New-York tribune., 1918-08-25
Chicago Car Lines
At the Mercy of
Voting Passengers
Thirty-Year FRANCHISE De.
pends Upon Public Rati-
hcation at Polls

Especial Correspondence Of The Tribune,
CHICAGO, Aug. 24.-A more har-
monlous feeling among city officials,
traction interests and people in gen.
era! inspires faith in an amicable
agreement for a new franchise for the
Chicago city railway lines. The ordi-
nance passed by the City Council will
be voted upon by Chicago citizens at
the November election.
John j. Mitchell, president of the
Illinois Trust and Savings Bank, in dis
cussing the outlook, said to-day: "For
the first time l believe traction inter
ests and the people are nearly agreed
on franchise This is the result of
long campaign of education on both
sloes OF the proposition The people
and public utilities and public officials
are drawing closer all the time in a
general sense and this is resultiny in
more reasonable ordinances and fairer
agreements between factions. The old
days OF grabbing a franchise and piv-
ing no attention during the period of
l's duration to the wishes of the people
are over. Efforts being continuouslv
maze TO bring about an UNDERSTANDING
between formerly discordant interests
VIII nave good effect when the vital
1,me Iii comes for asking franchise fayors
mere VIII be a more amicablc fcclinp
on all sides. 0o'''s
That the public and utilities are
iea'cnlhg 'g better understanding is
IUOlC1CPU bo -
cfeases allowed interurban traction
gas, electrical and other public service
corporations by state authorities within
SIX months or year. This is evidence
'hat the people and corporate interests
are beginning to get on common
ground. Every effort has been made
oy most we'll managed public utilities
20 cater more to the public and to
INFORM the latter of the workings and
neeoS OIL the corporations which serve
the people.
Public Master of Situation
me managements of public utilities
nave been trying to present their case
10 the PEOPLE in convincing wav. and
! believe this policy is bringing results.
On the other hand, the people have
,oid utilltles companies what the pub
nc m wants and what must be given. AS
situation
! interests back Of the corporations are
giving full heed to these demands or
requests, as they may happen to be
termed. All that public utilities coy
poratlons ask is little study of their
@ slae OF the case by the people. When
Io'h 1h S!ues understand one another the
ui:5,ptosi'ion to accord fair treatment
,,. VIII De mutual. Capital, labor and the
tomntbo, pun'tb should all join in the get
sose.ile' orea.,' movement which must so
greatly advance the interests of tho
countrv' W VIC
"hat Mr.. Mitchell said indicates that
traction interests begin now to soc the
Nalue OF catering more to the nuhlic
ouring the period between the h;rtb
ana expiration OF franchise. In No.
Femper the people of Chicago viii mass
upon , ne" traction ordinance That
WIZ ihVoive rate Of interest to be
Para stockholders Of these corporations
for the next thirty years. The c;t,
aldermen AID the traction interosts
nave agreed on what shall be allowed
and 1T has been embodied in the form
OF an ordinance. 1t is to be seen
whether the people will view the trac-
ton plan proposed by these two fac
tons from the same angle.
In regard to the policy of some cor
poratlons IN dealing with the public
IN, IN the past MIR. Mitchell said also:
lierctoforc the policy, more or less.
has been to get franchise by making
any number Of promises, by patting
e'cryoody on the back and by being
a good fellow until what was wanted
was obtained. But once the license to
operate was granted, the public was
told TO 70 to the devil, figurativelv
speaking, until the time arrived when
Il renewal must be had Then another
good fellowship campaign was begun.
Eut IN such affairs nov, particularly
when city traction lines are involved
the public is called upon to approve
ordinances. When the people have not
becn properly treated in regard to
streetcar service for years they have a
cnahce 70 vent their accumulated feel
'hgs at the polls. II is cumulative
vengeance and voiced in no uncertain
terms with the ballot. Traction ljncs
have been offenders in particular,'jn
,r. Ine'r 'anurc 10 grasp public opinion.
Ihey pad too little attention 10 strcct.
car patrons during the franchise pc.
RODS. Their inattention may be shawn