The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1911-10-26

should be submitted to those OF Us
who are present before any use 10
made OF it,
"Oh that. of course" said LiRey.
Chief. don't make any moves without
submitting them to me-"
There is still another matter Of
interest to US all which must BE- set
tied" continued Haldans.
whats that!"
THE old franchise of the New York
Street Car company that expires this
spring: the link that completes the
circle OF the Gotham Freight Traction
| company"
We'll. it doesn't seem to me that's .
very difficult proposition" said A6ey.
We've got the board Of aldermen.
and the borough presidents ~ well.
All we've got to do is to draw up an
ordinance and shove 1t through. The
mayor here'll sign It. and thatn b
the end of it."
1T is by no means a. easy ~ you
think, Liffey." said Haldane. If
know anything about Gormly he'll
make fight on that issue. That 10
our weak point II We had that fran
chise safely passed and In our pock.
cts. We could laugh at him. don't
know whether 1t would not be better
to defer the passage of such an ordi-
nance until after the election"
Il think that while there is much
In what you say. Haldane." said Van
Slyke, yet we'd better make sure OF
the ordinance before the election.
We would have that. anyway. even II
we failed. which. as Mr.. Liney says.
10 hardly possible"
Gentlemen" said Haldane. Il am
say. tell you that the main fight
will be on the disposal Of that very
franchise. l admit that We can pass
anything in spite Of any commotions.
but the question is do we want it."
That's hardly the question:" said
Mcdonald. "Of course we want IT.:
but the question Is. 10 It the best
thing to do. think there 10 tremend-
Gus force in your arguments, Mr.. Hal.
dane. II we present ourselves with
that franchise which is SO immensely
valuable and vital indeed to the com.
pletion of our properties. a. we'll as to
the public. we shall certainly have
given to the opposition the strongest
ground for appeal to the people. II
we do not present ourselves with the
franchise. II We allow the election to
determine that unonicially as 1t were.
and then when we have won the cleo
tion. we avail ourselves Of our oppor>
tunities. we shall be In . much safer
and better position"
"Do you wish to submit this fran.
chise to the vote Of the people. Mr..
McRonald?" asked Rutherford.
"By no MEANS" answered the finan'
cier.
"Well. what do you propose then? p
"This. Would 1t not be well. In
case this movement grows strong
enough to be worthy Of the attention
We are giving it. to declare as from
the party in power that while we have
the power to grant the franchise. and
while we think it would be for the
interests of the people that 1t should
be granted. yet We are willing to de
fer action until after the election and
let the election determine"
THAT would be wise course" said
Haldane. II don't know but that 1t ID
the wisest course; but we must face
the alternative"
What IL that?"
Defeat! II We made that PROPOSE
ton, and then were defeated, II
would be impossible for us to secure
the franchise. The stock Of the
Gotham Freight Traction company ID
$3.50, 900, 900, and the bonds outstand.
ing aggregate almost as much. II
we don't have this franchise, they
won't be worth ten cents on the dollar
to US"
How much actual money has been
invested in the concerh?" asked the
district attorney.
Two hundred and nifty millions
from the people. and-very little
else," answered Haldane.
How much IL It really worth r
queried Liffey.
IT'S worth. Of course. what was
put into it."
And what will its earning capacity
be7"
IT we control it, 1t will pay fair
dividend on all the stock that has
been put out, most Of which Is held
by our friends and the friends of the
organization" answered Van Slyke.
The problem was a tremendous one.
They faced 1t silently a moment or
two, and at last Haldane restated 1t.
You see, we can. If necessary. defy
public opinion and jam through an
ordinance at the last minute even II
we are likely to lose the election, al.
though by so doing we should give the
enemy a tremendous advantage at
the close Of the campaign. Or we can
defer the granting Of the franchise
until after the election. in the hope
that the postponement will be our
strongest card for winning. tell you.
gentlemen, that other interests Of
greater. magnitude would be involved
in the fate Of the Gotham Freight