The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-08-10
THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
TRACTION COMPANY.

TRACTION COMPANY.
The Traction Company is corpora
ton which has acquired valuable privi-
Ieges and franchises for song.
The City Council is body of men
elected to represent and TO safeguard to
the utmost limit the welfare Of the
people. &ss
AS corporation the Traction COM
pany should be placed in the attitude of
IN individual seeking valuable privileges
from the city. II should receive the
fullest recognition, measurable by what
Is generally known as the medium Of
.the square deal.
Standing then. in a fguratiye sense,
ii the presence of the Council as an in
dividual, the councilmen who are pre-
sumed to have i greater interest i'll the
well-being of the people than in cor
poration, II should be fully debited and
credited with all It has received from
the city and all II has done for the
community Then having cast the ball
ance, applying to this corporation the
measurement as il an individual, it will
Be pertinent for the Council to query
and to demand why greater privileges
should Be granted to the Traction COM
pany than this company now enjoys.
The Traction Company has a rnorlop-
oily of the best streets. 1t practically
controls the street car system OF the
future. Indeed. it can dictate whatever
fernls Il would impose on any other
company venturing active operation iii
Shreveport.
Already powerful beyond the limits
81 III reasonable equity and common
sense, It is proposed to grant il priyi-
leacs which II i few years will be
ranged Ia value aggregating near mil
lion dollars. And for whatf
For tsansfersi
What Is the value OF the transfers.
Al this time Il would seem that
greater importance than II deserves Sc
sioualy Is being given the transfer Ques-
flan By season 81 the fact that people
seeking advertisement 90 to Gladstone.
the only pHhiic resort for recreation.
Awaiting themselves Of this fact the
advocates Of transfers are vigorous in
their activity, which unnecessarily IS
operating ii the interests 81 this corr
potation, which, if il possessed the least
particle 81 appreciation for the grants
i has already received from the Ceun-
Ell. wonld long since have aeknowl-
edged their obligation by the voluntary
grant 81 transfers as are in force ia
other towns and cities. Had the Trac-
ton Company BEEN stimulated BY some
degree cf generous reciprocity il would
today stand high IN the popular esteem.
AS II Is today, il has aroused d resent
iii spirit an the part OF many of the
eigixens Of Shreveport, and yet. when
viewed Il its attitude Of : corporation
81 al ifldividslal srasping for greater
power. il Is not unlike one who is never
satisfied but il ever srasping and reach
ing f0r rnorss power OF control.
Alter I'LL. the responsibility must rest
ID tie City Council. who must be held
to aceounk for giving away valuable
privileges 70 8 corporation which has
returned but little 70 the community.
and i depoiyes on the Council IN au-,
lhoxisy today to not grant any conces-
sion to the Traetion Company unless
there is received in return the fullest
Yrlns By the city.
Lei no good citizen who has at heart
IIle welfare 81 the community be inisled
81 deceived b. the cry Of transfers.
While transfers are desirable and the
people should have them il were folly
% yield. nos only a principle but right
dirsasea ID the broadest spirit Of equity
simply fer transfers. which should be
forthcoming voluntarily
Seriously, Il the question oil transfers
II consideration Of the extensions of
valuable franchises Be submitted at the
sneelsns Of the Council toniaht, il is to
s. hoped that : majority OF the peoples
sensasives win set the scheme at
rest. 1t least sot while, 81 voting
ssainst Ii
Il. IA