THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1881. CITY COUNCIL VAGARIES.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2247, 11 May 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1881. CITY COUNCIL VAGARIES.

An episode occurred at the last meeting of the City Council which, strange to say, does not appear to have heen made public at all, hut which is certainly of considerable public interest. After a lengthened deliberation extending over some three or four months, the Tramway Committee succeeded in arriving at a by-law to regulate the traffic, &c.,of the Tramway Company as provided in the Act. No doubt the subject is one surrounded by several difficulties, but it was open to question whether they were of such a nature as to require such a length of time to solve them. However that may be, the fact remains that the Tramway Committee brought up a draft by-law. Hero occurred one of the most remarkable episodes witnessed ever in the City Council. One of the members (Councillor Thomson) rose and enquired if the Tramway Company had been supplied with a copy of this bylaw ; in other words, whether they had been consulted as to the provisions therein contained. The reply, as might be expected, was in the negative, where upon the same Councillor moved the adjournment of the consideration of the by-law for a fortnight, a copy of it in the meantime to be sent to the Tramway Company. We confess that we are utterly at a loss to understand such a course of conduct as that proposed. Why should the Tramway Company alone, out of all the persons affected by the bylaws of the City Council, have their opinion taken as to whether certain enactments proposed to be carried out will suit them ? The City Council has made by-laws time after time affecting the licensed cabmen of the city to a far greater extent than the by-law under discussion will affect the Tramway Company. But they did not submit that by-law to the cabmen for their approval, nor did they even invito suggestions. Indeed, had they done so it would, in our opinion, have been a confession of weakness on the part of the Council—an admission that they were incapable of evolving out of their own inner consciousness a by-law for the governance of the particular body to which it referred. Why, then, we ask, should the Council so ■ far abrogate its functions in this particular instance as to require the opinion of the Tramway Company as to what it would like P The members of the Council are the representatives of the ratepayers, and should be the conservators of their interests. There may be—we by no means say there is—a conflict of interests with regard to the Tramway Company and the city, in whi*h the former may desire to get what sporting men call a " bit the best of it." We do not blame them for so doing, and trying to work the local authority in a manner favorable to themselves. But, on the other hand, the citizens look to the Council to see that nothing is done detrimental to' their interests, and to take care that one section of the community does not obtain more privileges than another. But when it comes to this pass that the City Council, as Shylock puts it, stand before the Tramway Company with bated breath, and in a bondsman's way humbly ask them to be pleased to say what would suit them, then, we say, the time has come for the citizens to speak, and to prevent such an abrogation not only of dignity, but of the powers confided to the Council. We are at a loss to imagine what those Councillors, who have, hitherto, been staunch to the city, and opposed various little moves which would have been greatly to the interest of the Tramway Company, if not the city, were doing at this time. We should have imagined that the fiery eloquence of Councillor Hulbert, the withering sarcasm of Councillor King, and the trenchant wit of Councillor Bishop, would have been poured on the devoted head of Councillor Thomson. Perhaps it was so; but, alas, no record remains, and the great battle which no doubt took place is as yet unsung. We trust, however, that we shall hear no more of the advocacy of a line of conduct which we cannot but feel is scarcely worthy the dignity of the Council, and that in future the members will have the courage of their own opinions, and correct what by-laws they may deem require correction for the good government of the city, without consulting the Tramway Company.