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AND WEAK IN SPRING SHOES
STACY ADAMS $5.00 and $6.00 PAIR. BYBROCO $3.50 PAIR.
UNION MADE.
BYCK BROTHERS, Broughton ati cl W liitalier Sts.
in that body committing the city in favor of a reduc
tion of the taxes of the Savannah Electric Company.
This move was a surprise, coming at the time it did,
not only to the public at large, but to representa
tives of the daily press, who are supposed to “nose
out" in advance when anything of particular impor
tance is to be taken up by Council.
Fortunately, final action was staved off for two
weeks, thanks to the energetic action taken by oppo
nents of the measure, led by Alderman Wilson.
The poverty of this powerful monopoly is put
forward, it seems, as an excuse for the tender solic
itude manifested by Alderman Guckenheimer and
others in its behalf.
Poverty is depressing wherever found, lmt it is
especially pitiable when its victim is a corporation
owned and controlled by interests which, it is relia
bly stated, own and control similar or allied public
utilities in twenty-six different American cities and
towns. In some localities, notably Paducah, Ken
tucky, the same group controls not only the trolley
and electric lighting system, it is claimed, but the
city gas and water works as well.
In Pensacola, Florida, the same syndicate which
owns the Savannah Electric Company has been en
gaged for weeks in a relentless war against its late !
conductors and motormen, who were forced to strike ;
against oppression. The military has been employed
and, results not being satisfactory to the street car !
company, its officials appealed to the federal court i
and secured an injunction, against its striking em
ployes so drastic that it rivals any ever issued bv
a federal judge, which is saying a great deal. Large
numbers of professional strike-breakers were im
ported, at enormous cost. All these things cost
money. It is a happy thought that! led the heads
of the syndicate to seek to make communities in
which its affairs are prosperous pay for its misfor
tunes or blunders in other localities.
And vet the aldermen who favor the electric
*•
company’s appeal for a decrease of taxation tell us,
in effect, that the force by which they are moved
is a consideration for the welfare of the employes
of the concern, particularly those who are natives
of this section. This contingent, be it remembered,
is made up principally of motormen and conductors,
or by men occupying other positions the compensa
tion in which is not sufficient to attract Boston men
to come down here and take the jobs, and corre
sponds to the contingent which the corporation
fights with such vindictiveness in Pensacola.
The syndicate’s professed benevolence toward its
Savannah conductors and motormen but ill accords
THE REASON
with its mercilessness towards the same class in its
employ in Pensacola.
Again, it is common knowledge that the Savan
nah Electric Company has begun a desperate fight,
apparently having for its object the destruction of
its competitor in the only branch of the business
in which there is! competition locally at all. That
is the lighting department. Kates are said to have
been ruthlessly slashed in the tight against the
Savannah Lighting Company, which is a home enter
prise. If. as is alleged, current for Lighting pur
poses is being furnished at a loss by the Savannah
Electric Company, it must be patent to all that
money is required to be had from some other source
to recoup such losses. Shall the local taxpayer
furnish a part of the funds to help a would-be mo
nopoly to get into a position wherefrom it would
hold its Savannah patrons completely at its mercy?
If so, then by all means the proposed ordinance
should go through Council.
The next two weeks should he given over to
much thought and to vigorous action by the people
of Savannah.
EMPIRE LIFE
INSURANCE CO.
THE COMPANY OE THE SOUTH.
FOUNDED OH THE MIGHTY PILIAOS OF GEORGIA
SAFE, SANE, CONSERVATIVE.
OLD LINE LEGAL RESERVE.
WALLIS & ARNETT,
GENERAL AGENTS, 410-411-412 Nat. Bldg.
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