The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-06-02
CITY: TIRES FIRST GUNIN =
BATTLEFOR STREET CAR SYSTEM
Arrogant Attitude Of Company Met With Resolution Unan
mously Adopted Calling For Immediate Control

Lac. If capitalists consider bonds of
the Gary-New Duluth stub a good in
Vestment, they would consider bonds
of the entire system better invest
ment.
Protest has been made of the nom
resident ownership of the street rail-
way company. The private ownership
ny public service corporation in
Duluth will be nonresident owner
ship; local ownership can only be Sc
cured by municipal ownership.
Case Now Pending.
I've have now pending in the su-
preme court of Minnesota an action
TO determine whether or not the street
railway company be required to pay
it's share for the improvement Of East
Ninth street Similar, actions must be
started covering the improvements of
Grand avenue and East Superior
street, and every time in the future
that we attempt to pave any street
upon which a street railway is located
a law suit will result. Du1ing the last
few years there has hardly been a
time when there has not been a law
suit pending between the city of Du-
luth and the street railway company,
covering some matter of the relation
between the city and the railway in
which the railway company was seek
ing to do as little as possible for the
City of Duluth.
1.-The daily press has vigorously sup
ported the people up to date. We
hope they will go through with the
job. A militant unanimity for the
policy we have determined on today
will accomplish real results
Says Over Capitalized.
II do not care to discuss at this
time the heavy over ca pitalization OF
the company, on which all it's compu-
tations of profits must be based. 1t
is a matter of record in the city audit
Or's office and in the district court II
is not unimportant. may have some.
thing to say on that feature of the
question later. But no. question OF
confiscation Of property can be raised
over our contemplated action, as il
was in the suit brought to annul the
company's franchise. The municipal
ownership league never favored that
action or had an expectation il
would accomplish anything of value
to the people, win or lose. What we
are proposing now is to pay the com.
pany every cent the. district court says
it's plant is reasonably worth as a
going concern
Following is the resolution which
marks the beginning of the fight
street railway lines of Duluth under
t the direct control of the people:
WHEREAS, the City Council has
carefully considered the communica
, ton Of the Duluth Street Railwa,
company submitted to it on May 1e
1917, refusing to give the people OF
Duluth five-cent fare to the Stee
PlaEt suburbs, and refusing to make
any exten lions to such suburbs ex
cept on condition that assurance be
given that the agitation against tht
present 10 cent fare to Morgan PARK
he stopped" and
"WHEREAS, in our Judgment sale
communication is taptamount to say
ing to us as the official representa-
tives of the people of Duluth that the
Duluth Street Railway company viii
perform it's functions as a public serv
ice corporation only on condition tina
the people Of the city be muzzled il
the discussion of fair public ques
! ton; and
WHEREAS, the people of Duluth
! have heretofore demonstrated tina
! they had the power and the will t
compel efficient service and fai
charges wheneveE any privately
! owned public service corporation as
sumed that it was the master rathe
/ than the. Servant Of the people of gu
city; and
WHEREAS, we feel it to be on
duty as city officials to- propose a.
| adequate remedy, not only for GU
present grievances but also for tn
F.! many which have arisen in the pas
and are likely to arise in tn" future
E; in order to secure for the people eff
cient street railway service at reason
able rates;
"RESOLVED: That this Counc
| declares itself in favor of the City g
Duluth condemning the present stree
railway plant under the power c
eminent domain, purchasing it at it
actual physical value as a going con
Germ Uo be determined by our Dist
! riot Court, and operating it for tn
benefit of the people of Duluth, to tn
end that the City may make such eS
! tensions Of the system, and charg
such fares for the service render &c
as the public welfare and good bust
ness policy may demand;
! Resolved, further, that Fran
Crassweller be and he hereby is ap
pointed special counsel for the Cit
and DIRECTED to take such action in 1t
behalf as may be necessary an
I proper for carrying into effect tn
foregoing resolution"
t LAST NON UN1ONIST IN LINZ
FORT SMITH, Ark, May 31.-Th
| IT. ;r,;v, 10