The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-18
Street RAILWAY. Z.
IS But bLUFF|Nc.
Council Has Power to Compel Il
TO Give Better Service /
Il viii But Act.
Continued from Pu0e One.

ContinNed 5ronl Page Que:
'precedent' that time and, even be-
fore he finished taking dispositions. so
it is said, the company surrendered
and complied with the council resolu-
ton, and we got the double-truck cars,
He Dit 1t Some More.
But that is not all. On that same
evening. OF Oct. Is, 1902, City Attor-
ney Mitchell had the council pass an
other resolution requiring the cor1-
pany to fulfill another franchise obi
cation to improve it's service by run
ming additional cars on it's West Du-
luth, East and West Fourth. an Lake.
side lines.
This resolution seems to have been
based wholly upon, the reserved police
powers of the city in Section 3, of the
of the franchise, although the COM
pany had taken upon itself in Section
? of it's franchise the specific duty
ito furnish and run sufficient num-
Der of: cars to accommodate the trav-
cling public on all streets which they
shall use and occupy for railroad pur.
poses.'
1t seems the 'precedents" had got
ten so thick about the time the city
attorney. got around to start lawsuit
under this resolution that he never
had to do SO. The company was then
sufficiently tanned to lay down aud
roll over for the city attorney and
the cornell that backed him up.
What City Can Do Now.
There are the "precedents." Com
missioner Farrell says the people are
entitled to the reinstatement Of the
1917 car schedule. Why not turn that
schedule over to City Attorney Sam
uclson and tell him to draw a reso-
luton like City Attorney Mitchell did,
and go to it.
What City Attorney Mitchell did
City Attorney Samuelson can do. And
Mayor Hugo in 1920 can do what
Mayor Hugo in 1902 could do. AL
though Mr.. Mitchell is now looking
after the interests of the street rail-
war cor:""ny. Mayor Hugo is still
looking %";~Y The interests of the peo-
pie of Duluth.
Pc~::!c's "Vestcd Rights
OF co,li'c, all the special interests
will continue to talk about the five
cent fare. Why always forget about
the ''precedents" when the precedents
favor the people?" You couldn't count
on all the fingers of both hands the
times the street railway company has
gone into court relying on it's vested
rights under the franchise.
well, why not go into court just
once for the ctys vested rights?' AS
We understand the law, right under
a franchise is just as much "vested''
when it is the city's right as when it is
the compa1y's right.
For 80 years now the company has
been hollcring for the protection of its
vested rights. Let's have the city
claim now protection for its vested
right to get the service provided Tor
ny the franchise for the fare pro-
vided for by the franchise.
The City's Turn Now.
Why not? The franchise has only
II more years to run. The peopfe
ought to have II years Of protection
to the companys 39-under the same
franchise.
They say they would lose some
money if they gave the people the
service the franchise calls for. NJ
one seems to know whether they
would or not-watered stock or DIR,
stock. But suppose they would los
something until things get settled.
Other businesses lose money part o
the time. They are taking losses RICH
now in Duluth. Why should, publi
utilities alone make profits? Whe1
they are making big profits they don
reduce their charges. Why not tax
their losses like they take their: pro
fits, and not cry about it? Why shoul
not their stockholders go down int
their pockets for the money to carr
them over the lean years, like othe
business men do?
What Would "Business'' Do?
Suppose the street railway compan
was dealing with other business me
instead Of with the people. Does any
one suppose they would have the el
frontery to go to such men and as
them to guarantee them against 10:
by paying them more for their servi<
than their contract calls for? Sue
men would reply, you demanded tt
contract price from us when it mac
your profits; we demand the contra
service from you now, even if it meal
temporary losses for you. We sha
expect you to keep your contract wit
u.s."
'Why not ask the courts to NAL
the company keep its contract wi
the people of Duluth? Commissio
ers!-it is up to you.