| Show itumi luiitoitaiL UIIILII There have been kio many lnitiic of oppression on the part of some larger corporation In the way of establishing Injurious monopollei that a strong antagonism his ben created which 10 very many cases amiuuts I loan unreasoning prejudice against I corporations I organized and conducted with a view to public a > well at I private good It Is I Unfortunate that people will give way to this prejudice Wharf II Is I 1IyJ upon by agllloll as 10110 Ibo came In this locllly 10 Ibo Injury of commendable public enterprises enter-prises llardly a company can be formed now lor the development of any local Industry or resource re-source but that somebody whose fairness and god judgment not a sufficient balancewheel to Ibo Inclination Incli-nation to flail fault Jumps up and shouts corporation monopoly1 atc9 t when Vie necessary failed of the OOMPRUY26 success Wbnld be ant monopoly lu character and conducive lo the rubllo I good The people of Illinois however seem to have had a genuine case of nmlsJ antagonism to corroialo greed lu the attempt to pass what Is known aslbelluiuphiey bill which was defeated ou Wednesday Wednes-day afternoon Humphrey bills were compound od Into 00 on Moody called Im bill 1 for an act concerning street lallroads Originally there was a provision for a state cc In alls Mon 10 p as DD the dlublllly 01 allowIng allow-Ing a railway over certain routes but In the consolidated bill this was moil I tied BO far as Chicago was concerned lo consist ol a city commission This wadouo eo Re 10 remove the Chicago ppollioo 10 Ibn bill Thoother pro vlalonerelikinedwetotogivo Ibo railways rail-ways broad rights of eminent domain lo allow the sale by auction of railway franchises to Intending builders and to extend existing franchises for a period of fifty years from September 1697 without regard to Ibo wlmes cl 1 the people In the muulclpalllloi aflecloJ This last provision was UD most objectionable of all and Ibo one which brought delta In the contest there have been very many charges of bribery of member ti I secure a vote In favor of the bill It was said I that the railroads owning the main franchises which expire In 1903 were willing pay considerable money to have tbI lojlilaturu arbllra I Illy extend the life of those franchises another forljlour years and thus I bring almost Incalculable I benefit lo the owners and this extension I I of time I was to be without the consent the people In the particular localities I affected Aside from any corrupt means the allegations concerning concern-ing which are being UvcsllgateJ by a legislative committee the defeat ol tile Humphreys bill Is I a vindication ol the right of the people la various niuulcltallllee to make their own contracts for the use of their public privileges right which ought 10 be maintained Inviolate to every community as an essential feature In Ibo exercise of local self government Those corporation which sought to obtain through the exercise of general powers by the state legislature those publo privileges which It bas been custcmary to seek more directly at the haui of the municipalities and localities local-ities specially aId UestrveJ defeat Is the interest ol popular government I |
