The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-29

chants bank, where he trans
ferred with President Johnson,
who took Sledge's check. and
gave him a receipt for it; then
the boss went to see Bozzam.
you sold those franchises
YETI" he demanded.
mot yet" replied Bozzam.
But I'm going to-"
wei" announced Sledge.
I'VE don't sell. We keep 'em and
build. Dig up for your stock. I"
Bozzam merely blinked. This
was a blow so unexpected that he
could scarcely comprehend it.
dig up?" he family repeated.
1.-Two hundred thousand cash, "
Sledge rumbled. Il dug" He
tossed Bozzam the receipt from
johnson, secretary of the Rapid
Transit company, showing that
Benjamin F. Sledge had paid
$750,000 cash for 1900 shares of
stock in that live corporation.
Here's the stock" added Sledge,
throwing down one lone certifi-
cate for the entire amount.
you don't mean that you're
going to make a bona fide COM
pany out of this?" Bozzam in
credulously questioned.
THE moneys in the bank.
Make good. or let CO."
Bozzam felt his circulation
stopping. .
and went in search of Senator AL
lerton.
That sterling friend of the pop
ulace, State Senator Allerton, was
discovered by Sledge playing
poker in the rooms of Assemmy-
man Buckley.
We'll, what's new?" asked AL
lerton, obeying a look from
Sledge, and following him into
the adjoining room.
Street car business" returned
Sledge.
81 see we have two companies, -
remarked Allerton. (which one
are you in?"
New one. Seven hundred and
fifty thousand"
"Whew!" whistled Allerton.
ANY money involved?"
"All cash." Sledge told him.
"On the level"
You must have good out
look" wondered Allerton.
"Naw!" repudiated Sledge. IT'S
rotten! No franchises.
Il thought you held easily sal
able ones, from what | saw in the
papers, puzzled Allerton. If
you haven't, however, you can
easily get them from the city
council"
They're no good" insisted
Sledge. Short terms"
That's right" agreed Allerton
beginning to see the light. Fran
chises in this state can be grant
ed for twenty years, and are re-
Movable, in ten-year periods, at
the option of the city council.
suppose your new franchises are
for twenty years.
"Uh-huh!" assented Sledge.
That's when the profits begin.
We need franchise legislation.
What do you want?" asked
Allerton.
"Fifty-year franchises-free."
Good lord!" exclaimed Aller-
ton. why, Sledge, the man who
would propose that might just as
we'll retire from politics forever.
"Sure!" agreed Sledge.
The senator stopped with a
shock and reflected. 1.-The street
car interests in the state are
large, that's a fact" he acknowl-
edged.
Great game" approved Sledge.
Il want stock all over the state.
You'd better invest"
at might be attractive" con-
sidered the senator. How much
stock do you think l should Sc
cure?"
Million"
Even the seasoned senator,
used as he was to private and
personal discussions involving
comfortable figures, was startled
at the sound of that word.
Allterton spent some minutes
in quiet thought. "If we attempt
ed to railroad bill empowering
the granting of fifty-year fran
chises without remuneration, II
would be showed under so quick
ly that the teller couldn't keep
track of the votes. There aren't
ten men in the capitol building
would dare go home to their con-
stituents if they supported such
a measure"
Sure not" agreed sledge.
Never let anybody do anything
in law; keep 'em from it."
That's the idea," assented AL
lerton. Restrictive legislation.
The people are strong for that
just now, anyhow. My idea is to
call the act "A bill for the Pro-
lection of Municipalities Against
the Monopolistic Perpepuity of
Street Car Companies"
Great" approved Sledge. at
sounds fierce If they get it.
don't myself, but know it's
against the monopolies.