The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-04-30
A RE MINDER
The Traction lempany's Election Tuesday, May 2nd-
Fares for School ChiIdren-TranSfer and Their
YaIue-DaIIaS a Pattern for Shreveport

and adopt such reasonable regulations
for the issuance of said tickets as may
be necessary to protect itself from i'm
POSITION
Why should the company require the
purchase of tickets in lots of 25c and
ST 90 at it's office And if it be incon
venient, or should a parent neglect or
forget to buy such tickets, as specified,
would his child receive a return check
on paying its nickel to the conductor
when on its way to school?
Would the conductor take the child'S
nickel and would the child be deprived
of its return privilege to its home from
which it started to school with its
Nickel
In all fairness and to avoid misun-
dcrstanding and friction, if should have
been stipulated in plain words i'll the
ordinance that any child on going TO-
school. etc, on paying the conductor five
cents would receive a check or coupon
as evidence emitting it to return ride
from school to its home.
IN A PUBLIC SCPIRIT
/ The Traction Company through its
allies and friends declare that their de-
mands for the extension of their fran
chises should be granted through a pub
lie spirit.
This appeal could not apply to this
corporation, which has never of its own
volition fulfilled its requirements.
As an illustration look at the condi-
ton of the streets along its tracks,
which are in many places dangerous and
threatening the wreck of any vehicle al
any time night or day.
But, seriously, is the Traction Com
pany entitled to any consideration or
the plea of public spirit.
When has such a public spirit beer
manifested or evidenced by this cor
poration?
1t is cited among its concessions tc
the city for franchises estimated to be
of several hundred thousand dollars val
nation, that it will keep the streets along
its tracks in repair, that it will operate
midnight and early o'clock morning
cars, and that it will improve its serv:
ice, for which the people are asked tc
extend the Io4I franchise to 1854. 4
What would be the unreserved opin
ion of the public of any business mar
who would expect his patrons to pay fol
the improvements needful to the in
crease of his trade? But this is what thu
Traction Company wants the citizens o
Shreveport to do.
A MONETARY VIEW.
The issue simplihed is, without bia!
or prejudice: Why should the citizen:
of Shreveport give away a valuable
franchise without some fixed valuation
in return
1t was suggested that the company il
consideration of the extensions of theiI
franchises should agree to pay to th'
city of Shreveport 2 per cent of its gros!
receipts on all the cars of the operating
lines beginning from the year 1921, bu
such a suggestion fell fiat; nor woulC
they entertain the stipulation whereof.
in the event of legal proceedings, tht
i case would not be taken to the UniteC
States Court for trial, where it woulc
probably linger for years, but should be
left in the courts of the State for speedy
[ settlement.
This point Is all-important and coult
not be minimized.
From u monetary view the fact is pre-
J, sentcd that the company must have
money for the Improvement of the serv-
ice; that this money is expected to bt
raised on bonds. This is conceded, bu
why should not this company, which has
obtained all its franchises simply for
the asking, be required to do for Shreve
port as others are doing, for instance
VALUE OF TRANSFERS.
In answer to Inquiries for information
we Subhit the replies, conde4sed as fol
lows:
Mayor of Meridian, Miss "WouIt
not grant extension of franchise fol
consideration of transfers. The dat,
referred to, beyond Io4f, is too far il
the future to be considered at this time
/ Mayor Of San Antonio. , Texas: .
would not be willing to grant extension
of franchise for a consideration o.
trasfers. | would not grant exclusive
right to streets to one company. Chill
Edren under II and school children hal
/ fare (2r-2c) with privilege Of transfer
, to any line"
\ Mayor of Chattanooga, Tenn: -
would hardly be willing under any cir
cumstances to extend franchise now il
force | would think universal transfers
!. by NO MEANS a compensation for
4 such extension