The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-01-20

Favorable ana AppreC1dt1Ve fEoIlll
nence.
The decision by Judge Murf in the
suit against the Traction Company
handed down yesterday, was surprise
as disagreeable as it was unexpected by
the pleaders for that corporation.
The gist of the opinion, which is
comprehensive in its plain yet forceful
presentation, is that Mayor Dickson
acting through Looney & Scheen, attor-
neys, has cause for action against the
Traction Company, which under the in
depreciation of the Lorenz franchise is
bound to issue transfers over all the
lines of street cars operated by the
Traction Company.
In palmer words, the Traction Com
pany must carry out and fulfill all the
obligations imposed by the ordinance
providing and governing the Lorenz
franchise.
In the ordinance it is provided that
whenever the Lorenz franchise shall be
acquired by some other Company or
corporation operating street cars to
within 800 feet of each other, that uni
versal transfers shall be granted on all
liens being operated by the company or
corporation acquiring the Lorenz fran
chise
The Traction Company dissents from
this view 1t has never conceded that it
could be governed by such an interpre-
tation by law and it has attempted 10
evade the issue in various and devious
ways. ..-..
The Traction Company has exerted
a powerful influence in the affairs of
the city, as indicated by the records of
the City Councils in the past, and it has
apparently a strong control in the pres
ent Council of the city if its action is
indication of this declaration.
There has been in progress in the
City Council for several months a con-
test over the grant of franchises sought
by the Traction Company, which has
been resisted by Mayor Dickson and a
minority of the Council
The Mayor and a minority of the
Council have been unwilling to sell the
birth right of the city of Shreveport
for a mess of potash, as would quote
one of the Caucasian's friends. The
Mayor and this minority have been con-
testing the pretensions of the Traction
Company, and he and this minority have
been striving to protect the interests of
the people.
Why should a majority of the Coun-
ell be willing and ready to give to the
Traction Company valuable grant for
the privilege of transfers, which will be
secured through process of law without
conceding to this corporation value to
which it is not entitled, fairly and hon
estly.
Why should the majority of the
Council have impeded the proceedings
instituted through the Mayor for the
purpose of compelling the Traction
Company to comply with the terms of
the agreement, especially applying to
transfers, as provided in the Lorenz
franchise?
Is it possible that this majority of the
Council can have greater interest in
the Traction Company than in the peo-
pie?
Why has not the Council joined the
Mayor in this litigation against the cor
poration?
Why has a majority of the Council
sanctioned the call for an election when
through a judicial decree the Traction
Company can be made to comply with
its contract without giving it some val
liable consideration, for practically
song of discordant tune.
The majority of the Council can not
have recourse to the plea that the peo-
pie should be left to decide the issue
which is pending in court and on which
there has been expressed a ruling fav
orable to the people and to the acquire
ment of transfer privileges without Civ
ing away valuable consideration for a
pittance.
What is styled a referendum is sim
ply a subterfuge It is. string tied by
the so-called ordinance of the Council,
who by its majority have announced that
they will be governed by the referen-
dunn only in SO far as it may suit their
purpose. Practically should there be a
majority vote cast at this so-called ref
erendur1 against the grant of the Trac-
ton Cempany's demand, the majority of
the Council would ignore it. This is the
plain Interpretation of intent as written
and printed in this ordinace.
Fortunately all the people can not be
misfed, nor are they all idiots; nor will
they be a1fured from a plain duty by the
promises of transfers, which as pro-