The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
MUST
PROTECT RIGHTS
BY OWN ACTIONS
IcontInued From rIrst Page.l


pany, shall be submitted to a popular
vote. under the provision OF the city
charter. ~
Two of the Candidates on the Cisl-
Gems league ticket personally came To
The News Scimitar office Friday after
noon and affixed their signatures TO one
OF the petitions. They were ] Rowleft
Paine, candidate for mayor, and c. r,
shannon. one Of the candidates for CITY
commissioner 1t is probable that 9TH
ers OF the Citizens league candidates
may take occasion to Indicate their atti-
tude as between the rights OF the peo-
pie and the public service corporations
in the same wal before the petitions are
presented at the city hall.
One OF the petitions which Is be-
lng CIRCULATED at the courthouse was
presented TO ]. J. Williams, criminal
court clerk, and candidate for mayor,
with the Endorsement of the present
city administration. Mr.. Williams de-
clired TO sign the petition.
Inc petition was signed at the court
mouse ny Murray Stewart. register: o
H. Perry, sheriff; James Brett, .Ir., cir
cult clerk: IT. G. Scarborough, city as
SCISSOR; John Brown, chairman OF the
1Ouhty commission and +. H. Crump,
trustee. 1t was presented, beside Mr.,
Williams. to w T. Condor, county as
SCISSOR, John Corbett, his deputy and
candidate for city assessor and John c,
MeLemore, county court clerk, who
failed to sign il.
These facts are, however, merely in
%cidents. The citizens of Memphis GER
tainly have a right to appeal TO the
city administration at least to be al
lowed some voice i'm questions affect
ing their rights. The provisions Of
the city charter seem plainly to give
them the right to vote upon such ques-
tons as the telephone contract reso-
luton. provided that a petition de-
manding such right, is signed by not
less thar 500 ~freeholders.
Inc petitions now in circulation will
be signed by many more than that num-
Der, for the facts in connection with the
hurried passage of the telephone con-
tract resolution are well known and are
undisputed. The records of the city hall
show them upon the minutes of the city
commission meeting of Aug. rs.
The citizens Of Memphis have been
given ample warning of the attitude Of
the present city administrati on as 10
its dealings with the public service cor
porations. The mayor and commission
ers did, 1t is true, permit the city at
torney to make a showing of opposition
In the matter of the six-cent fare prop
osition, after having allowed the public
utilities act to be passed at Nashville,
without any protest, The result was a
foregone conclusion and since June the
people Of Memphis have been paying
| six-cent fares.
The Memphis Gas and Electric COM
pany several months ago filed its petit
ton with the state public utilities com
mission at Nashville seeking a large
increase in gas rates and a "re-adjust-
ment" Of electric rates.
The city administration needed the
voice Of public disapproval in the mat
ter of the street car fares, and is said
to be planning to protest against the
increase in gas and electric rates for
the same reason.
The citizens may make themselves
heard possibly at the city hall on the
question of telephone rates also. Pub
lie opinion. after all, has some influ-
ence with politicians, even though they
disregard the solemn promises made In
their platform pledges as outlined above,
on the question Of contracts with the
public service corporations.