The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-03-30
The Traction Company and Its
Franchises.

If the Caucasian were not pro-
gressive it would accept, as it ha:
been presented, the proposition g
the Traction Company without
question and even without its being
sugar-coated, but having analyzet
fully and deliberately the ordinance
of this corporation, in which there
is stipulated the conditions which
are to apply to transfers and the
half fare, we would be recreant tG
duty if we did not make slaringly
plain the deficiencies of this ordi-
nance in its relation to the people
It may be the Caucasian's misfor-
tune, or good fortune, to occupy the
position of an independence OF ac-
ton, in the exercise of which hon
esty of purpose and fair dealing
have always been the guide. Nor
could any individual say truthfully
that we have ever been, and espe-
cially in this instance, actuated by
mercenary motives in contendlns
for or against any measure OF prop
osition affecting the people. We
have always been on the side Of the
people and for the people, and
therefore, we are impelled to offer
the most strenuous opposition to
the Traction Companys ordinance
for the reason that it is Elusive and
deceptive, we assume unintentlOn-
ally so, but nevertheless the illu-
siveness is there, and if it were
favored it would lead to disappoiint-
ment, and to chagrin and probably
to something more radical.
After having enjoyed for years
from the City of Shreveport privi-
ieges and grants varying fairly IN
value into a million of dollars, if
not more, the Traction Company, as
has been tersely stated by one of
its friends in public print, is simply
DESTROYS of "a readjustment of their
franchises" only that and nothing
more, but in their scheme of read
justment they would gobble and eat
the whole turkey and give the peo-
pie the feathers and the bones.
The illusiveness of their transfers
eo-called, is transparent before it
has been operated, and as written
and printed in their ordinance, the
term universal" as applied to these
projected transfers would be as
snare and delusion. Interpreted
fntelligently universal" means
without limit or bound, and yet in
the ordinance the proposed trans
fers, so-called, are stricted by stip-
alafions and by conditions which
would operate to their notification.
This is the Caucasian's plain con-
etruction of the practical, everyday
operation of such transfers, but as
the proposed transfer proposition is
the least of the Objectionable feat
ures of the ordinance, the Caucas-
ian will consider the half fares for
children, which is not only mislead-
ing but it is positively deceptive.
The half fare is operative only
when used from booklets obtained
from the company, at their office,
in booklets of 10 for 25c, or 10 for
500. They are not transferable
from one child in one family to an
other child in the same family. If
Jim were to lose his booklet, Mary |
could not help him to reach school
and return, home on tickets from
her book. Jim's father or mother
would have to buy another booklet
for Jim, or Jim would have to re-
main at home or pay SC for each
ride, or he would have to walk.
Why did the Traction Company
not adopt the system of the United
Railway Company of st. Louis, Mo-?
It is simple, effective and popular,
Tor could suggestions be offered to
improve it.
In St. Louis the buying of book
lets is not required. /
On entering car the child, girl
or boy, pays to the conductor Sc,
which is dropped in the box in the
car. In return the child is handed
. half fare by the conductor, and
that is all there is of it.
II has been intimated that the St.
Louis system is not favored by the
Traction Company because it would
prove to be temptation for knock
downs" To say the least, this is a
reflection Of discredit that is hardly
believable. If the st. Louis system
IL good for st. Louis, why should it
not be especially good for Shreve-
port? AS a contract, the booklet
system is operative strictly in thel
direct interest Of the corporation,
and therefore IL should he over