The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1919-03-29
. HQMssMtQXements .Staxted.< F.,

How MxJAd JAdoXement Started
= Tn the=sprine of tf1e ere was
a great deal of agitation throughout
the city, caused by the refusal Of the
company to extend its lines to New
Duluth, and the: charging of double
fare to Morgan Park. A. great num-
ber of our citizens at, that time rec
commended that condemnation pro-
ceedings be instituted by the city and
the street car system taken over. A
resolution to that effect was passed,
though afterwards repealed when the
company agreed to make the extern
sion, and discontinue the ten-cent
fare after certain time. ~ -
I'm the fall Of 1915, the city was
again greatly agitated over the mis-
cradle street car service. Small riots
took place. AT the same time, the
company made an application for an
increased fare. During that period,
committees Of various kinds waited on
the city commissioners. demanding
better service. without suggesting any
practical way whereby the city gov
ernment could bring it about A great
number Of people insisted that the city
take over the system, realizing that
some. Permanent solution must. be
found. IN view OF the foregoing, and
realizing the street car troubles that
must inevitably arise in the future,
the city council is now submitting the
advisory referendum on the question,
whether or not the council should pro-
ceed with condemnation proceedings.
Present Cost Involved.
''The question before the voters now
is not the high @cost of materials That
question becomes pertinent when a
valuation has been made, andtthe vot-
ers are asked to vote bonds to pur-
chase. 1t has been Stated that the
price. would be fixed on the basis Of
the high cost Of materials ON the date
of the commencement of condemna-s
tion proceedings. This is not the law.
Neither is it the law that the city must
pay for the unexpired portion of the
franchise. ~
THE whole, question before the vot-
ers at the present time is whether or
not the voters desire the city COM
missioners to obtain a valuation Of the
street car system. It can readily be
seen why the company is not anxious
to have the voters Of the city find out
what the plant is actually worth. Such
information would immed diately de-
stroy the arguments now being. used
as to the great value Of the plant. It
would also disclose, what amount of
water there may be in the capitaliza-
ton. -, 81: ~,i<,'+e. - !.
People Should Know Value.
I'm 1910, the street railway COM
pany appealed from the taxes levied
against it. Judge Cant decided the
case Since that time, no valuation
of the street car system has been
made. Last. summer the company
spent three days before the Board of
Review: arguing for :. a eduction4 of
valuation for taxation, purposes and
an appeal was taken to. the Mime
sofa Tax Commission It, would Ger
tainly be worth all It would cost to
have the city find QUE what the prop
erty Of the street railway is worth, +.
"The city commissioners through
this advisory reterendu are simply
asking the; voters whether or not they
should proceed to ascertain the physi-
cal value Of the Duluth Street Rail-
way company. The question Is 90 SIM
pie that there Is need Of very little
discussion one Mayor. thesother. The
voters,; unless misi formed can read
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