298 



FIEST COrXTY PAEK SYSTEAI 



This suggeition will, of course, be promptly met by tbe 

 interested corporations, and perhaps others, with the plea 

 that, as many of the most valnable franchises have already 

 been granted, and the Xew Jersey conrts having rendered 

 decisions against mnnicipalities recoTering rights and 

 added compensation for privileges heretofore granted, such 

 a law is not practicable, nor wonld its legality be sustained. 



Perhaps the best answer to this contention, may be found 

 in the decisions of the United States Supreme Court defin- 

 ing the rights of municipalities in dealing with franchise 

 values : also of several of the State courts, not only in ren- 

 dering similar decisions, but, in some instances, declaring 

 emphatically against the right of any municipal grants for 

 the use of the public streets, as public property, in per- 

 petuity. The recent popular movement for limited utility 

 franchises is merely the advance step in a forward move- 

 ment by which, through the regularly constituted channels, 

 the people vrill again come into the possession, by tax or 

 otherwise, of at least a fair portion of their own: and some 

 of the great values wrongfully taken from them by this 

 perpetual franchise process restored. 



If the courts have not yet discovered a way that this 

 can be done under the present law, new legislation and 

 other courts may discern a new light to that result, as the 

 recent illumination of the franchise value question has 

 already opened new avenue-s of action toward better things, 

 both in State, County and !^Iunicipal affairs. 



FIELD HOUSES EOE PAEKS. 



Fourth; — As public parks are created and maintained by, 

 and for, all the people, there should be enlarged opportuni- 

 ties and extended conveniences for their enjoyment by the 

 general public. These pleasure grounds should not only 

 be attractive to the eye in their natural and aesthetic adorn- 

 ment, but should also provide every possible feature for 

 rest, recreation and benefit, that is consistent with public 

 administration. The plan recently adopted by the South 

 Park CozmmssioG^ Chicago, in intmdndn^ in tm ^ the 



