Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1913-09-12
From Saturdays Daily.
TO CURB CORPORATIONS

Robert l. Crosser, of Cleveland,
Ohio. providing for the municipal
ownership Of the traction line. of
Washington D c., deserves a better
tate than to die in a pigeonhole.
The House and the Senate both
ought to have the opportunity Of
expressing themselves on this i'm
portant subject. Mr. Crosser is con-
hdcnt that his bill will be reported
out OF the committee for consider
alton by Congress, and it is TO be
hoped that this confidence is iusti
fed.
No large city in the United
States has public service CORPORA
lions 50 i~nsolently contemptuous
OF the public as those in Washing.
ton. And the street car companies
stand at the head of them. Their
whole attitude is one of the pub
lie be damned. And they have
good and sufficient reason for feel
ing secure in tn face of any pop-
luar criticism. The people of Wash
ington have no voice in their hand
me-down government. The public
service corporation have to deal
only with appointed city commits
%sioners and appointed public utili-
ties board and behind both of the
District Committees of Congress
and Congress itself. In the past
these agencies who exercise their
paternalistic watch over the vote
less public of Washington have
been only too pliable in the hands
of the bloated corporation.
But now a new spirit has crept
into Congress and the public SER
vice corporation would do well TO
look at such measures as the one
introduced by Crosser and read the
handwriting on the wall. Before
the vested interests of Washington
were aware of it the present Dis
trict Committee of the House was
filed with young men bringing a
new ideal for WashingtOn-the
ideal of having the national capitol
not only the most beautiful city in
the world from the artistic stand
point but also the model city of the
United States in its civic institu
tions and government.
CrosSer is one Of the new mem
bers Of that Committee, and hi
comes from Cleveland which j!
famed for having the most enlight
ened city government in the United
States Ia Crosser the spirit of tn.
late Tom Johnson vertically zoe!
marching on. johnson was the great
municipal crusader of this country
he exhausted his health and hi.
wealth in a victorious struggle e
restore to the people of Cleveland
the ownership of their streets
The Crosser municipal ownership
bill may be regarded as the contin
nance Of Toms johnson fight If
Cleveland transferred to Washing
ton.
While Johnson was battling fol
the control of the Cleveland street
car line Crosser was a fiery souleG
young lawyer following in his
train and attracting little attention
at the time. Since then Johnson la.
died and CrOsser has arisen. He
wrote the initiative and referendum
amendment to the new Ohio consti
tutioh. And when the people o.
the Buckeye state elected him a!
their representative at large las.
fall, it was a tribute to his sevice.
and his ability. Although he ha.
been silently observing things il
Washington since he took office OF
March 4, in the intimacy of thu
caucus room members have beer
seeking him out and marking hin
for one of the coming strong mel
Of Congress.
Crosser may be relied upon t
push his municipal ownership bill
with all his energy and ability
He has a number of good friend.
on the District Committee who viii
stand behind him in his fight. Blu
whether he succeeds or fails his bill
Is certain to accomplish some good
II will be n notice served on the
street car companies that Their
hold on the peoples streets is moi
absolute and they mas respond witt