Evening journal., 1913-04-12
SATURDAY. APR. II. 1913
MAYnR H0MElLs enInEN OrPoRrrNIrY.

MAYOR HONElES GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
NJ AYOR HOWELL has golden opportunity
to do something worth while for the people Of
tho city Of Wilmington, who have honored him with
the highest Office in their giit and many of whom
would like to honor him with second term
The door Of opportunity has been thrown opcn
The way s clear for him 10 himself OPEN
is and effectively. the side of tho people, i'm the
present fight between unrosulatod monopoly and
petition lie Is in a position TO call halt upon those
who have planned TO assassnato competition that un-
regulated monopoly live. thrive aud fatton upon
the people of city. The opportunity that presents
Itself Mayor Howell to ropuarizc himself by doing
the right thing at the right time s exceptional one
II nc permit it 20 pass now, it never may return.
The Wilmington and Philadelphia Fraction Com
pany. speculative watcr-oggod and monopostic i'm
sttuon that sells electric current TO certain favored
hir consumers at price low two cents per
kilowau hour and EFFORTS from smaller and poorer
consumers the legal maximum of ten cents per kilo
watt hour has spanglod regulation i'm tho halls of leg
isation. Now IL seeking to strangle competition,
tho only logical alternative for lack Of regulation
to make the BOARD of Directors OF the Street and
Sewer Department partner in it's act of srangula-
ton And the worst OF It is that this unregulated
nopoly, which is charging the poor five times as
much as In instances, il is charging tho rich man
for electric current, has become arrogant that
expects confidently he able perperate his of
violence against Of the worlds greatest economic
principles and get away with t It not only relies
Street and Sewer Department but also upon that of
other Influences that were created for public prooc
tion and megnt to be proshtutod by partic
pation- .aceuiesconee in such cardinal Of
fensc against the taxpayers, voters and consumers OF
our city.
Mayor Howell has it within his power TO come out
openly and work to prevent tho commission OF this
outrage against citizenship. lie has it
within his power to declare himself unquahedly
in favor Of competition corrective for unregulaed
monopoly An honest earnest, aggressive and ring
ing proclamation from him will put 20 rout the
regulated speculative and mouopolstc interests
which seeking through tho Board of Directors
Of the Street and Sewer Department, to stran-
sle competition and rvct unregulated monopoly upon
the necls of our people
Nor need Mayor Howell find himself at a loss for a
text or a series Of texts upon which to preach
ecutye sermon series Of executive sermons. to
this dropsical Wilmington and Philadelphia Traction
Company and it's allies who endeavoring to do
competition to death in the offices OF the Street and
Sewer Department
The Wilmington and Philadelphia Traction Com
pans has deprived people of the advantages of
the strp-uckct privilege.
Il is subiecting our people to grossly inadequate
service on several OF our street car lines
It is ieprivng a city of 10000 inhabitants Of an ALI
night service and forcing people, and others who
come here or desire to depart early morning
trains. to walk to hire cabs
II is 1ocking development in outlying districts such
as BrandyWne hundred. by maintaining an operating
hcadway that is a constant of public nconvon-
ience and irritation and that deters many persons
from enjoying the pleasures and benefits Of suburban
life
Through SIS opposition to the beneficial oompeti-
ton OF the Peoples Railway. and It's influence with
men high in official and political life, IL has COM
peiled the Peoples Railway accept roundabout troll
ley routes which have subjected and are subiocng
thousands Of citizens aggravating incon,en-
ience and loss Of time in getting from place to place
within the corporate limits.
It is compelling people to pay interest on wa
tered securities amounting to hundreds thousands
If not millions OF dollars
It has bound and emasculated Public Utilities Com
mission OF Mayor Howels own appointment
Through the agency of lobby-rdden Senate Il
has prevented regulative relief for people by log
isative enactment
II is charging to the poor five times as much
for electric current IN instances it is charging
the rich man corporation.
These, and many other things, il has done or Is
dong II Mayor Howell should doem,it expedient &,
make fight in behalf OF the people he will exper
ienee difficulty in obtaining his proofs We do no
know what his disposition is or may be, in the mat
ter. We do know. however. that il would be a mis-
TO be featured by the sranguaiion that s con
tsmplated by the Wilmington and Philadelphia Trac
ton Company. representing unreguisted monopoly
Heat and Power Company. representing competition a
natural and necessary alternative for regulation
where regulation may not be had
II is wise Delaware horHc1iiurisf Who defers max
fruif the rr..f~