Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-11

factors, and the other in which Senator
Hanna was the power. These lines were
later consolidated as the Cleveland Eiec-
trio Railway Company, and. in the pro-
cess Of consolidation, Johnson was frozen
out. His company had been giving seven
fares for a quarter. while the other line
charged cents each fare. After the
absorption the five-cent fare was uni
versal.
AS soon as he had taken his oath as
mayor, johnson opened the first broad
side for three-cent fare and for prevention
of extension of franchises on various
streets. excepting upon that basis. Four
teen Injunction suits, three of which went
to- the United States Supreme Court. were
brought during the early stages of the
duel The most exciting incident of the
fight in it's earlier stage. however. came
in 1902 when franchise prepared by
Mayor johnson. providing for three-cent
fares and the right of the city to buy
the lines at any time, was introduced
and passed.
Charter Declared Null and Void.
Then the lawyers for the railway went
into court and commended that the charter
of the city Of Cleveland was null and
void, being class or special legislation.
The courts had known this all along, but
had winked at it for nearly forty years.
The issue was forced, however, and the
courts ruled that such was the case not
only with Cleveland, but with other Ohio
cities. A special session of the laeisla-
ture had to be called to pass a new code
granting a charter to all cities affected
by the courts decision.
Again Johnson began plans for a three
cent rare company. 1t was necessary.
though, to get around the Ohio laws,
which prevent a city from owning or
operating street car lines. He accom-
plished this by organizing the Forest City
hallway Company. to be operated under
lease by the Municipal Traction Com
pany, to which the council. controlled by
the mayor, granted franchise, which
was found, however, to be illegal on the
ground that some of the necessary per-
m,ts from property owners had been re-
voked This tied the matter up another
two years. In the meantime Johnson was
reelected.
As fast as the different street line fran
chises of the old company expired. a pro-
Johnson council voted them over to the
Forest City line and construction was
begun. On some streets both companies
had franchises and double sets of
tracks were laid. On one street the coun-
Gil ordered the old company to set its
tracks over to make room for the new.
When the mandate was not obeyed.
out one morning and quickly tore up
much Of the line before an injunction
could be served. He kept on with the
work. though, after getting the courts
johnson fought the proceedings and won
out in the supreme court.
The fight dragged on merrily through
eight years, every technicality that pre-
scented itself was taken advantage Of by
Johnson's enemies, but the line at length
began giving service on the three-cent-
fare basis.
Municipal Line Lost Money.
Contrary to Mayor Johnson's conten-
ton that in Cleveland a street railway
could make a reasonable profit and pay
dividends on a three-cent-fare basis, his
municipal line lost money. and, besides.
the service was poor. Gradually the
mayo's ideas lost caste with the people,
and when he came up for reelection in
November. 1909, he was defeated by a
Cleveland Electric Railway Company pro-
ceeded to take over the three-cent fare
lines by purchasing the stock and reor-
ganiztng and five-cent fares were again
in vogue and are now.
After his defeat Johnson announced
that his fight for three-cent fares and
against monopoly in Cleveland had cost
him practically his entire fortune. He
lost 100000 in one swOop by mismanage-
ment Of certain interests while he was
busy trying to make three-cent fares pay.
and his automobiles and take a little
nat at $35 a month. He told his friends
he was not sorry. however. and that he
was ready to fight the matte all over
again. He numbered his close personal
friends by the thousands. Like a major
ity Of good fighters, was also a good
loser.