nsfers,
stock issues, and all that sort of thing. I was thinking if at any
time we find this business of renewing the franchises too uncertain
here we might go into the state legislature and see what can be done
about introducing a public-service commission of that kind into this
state. We are not the only corporation that would welcome it. Of
course, it would be better if there were a general or special demand
for it outside of ourselves. It ought not to originate with us."

He stared at Cowperwood heavily, the latter returning a reflective gaze.

"I'll think it over," he said. "There may be something in that."

Henceforth the thought of instituting such a commission never left
Cowperwood's mind. It contained the germ of a solution--the
possibility of extending his franchises for fifty or even a hundred
years.

This plan, as Cowperwood was subsequently to discover, was a thing more
or less expressly forbidden by the state constitution of Illinois. The
latter provided that no special or exclusive privilege, immunity, or
franchise whatsoever should be granted to any corporation, association,
or individual. Yet, "What is a little matter like the constitution
between friends, anyhow?" some one had already asked. There are fads
in legislation as well as dusty pigeonholes in which phases of older
law are tucked away and forgotten. Many earlier ideals of the
constitution-makers had long since been conveniently obscured or
nullified by decisions, appeals to the federal government, appeals to
the state government, communal contracts, and the like--fine cobwebby
figments, all, but sufficient, just the same, to render inoperative the
original intention. Besides, Cowperwood had but small respect for
either the intelligence or the self-protective capacity of such men as
constituted the rural voting element of the state. From his lawyers
and from others he had heard innumerable droll stories of life in the
state legislature, and the state counties and towns--on the bench, at
the rural huskings where the state elections were won, in country
hotels, on country roads and farms. "One day as I was getting on the
train at Petunkey," old General Van Sickle, or Judge Dickensheets, or
ex-Judge Avery would begin--and then would follow some amazing
narration of rural immorality or dullness, or political or social
misconception. Of the total population of the state at this time over
half were in the city itself, and these he h