are enormous the question is
almost as vital as employment itself.
to say nothing of the rest of this town
of over one hundred thousand rinhab!-
tants scattered over an area Of fifty
four square miles. have mentioned,
also. that these evils grew out Of an
unsatisfactory handling of the city
affairs, which is so common un!e' tie
old form of government. Most of the
greatest troubles can be traced to the
form of government itself.
w.. Many Attempts Made.
Time after time. there had been at
tempts under the old government to
straighten out the trouble between the
citizens and the street car company.
These had all failed. 1t was not with
out serious charges that the street car
company conducted its attempts to set
tie the question. Graft and corrup.
tion were banded on every lip. The
people were in dismay. The manager
of the street car system was held for
Indictment by the grand jury on sever
al occasions and barely escaped by one
dissenting vote.
In the meantime, the Greater Des
Moines committee composed Of some
thirty of the most Influential men In
Des Moines), who make it their sole
business in this committee work, tc
better and boost the city. took hand
They went to see Mr.. Mckinley, of the
great Mckinley interurban syndicate
He agreed to come to Des Moines and
buy the system there II the city would
give him franchise which would
guarantee his rights.
System In Action.
This he did, and was In Des Moines
while was there investigating the
system of commission government. II
was under these conditions of great in
terest. that saw the commission form
Of government in action at their worl
Of granting franchise.
The small room in which the council
holds its deliberations. was packe-
with people. Representatives of Ia
Dor unions, the old street car officials
and the Greater Des Moines committee
together with many others. who hat
come out of interest or curiosity. There
were speeches from all these men-fo
the council had asked for a representa-
tive expression of public opinion. Th:
speeches were short and to the poinr
At length, Lafayette Young, Jr., tn:
president of the Greater Des Moir"t
committe, arose aud addressed tn
meeting.
"Gentlemen." he said. ''for years ",
have had nothing but talk on the sub
fect of the street railways. Everyoh
: Of us knows what the conditions are
We have had our discussion-when cal
we have action? will ask the coun
Gil how soon they can consider tn
matter. beg you that this matter b.
attended to at your earliest conven
ience''
Council Was Prompt.
rMreupon. the council, withols I.
slightest hesitation, replied. I'VE vii
consider the question Immediately az
er dinner" 1t was then twelve o'r'ork
sud ct exactly two o'clock that after
noon the council was in session ,eio
for work.
The Daylight Pan.
As the council adjourned. SAID I
Movor Mathis. 81 have been very mac
interested In the work you are doin
here: have you any objection ii I al
tc,.d your meeting this afterno1n:"
He .o:.sed at me moment in sn-
rvise. end very much feared tha. h
Continued on Page Eight.)