The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-01-23

Sense-Lay Aside All Prejudice to
View the Question Fairly and Hon
estfy-Why Give Away Value for
a Pittance?
In its several issues the Caucasian has
presented the side of the people fairly
and honestly in the contention arising
in the City Council over the extension
of several franchises of the Shreveport
Traction Company for WHICH, in aeon
pensatory sense, there is offered pit
tance
1t may be asserted without the posi-
bility of denial that the Council of the
City of Shreveport occupies today an
attitude most extraordinary, and with
out parallel in the history of munich
palities.
If there has ever been a doubt as to
where the majority of the Council stood
in their relation to the Traction Com
pany and the people, the uncertainty
has been dispelled by the bold cham
pionship of the pretenses of this cor
poration.
However, while credit may be given
to the friends of this corporation that
they are actuated by the best of mo-
tives, yet their attitude is indefensible
when measured dispassionately from
the view of the people who have the
right to demand some safeguards and
protection from grasping corporations.
A corporation should be treated as
would be an individual, fairly and hon
estly, but no corporation should be
granted any special privileges and rights
which would be denied to the citizen.
Where is the citizen of Shreveport
who in his personal capacity would
have been given the consideration which
has been accorded to the Traction Com
pany?
THE MUNICIPAL RECORD.
To sustain this ascertain, we cite page
80 of the record of the City Council of
December 8, 1892, when Mr.. Sco6eld, at
a meeting of the Council held on that
date, asked permission to read pro-
posed ordinance, in which some gentle
men present, as then stated, were inter-
-ested, before the regular business of
this session was taken up, and there be-
ing no objection, the reading was grant
ed. The document read was an ordi-
rance providing the extension of the
franchise now held by the Traction
Company to the year 1917. At that date,
1902, the charter extended had several
years to run, but the parties interested
took time by the forelock and obtained
franchise whose value can not now be
computed fairly in dollars and cents.
At this meeting of the Council, De
cember 8. 1892, there were six members
present, two of whom voted no; be-
sides, the city attorney at that time pro-
tested against the proceeding as being
irregular, the record of which is un-
signed by the Mayor It is conceded
that at that that date the people were not
actively concerned in the every day use
of street cars nor in franchises and
transfers as now, as the town their had
a limited population and there was va
cant a vast area on which there have
been erected many homes. AT any rate,
at this meeting, whose validity may be
questioned in a legal sense, the Traction
Company acquired valuable concession
for a song, to which have been added
other franchises, which in the aggregate
may represent valuation of a half
million Of dollars
All this, and more. the Traction Com
pany did obtain simply for the asking.
Since that date the Traction Company
has been alert to its interests and has
been III evidence silently in every adj
ministration of the city, and singular as
it may seem, it has apparently ma
iority of. the members of the present
Council
IF THE CITY COULD RECALL ITS
GRANTS.
It is only in recent years, when the
value of franchises has dawned upon
/ the people, and therefore whatever may
be obtainable from this source should
be exacted fairly.
IF the city could recall all the waltz
able grants it has given away
Is it not time to call halt in this
giving away of privileges which in years
to come will possess great values? Why
tshouid we cheat posterity of their just
dues?
Had not the Council on December 8,
1902, extended the franchises of the
line which is part of the belt, and had
it been permitted to lapse at the date
originally fixed for its termination, it
would have commanded a price in keep
ing with its need by the Traction Com
paf1y.