Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1915 — VOTING OF SUBSIDIES WRONG IN PRINCIPLE. [ARTICLE]

VOTING OF SUBSIDIES WRONG IN PRINCIPLE.

That The. Democrat is ndt alone! in its opposition to voting subsidies; to private corporations is shown by i the following editorial from Thurs- 1 called Lafayette & Northwestern the proposition of voting 571,000 at that place for Promotor O. L. Brown’s paper electric road, the so-' called Lafayete & Northwestern; Railroad, which is asking for $.04,000 from Rensselaer and Marion tp. You have heard The Democrat saj'j almost precisely the same thing time! and again, hut here it is from another .authority and it will not hurt you to read ii one.? more and ponder | over the reposition before vou cast your vote on Wednesday, July 14: i Yesterday men interested in the promotion of the Lafayette & Northwestern interurban line, appeared before the directors of the Chamber of Commerce, explained what had been done, told what the road hoped to do for t/his city and the territory it serves, and asked the endorsement of the business men of this city. Those present listened attentively to what was said and passed a resolution, expressing this city's welcome for any inteururban that ipy; he built and voicing appreciation of the efforts of those who wish to give this city another electric line. At yesterday’s meeting it developed tbaT the promoters of the Lafayette & Northwestern road will ask the taxpayers of Wabash township to vote a subsidy of $71,000. Now the people of Lafayette and Tippecanoe county have only the best wishes for this interurban project and they certainly would welcome another interurban line. We know something of the value of an interurban line to the city and to the people dependent upon the city. If the proposed line is built it would have the support of Lafayette and we are certain that it would be given all the patronage possible. But, if this new road is to he a paying investment why should the people of this county be called upon ] to vote a subsidy, a free will offering to the builders of the road? Why should the people of Wabash, or any other township he called upon to give up their hard earned cash to the promotion of a proposition that, in the opinion of the promoters and their financiers, will prove profitable? If the promoters of this road and their financial hackers (providedthey have them! believe the project will prove profitable*- why are they unwilling to advance the money for the construction of 4he road? If the financial backers of this proposed line are practical railroad builders, if they know the cost oi construction, if they 6know the required population per mile that is necessary to insure a return on the investment, if they have investigated all these ihings and are convinced that the road will pay, then why do they ask for dona;ions? Is it because of their lack of confidence in the proposition or is someone trying to get something for nothing? The people of this county, and those of any other county that may be asked to vote a subsidy for the construction -of this road, have a very simple proposition to consider and there should be no doubt about their decision. If this line is built it -must have strong financial backing, hundreds of thousands more dollars ban can be raised by subsidies. If the proposition has such backing if has it because men of wealth and railroad experience have faith in the investment. Why should the people of this or any other county he asked to hand money over to capitalists—present them with gifts for making an investment which they believe to be sound? Every taxpayer of this and all other counties through which the Lafayette & Northwestern would run should consider well the fact that if the proposition has the necessary money to complete and equip the line it does not need the money of the taxpayers. It is said on good authority that there is no successful interurban road in the state that re. <l uired and received subsidies to construct.

The principle of voting subsidies' is wrong. Capital does not demand gifts for making investments. If this road is constructed we want it to be a successful one and if it is successful it must be a sound business proposition. If there is not sufficient business to be obtained in the territory through which it would ruh to justify the promotors and financiers for putting up the money for its construction, the people of this county and other counties should not be called upon to make donations to them and run the risk of losing their money. The Journal does not believe in votiijg subsidies; if the project asking a subsidy is sound it does not Jieed a bonus; if jj ft not sound the people, by voting subsidies, are but throwing money to the wind in the hope that it may be blown back to them.