THE COLUMBIAN, BLOOMSBURG, PA.
LIVE QUESTIONS.
A Spi-Ipr of Artlrtrs Contributed by
Advanced Thinkers.
THE VALUE OF FRANCHISES.
A year or two ago I vm going by
bont up the historio nnd brautif ul River
Rhinn from Bonn to D1iikii. I hud
pointed out to 1110 nil iiuiuouso rock ia
the middle of the Rtreaiu that had beon
convert od nt ono time into a kind of
fort or ninth'.
I was told that a few centuries ngo
tho old Oormnn baron who lield sway
over that part of the world took a notion
that there was an imnieuso amount of
commerce pulsing up and down the
Rhine and through his domain, and
that it ought to pay him tributo.
Ho ho improvised a fort on this rock,
and no cargo passed that way afterward
unless it puid him a toll for the privi
lege. The founder of this fort is tho
originator of customhouses. Ho also in-
H. 8. JUIIAX.
vented tho idea of m franchise. Ho was
a genius and has been followed by many
alleged statesmen and lawmakers. A
river is a natural highway, which men
from earliest times have utilized for
purposes of intercommunication and ex
change of surplus produce.
Where nature has not provided nat
.tiral ways, such as oceans, seas and
rivers, men have supplied roads, canals,
railroads, etc.
Tho fctuto may build them itself and
chargo a toll or stipulated prico to rec
ompense itself for the expense of build
ing and operating, or it may grant tho
right to private persons or a private cor
poration to baild the highway and equip
it and allow it to charge a toll or a
specified sum to reimburse it for its out
lay. uch a grant is called a franchise.
Kent defines a franchise) to be "a par
ticular privilege conferred by grant from
government mid vested in individuals."
Blackstone says it is "a branch of the
king's prerogative subsisting in tho
hands of a subject "
By virtue of this governmental privi
! lego these persons or corporations can do
tho same things and exercise the saino
powers an the government itself in open
ing up highways.
So it is usually left to fix its own
schedule of prices as to what it will
chargo for its services so as to reimburse
itself. And the excessive charges that
these corporations have collected are a
great burden to tho people. Tho rail
roads are tho greatest sinners in this re
spect, for they control and carry nine-tccn-twentictha
of tho commerce of tho
country.
Thero is an opinion that tho railroad
companies own thoir roads and right of
way. It is erroneous as a proposition of
law. They no more own them than an
overseer of a country road or a street
commissioner owns them. They simply
xuanago them for the public.
All that they have a right to chargo
is a reasonable amount to pay them for
the expense of opening tho highway and
maintaining and operating it, but they
have proceeded upon the principle of
"charging" all tho traffic will "bear."
Our laws havo, under the guise of a
franchise, the same power to extort that
the old German baron took to himself,
and our modern baron has perfected it
in detail, filed off the rough corners and
made it more comprehensive. To give
an examplo of how this "franchise busi
ness" is utilized to extort from producer
and consumer alike: A few men get a
right to build a railroad. They can go
through anybody's laud, because they
are opening a publio highway. They
further have a right to immediately
tel'e charge of the highway, lay the
tracks and operate tho road. Suppose it
costs them f 1,000, 000 to do this, they
would bo entitled to charge enough to
pay them a good return for their invest
ment and tho oporating expenses. Inves
tigate any of these concerns, and you
will find that little attention is paid to
what is invested, but rather, what can
tho commerce along their route be tuado
to pay? The capitalization stocks and
bonds usually run up to 6, 10 or 15 times
tho amount they have invested.
This is usually termed "water," and
it is equal to tho value of franchises.
Garrison and Gould bought the Mis
souri Pacific railroad from tho state of
Missouri in 1872 for $0,000,000. Were
they at all punctilious about making it
earn dividends only on 6,000,000? No.
They had the power under the laws of
Missouri to fix their own charters. So
insido of five years they increased thoir
capitalization to $70,000,000, the profits
on which the people tributary to that
road havo been paying ever since. The
New "VJork Ceutral railroad, extending
from New Vork city to Buffalo, a dis
tance of 401 miles, was built for
about f45,000 por mile, or $18,045,000,
yet the owners have capitalized it for
$153,000,000, or, in other words, the
state, by giving them the right or fran
chise, made them a present of $134,
ot)0, 000.
The Western Union's plant can be
reproduced for $15,000,000, yet for
years it has paid 6 per cent on a capi
talization of over $100,000,000, and in
1800, I think, had a $18,000,000 sur
plus. Estimate the cost of a plant, deduct
the amount from tho capitalization and
tho amount remaining is the value, of
the fraucbifO. II. S. J II, IAN.
Kansas City.
"WHY IS CRIME INCREASING V
The timely article by J. W. Cald
well, showing tho discrepancy between
tho teachings of the last census rejwirt
and those of President Cleveland's late
missionary address, not only sets forth
in plniu light the lamentable weakness
and sectional shortsightedness of the
president of tho United States, but
closes with two questions, pertinent to
tho times, which the writer desires to
see answered viz: 1. "Why is crime
increasing in the east more rnpidly than
in tho west?" 3. "What shall we do to
decreaso crime?"
Both of thee questions are answered
by nnswering tho first ono. If one can
point out tho cause of increasing crime,
then tho decrease of crime can bo ac
complished by tho removal of that
cause.
To take up tho first question, the
general cause of crime is poverty. Prom
actual conditions tf poverty and from
conditions which Fpring from these
such ns tho fear of poverty nnd tho
false standard of llfo which the fear of
it and a corresponding worship of
wealth sets up nearly all crime springs.
Crime, is greatest in the cast because
there is tho greatest concentration of
wealth, and boeauso under our present
system of wealth accumulation the in
crease of poverty regularly accompanies
tho concentration of wealth. If evidence
is needed in confirmation of this terrible
fact we might, from among many oth
ers who have given similar testimony,
select the terso statement in ' 'Progress
nnd Poverty" mado by Henry Georgo:
"In the United States squalor nnd mis
ery nnd tho vices and crimes that spring
from them everywhere iucreaso as tho
village grows to the city and the march
of development brings tho advantages of
tho improved methods of production and
exchange It is in the older and richer
sections of tho Union that pauperism
and distress among tho working classes
aro becoming most painfully uppnrent. "
Or if ono wished to go farther in evi
dence and to include England, where a
similar concentration of wealth is tak
ing place, and summon from thence such
a man as Professor Huxley, who says in
regard to his testimony, "I have no pre
tensions to tho character of a philan
thropist, and I havo a special horror of
all sorts of sentimental rhetoric ; I am
merely trying to deal with tho facto, "
ho might hear him saying in his "Social
Diseases and Worse Remedies:" "Any
ono who is acquainted with the state of
the population of all great industrial
centers, whether In this or other coun
tries, is aware that umid a large and in
creasing body of that population la
misero reigns supn me, And I
tako it to be a mere plain truth that
throughout industrial Europe thero is
not a Bingle large manufacturing city
which is free from a vast mass of people
whose condition is exactly that de
scribed, and from a still greater mass
who, living just on tho edge of tho so
cial swamp, arc liable to be precipitated
into it by any lack of demand for their
produco. And with every addition to
the population the multitude already
sunk in tho pit increuso. "
Theso conditions exist because they
are the legitimate and necessary off
spring of a system of business distribu
tion and social production which has for
its maxim "the survival of tho strong
est," and which is even now adding to
that, as if that were not domoniacal
enough, "the survival of the greatest
consolidations of the strongest individ
uals." Every Btep gained in this select sur
vival of tho strong throws out a certain
number of nonsurvivors to live as they
can, and every step gained in the more
exclusive survival of combinations of
tho strong doubles and quadruples tho
number already thus added to the ranks
of poverty and the sources of crime.
The east is increasing in crime more
rapidly than the west becliuse the east
furnishes freest scope for the social sys
tem of selfish individualism. On tho
shoulders of this brawny and promising
child but tyrannical adult lies tho
whole responsibility for the increase in
crime. To destroy crime we must de
stroy the system and put iu it place
some co-operative effort in the produc
tion and distribution of human necessi
ties which would bo controlled by tho
whole people for the public good.
But this we cannot do. Destruction
other than by nature's laws of gradual
modification is dangerous and futile.
Humanity cannot skip any spot in its
development, even though it be beneath
the tyrant's lash and over ground wet
with tho tears of human suffering. Tho
present system must wear itself out of
itself, and tho perception of threadbare
garments, while announcing the end,
docs not justify nakedness.
In the meantime, however, evil may
be checked. The lover of humanity
must resist at every step the encroach
ment of tho assorted rights of paltry
gain upon tho rights of humun hfo,
Life is the thing for which life's means
exist. Men nro our brothers all men
ore. Thero is something nobler in lire
thati tho hoaping of its tools. Thero is
something better to develop in human
nature than tho greed for gain.
Who aro tho sufferers from this? All
of us. Not the poor alono, though that
were bad enough. Tho idle sou of the
wealthy father is as great a curse to so
ciety as the criminal and generally the
direct or indirect cause of many crimes.
Ho is a standing menuco to society, a
pause of nights of anguish to his moth
er and of a haunting dread that follows
his father day ami night. He ia one of
tha products cf the times nnd one of
thA causes of eastern crima
it is something, perhaps, to see these
We may not be ablo to remove
tho removal of poverty be
cause of poverty is so thor-
uilt into our present social
re, but we can do a man s woric
his own way iu checking it, and
y at tho ballot box.
W. G. Todd.
An exchange prints some unrelia
ble information about drcms, "To
dream that a policeman has you in
charge is a sign that you will escape
Ironi some impending evil. Not if
Officer Knorr has you in tow. ' A
dream of a new pair of shoes means
that you will succeed against yoar
adversaries." Not if your would be
father-in-law wears them. "To dre..m
of clear water denotes success in busi
ness." But suppose you gel in deep
water. "To dream about a piece of
bacon, particularly if it is on your own
plate, means the death of a near rela
tive." In other words, you are a pig,
and your friend was previously killed.
"It you see a candle go out m a dream,
some misfortune is impending." Just
so. ou are left in the dark.
thingB
crime byl
cause tlif
oughly.
struct
each im
especiu
asy to Take
asy to Opcrato
Arc features peculiar to Hood's rills. Small In
size, tasteless, efficient, thorough. As ono man
oods
said: " You never know you
have taken a pill till it Is all ,11
over." 2.-IC. C. I. Hood & Co., V III S
Proprietors. Lowell, Mass. H 1 J
The only pills to take with Hood's Sarsaparllls.
I certainties in treating disease iscoun-
! ter irritation tha effect, usually, of
plasters. But Johnson's flelladonna '
Piaster is more than a mere excitant '
1 of the skin; it relieves and cures nlso (
1 by the absorption of its medicinal i
I properties. Hence the sureuess and i
I thoroughness of the relief it irives.
I There are other good piasters, but
I this is tho best. And the best is
what we want. The genuine bears
, the lied Cross. Look for it.
JOHNSON ft JOHNSON,
Manufacturing Cuemlata, New York.
Every man's
wife who has
usedSEELIO'S
knows a good
drink. Try it on
friends
can tell you
ahout Seel-
g'a. This admix
ture improve..!!... , . .
ceffc. and make, your husband.
you a delltiout anu
lor nine money. w.
-grocen.
11
C ATARRH CATA W R H
is a local disease
and
lath" resultofcnldsE
and sudden el'
miitle changes.
It can be cured by a J
pleasant remedy
wiiien is annuea di
rectly into tue nos-1
nosiriis.
CRtrt
ELY'S
M BASKS
fimatpggA
WW'S
CREAM BftLM M
Opens and cleanses
the Nasal Passages,
Allays lain and In
Hammatlon, Heals
the Sores, Protects (J A'W COZC "
tho Mcmnmne trom MM It "r.KaW
Colds, Itestores the Senses of Taste and Hine'l.
The Ualm Is quickly absorbed and gives relief
at once. Price 50 cunts at, Dniifylsts or by mall.
ELY BHOTIIKKH, Ml Warren hucet, New York.
f
f
Fine PHOTO
GRAPHS and
CRAYONS at
McKillip Bros.,
Bloomsburg.
The best are
the cheapest.
n J
1
3 rS
v t
S3
Scott's
Emulsion
Will Cure a
Stubborn
Cough
when ordinary specifics fail. It
restores strength to the weakened
organs and gives the system the
force needed to throw off the
disease.
50c. and $1 at all druggists.
ALEXANDER BROTHERS & CO.
DEALERS IN
Cigars, Tobacco, Candies, Fruits and Nuts
SOLE AGENTS FOR
Henry Maillard's Fine Candies. Fresh Every Week.
GOOD3 -A. SPECIALTY,
SOLE AGENTS FOR
F. F.
Adams & Co's Fine Cut Chewing Tobacco
Sole agents for the following brands of Cigars-
Haary Clay, Londros, NoTmal, Indian Princess, Samson, Silver As
Bloomsburg Pa.
:3
?not
:3R
wet again?
To
3S
as
You'll die some day. Ilefnre gjg
long, too, if you ilon't take enre 9JH"
of lliose feci. Some of ihe-jK:
newest, most ricximMe things a
In wet weather shoes nr; here.
3 Store Co., Ltd. jg
5 Bloomsburg
THE MARKETS.
BLOOMSBURG MARKETS.
C0HKICT1D WIIIIT. HBTlIfi PRICIf
Butter per lb $
Eggs per dozen
Lard per lb ,
Ham per pound
Pork, whole, per pound
Beef, quarter, per pound,.
Wheat per bushel ,
Oats "
Rye "
Wheat flour per bbl,
Hay per ton ia to $14
Potatoes per bushel .20
Turnips " 5
Onions " " , .40
Sweet potatoes per peck 2$ to .30
.30
.12
.10
.12
.06
.07
.80
28
.50
4.00
ran
SZEEOES I
Our Spring Styles of Slices
are nearly all.
25 years experience in shoe buying puts us in the Iront
: of shoe dealers.
Comfort, style and durability are combined in our shoes.
Cor.:;ES Ikon and Main Sts.
W. H. Hoore.
EXCHANGE HOTEL,
G. Snvdkk, Pioprietor,
(Opposite the Court IIouse
BLOOMSBURG, FA.
Large and convenient sample rooms. Bath
rooms, hot and cold water, and all m j'lctu
conveniences
For the finest and best stoves, tinware, roofine, spouting
and general job work, go to V. VV. Watts, on Iron street.
Buildings heated by steam, hot air or hot water in a satisfac
tory manner. Sanitary Plumbing a specialty.
I have the exclusive control of the Thatcher steam, hot
water and hot air heaters for this territory, which is acknowl
edged to be the best heater on the market. All work guaran
teed.
W. W. WATTS,
IRON STREET. ZUoomsburrv
1IV.1T
Tallow per lb
Shoulder "
Side meat " "
Vinegar, per qt
Dried apples per lb. .
Dried cherries, pitted
Raspberries
Cow Hides per lb . . .
Steer "
Calf Skin
Sheep pelts.
Shelled corn per bus.
Corn meal, cwt
Bran, "
Chop "
Middlings "
Chickens per lb new.
Turkeys " "
Geese "
Ducks " "
4i
.10
.07
.07
OS
.10
.13
.31
.05
.80
75
5
2.00
1. 00
1.00
1. 00
.12
.12
.X2
.10
08
COAL.
No. 6, delivered 2.40
" 4 and s " 3.50
" 6 at yard a.25
" 4 and s at yard 3.25
HIRES Rootbeer con
tains the best herbs, berries
and roots nature makes for
rootbeer making. Take no
other.
CITY HOTEL,
W. A. Ilartzel, Prop. VeWr F. Itcldy, Slanatfer
No. 121 West Main Street,
BLOOMSBURG, PA.
CiJ'Large and convenient sample rooms
Bath rooms, hot and cold water, and al
modern conveniences. Bar stocked with bes
wines nnd liijuors. First-class livery attached
The Leading Consenrator of America
C ARL I ABLTBN, UueCtor.
Founded to 1693 by
E. Tour j6e.
Mas,
So
rroN;
Send for Prospect nl
giving full information.
Frank W. Halc, General Manager.
Mtrt.oiilT ttj The Ptiirlc. T.. Htrn To., FhllvMiihlh
5-!-4t. d
Bring ths Babiss.
INSTANTANEOUS PROCESS USED.
Strictly first-class guaranteed photographs,
crayons and copys at reasonable prices. We
use exclusively the Collolion Ar'stotype pa
pers, thus securing greater beauty of finish
and permanency of results. CAPWELL,
MARKET SQUARE GALLERY.
"-"'y. Over I lartman's Store.
Greatest Clothing Event
ever occurred
The oldest established woolen mill
and makers of the Best woolen
goods in the U S.
Genuine Edward Harris
We bought entire stock of cloth
Made it in Clothing
Will sell at fifty cents on the dollar.
gives up business
j stops manufacturing
for good
SO cents on the $1.00
Suits $7.75 to $20.1
Last opportunity to get this reliable make of cloth.
1
Notwithstanding the prices, we re paying
Railroad Fare on purchases of moderate
amount, as usual.
WANAMAKER & BROWN,
Sixth and Market Sts.
. WJVL H. WANAMAKER, ihMst
PHILADELPHIA
SAME AS EVER