The state journal. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1883-1885, 1884-04-19

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whole matter to the decision of the court. "
Mr.. Kelker talked freely and without
heSitation, and eyinced great sincerity in
his desire to have the question of the
rights Of the city and company decided
by the courts.
THE STREET RAILWAY ORDINANCE.
Debate in Select CouuciI-Speech of Mr..
Chas. A. Miller.
The debate on the ordinance to make
further regulations concerning city pas
senger railways in the Select Council, on
Monday night, was interesting and spicy
and will no doubt prove interesting to our
readers. II was crowded out of the TEL
EGRAPH until to day by a rush of other
important matter.
The debate was participatedin by Messrs
Charles A. Miller, Of the Eighth ward,
President Gorgas, Martin and Fritchey,
and was highly enjoyed by the other
members and citizens present. The
Common Council had adjourned and the
members from that branch looked on and
took in the discussion in expectation of
what will come should the ordinance
reach them.
AS soon as the ordinance was reached
Mr.. Miller, who had offered it, found to
his establishment that majority of the
Council was apparently opposed to it, but
he took in the situation at once and de-
termined to put them on the record and
take care that the ordinance should not
die without q struggle, and right bravely
he defended it with the odds against him.
AS soon as it was called up Mr. Martin was
Immediately recognized and got in mo-
ton TO indefinitely postpone, which was
promptly seconded by Mr.. Mason. The
following is in substance Mr. Miller's re-
marks, which were well delivered and
produced an apparent sensation among
the bystanders and put his associates Of
the Select Council to considering the i'll
advised course they were about to take:
Mr.. Miller. Mr.. President Why should
this ordinance be indefinitely postponed?
1t has not vet been considered. What
reason can be given for killing a measure
Of so much importance as this, without
debate? Is it possible that members have
come here tonight so sur charged with
malice against it as to be willing to kill it
on sightY You don't know what's in it
1t has been over two weeks since you
heard it read, and you have forgotten it.
You don't know what necessary rcgul&-
lions it makes to pro Get the city and the
public against the assumption of privileges
bv corporations that are absolutely incOn-
siStent with every principle of local gov
eminent.
Besides the present street car company,
50 popular and SO potent in this chamber
now, other companies may come. We
must make some general regulations for
all alike. You must legislate for the
city's interest, not for personal interests
or for separate interests alone. The peO-
bic have some little, interest in this COM
munlty We ought to respect that inter
est. / am here TO legislate for what |
humbly believe to be the best interest of
the entire city and all its forty thousand
people alike A corporation must not
unceremonously trample over every
body. When they come IN here and ask
civilly for privileges, Councils grant them
lavishly, but they must ask. If right
or privilege is worth anything it is worth
asking for If it is not worth as king tor,
ii does no harm to withhold it. Ii we
have no reason TO expect to be asked,
then we might as well abandon our tunc-
lions and allow the corporations to run
the city.
Mr. What's the matter with
the old ordinance?
Mr.. Miller-Can you say that the old
ordinance gives the Mayor the necessary
authority to protect the people?
Mr.. Mason-There are laws enough
now if they were enforced. The law of
the State SAYS, no railway company shall
occupy the streets without permission.
If the State law don't protect US surely
this ordinance wont.
Mr.. Miller-The enforcement of the
law and the ordinances of the city rests
not with US, our duty is legislation. If
we provide proper regulations our duty IS
done When the gentlemen speaks OF
the law of the State suppose he means
the Constitution. That instrument makes
it our duty TO pass this ordinance. I'M
dcrstand that it is asserted in the courts
that the Constitution is not applicable be-
cause no law has been passed to carry it
into effect Let us pass one.
The Chair-Mr Gorgas. don't pro
pose to vote on this ordinance, but
would like TO ask whether it was not pre-
sented for the purpose OF keeping the
company out of court so as to compel
them to settle?
Mr.. Miller-I am ignorant Of any such
purpose. The company to which the
Chair alludes was involved in a suit be-
fore the ordinance was prepared and that
suit is now in court, so that such pur-
pose could not have been intended. |
was asked to present it and upon exami
nation was convinced that it was for
the better protection of the city and the
right thing to mass
The Chair-You don't know what its
object is. If the other ordinance fails
they will fall back on this, if this fails
then they will ask us to pass another and
| SO on.
MIR Miller-And why not? If it takes
a dozen to make perfect system of regu-
lations for street railway companies; to
protect the city and the public against
their arbitrary pretensions why not pass
them? What are we here for? Was
any one law ever found to be perfect
when first put into operation. The sug-
gestion of the chair attributes higher