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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. 11