The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-03-12

from its demands for an extension oi
all the franchises to the year 1901, and
viii be satisfied if they can induce the
majority of the peopre, who are voters
to add thirteen years to the franchise
whose term Of expiration is Eo4I
This is the franchise which, as orig
inally passed, would have expired in the
year 1921, but in 1892 the Council, by
its proceedings, added twenty years ad-
ditional to this franchise, beginning ir
the year 1921. The legality of this trans
action has frequently been questioned
1t was the act of a minority of the
Council which provoked the reruon-
STRANGE and the protests of the CITY at
torney
However, at that time the value of a
franchise was not definite as now, and
then there was no contest and this ac-
tion was permitted to lapse. This exten-
sion is embraced in the franchise of the
Union Depot line. 1t is this franchise
which the Traction Company and their
allies wanted to have extended from the
year 1911 to 1861, but on realizing the
strength of the opposition. the company,
through their friends, has announced
that the 1861 proposition had been with
drawn and they would apply for exten-
sions limited to tlle year 1854
In that year file franchises of the COM
pany will have reached the term Of their
expiration
There is practically no contention
over these franchises whose term of ex-
piration is as fl<ed as that Of the Union
Depot line which IS limited to the year
1914 Besides, the legality of this ordi-
nance, perhaps it may be technical, such
an extension would practically cure ev-
cry doabt and would confirm the action
of the Council III 1892. This extension
of the Union Depot franchise would be
increased beyond present computation
and would enable the company to realize
money readily of1 an issue Of bonds.
Until the year 1910 the Traction Com
pany has obtained every privilege, right
and benefit the city could give Of con-
fer without a single cent Of conpensa-
tion to the municipality in return
AT the outset OF the present action Tor
extensions of the franchises, the Trae-
tion Company was over-conddert Of the
success and felt assured of sweeping the
opposition off their feet by offering
transfers. But the people have not been
misled nor deceived
Among the masses there are those
who are always ready and wiling to
give outright to individuals and to cor
porations, especially corporations, any
thing they may want, the property Of
the municipality, but these fortunately
are in the minority.
1t is this class who are boisterous and
claim all things IN sight, but these never
deceive the class, always in the major
ity, who are moved by the incentive of
fairness and honesty in applying to the
corporation the same rule of equity by
which the municipality is measured,
The withdrawal Of the 1861 PROPOSE
ton leaves the situation practically un-
changed, but it must be met With greater
yigor and more determination to insure
its defeat.
In brief the proposition should be de-
feated as it is against the welfare Of the
community TO adopt it
In this declaration the Caucasian is
deliberate. 1t has been conservative in
its action, hoping that il could give its
support to the proposed extensions, but
the more it Is weighed the more thor
ough IS the strength Of its opposition.
In all seriousness, let each citizen OF
Shreveport inquire dispassionately and
fairly and honestly into what the Trac-
tion Company has done for the city and
the people
It is Of record that in many instances
the Traction Company has been COM
pelIed to fulfil its agreement by legal
compu1sion.
1t is only d few days since that there
was developed most amazing situation.
On September 10, 1897, the Council,
having granted valuable concessions to
the Traction Company, specified as q
part of the compensation that transfers
should be issued to children going to
and from school as explained by this
paragraph
Third That FIVE cents shall be the
fare on each belt, and school children
three cents, and with privileges of trans
fers in going to and from school.
The acceptance of this requirement is
III the handwriting of w. B. Jacobs,
president of the Shreveport Belt Rail
way Company and the Shreveport City
Railway Company.
There is no opportunity for evasion.
This acceptance is the more significant
for the reason that it is inscribed on the
f1 y r ~. "a. :..-4oe,5 - tsos.,c,