The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-08
FIGHTING FOR PRIVILEGES
The Street Railroad Companies Will Be
Left to Settle Their Own Claims.
Councilmen Cannot Relieve the Situation
Manager ShaiFer Withdrsws the Ordinance
Granting an Extension of His Charter.

The three-cornsred fight among tho street
railway companies took on some new features
yesterday which bid fair to make it more inter
esting than at first anticipated. After the
courcilmen and city officials had cooled down
from the excitsment incident to the Citizens
company laying short stretches of track on
the streets named in the Dudley charter,
Wednesday, they began to examine the compa-
nys charter, and found that it granted the CON-
pany . right to lay tracks on any street in the
city. and on any new streets that may be added
before 1901. 1t was seen that il would be use
less to attempt to enjoin tho company from oc-
cupying the streets, and it was agreed in o
caucus of several OF the city officials
that the competing companies would
have to settle their differences In
the courts. The Citizens company. learning
that it would not be interfered with by any pro-
cess Of law. largely increased Its force of labo-
rers yesterday morning. and in addition to work
on East and West Market began putting down
track on Alabama street aud Massachusetts and
Clifford avenues. thus successfully heading of
any effort at track-laying the Dudley company
might undertake
In the afternoon the railroad committee of the
Council, together with tho judiciary committee.
held private meeting in Mayor Dsnny's Office,
and the situation was very thoroughly discussed.
It had been the intention to take up the ordi.
nance Of the three companies and act upon them,
but the situation was 30 perplexing that they
were not considered. II was the opinion
of nearly all present that the Coun-
Gil could do nothing toward stopping
xba Il
was sentiment toward granting the amend
ment asked for by the Dudley company. If not
also the Neal franchise, and allowing the COM
psnies to settle In the courts who should have
the streets. Colonel Perry. of the Dudley COM
pany. was present and insisted that the Citi-
zens' company had no right 10 occupy the streets
named in his company's charter. Chairman
Darnell asked him il tho company would put mp
guarantee that the road would be built In case
the amendment permitting the construction Of
an electric motor road was passed. and he said
IL would put up as guarantee q certified check
for s. 600. The committee finally adjourned un-
I'll o'clock to-day. without taking any action
at all.
Anticipating that the committee would be
ready to make report, call was issued for .
special session Of both the Council and board
last night. The board did not meet, but all the
councilmen with few exceptions were present
There was great deal OF caucusiug among the
members before the meeting was called to or
der. and no one could suggest anything that the
body could do Ia the way OF settling the diff
Guilty. just before the meeting Colonel Perry
put in the Mayors hands q certified check for
81, 600, guaranteeing that the Dudley company
would build the motor road In case the charter
was amended as asked. The attorney for she
Citizens company had . communication, which
he handed to the Mayor. 1t was a. follows
Council and Board of Aldermen. indianapolis. In
diana:
Gentlemen: On May 10 an ordinances was intro.
duced in the Common Council asking certain chan
in the franchise of the Citizens Street Railway Com
pany. which referred to the railroad COMMITTEES
| for consideration.
Permit me to request that the same be returned to
| this company, without action being taken by Your
| honorable body. Yours very truly,
j. @. SHAFFER, Superintendent.
| Az soon a. Council began its business
| Councilman TrusIer moved to adjourn, inss-
| much, he said az any action that body could
take on this question at that time would be lille
| journ. and only FIVE voted against It, The COM
| municxtion of Mr.. Shaffer was presented, but il
will be considered at to-days meeting Of the
committee.
"Will the committee return the ordipancer
| Chairman Darnell was asked.
Certainly" said he; Il do not see how We car
do otherwise. The withdrawal Of the ordinAoos
Is what expected 1t means the fight is on
| The Citizens company is going to in
sist on having everything that wal
| already decided that no company shall have
monopoly Of the streets aud if the Citizens
| company goes ahead and pre-empts all the
streets it may DO compelled to allow other com
pauies to use its tracks and collect just rental.
| 1t looks like we were going to have a sort OF Z
| union street railway company"
| few of the Councilmen are OF the opinion
| that the Citizens company has no legal right {,
occupy the streets named IN the Dudley charter
/ They maintain that whenever the Council
grants q new company the right to street il
| apnus the right of the old company TO II.
The attorney for the Citizens CO mpany sale
last night the patches OF track along the Dudley
route were not being put down for the express
| purpose of keeping the new company out 1--WE
intend to build the line" said be. land will have
cars on them in a short time. We have long be
lieved il would be . desirable line, but held of
because we did not desire to have any troubl,
with the Dudley people. We took up our tracks
on Central avenue and Mississippi street to 40
commodate them, and have surely given then
| al. the show in the world We never did Do
lieve they intended to build cable road, and
| when they asked the Council for q charter fo
an electric line, we concluded to 90 to work our
selves. The Dudley company attempted to sol
out to us. Colonel Dudley sent q telegram to
con 6dental clerk Of Mr. Holmes, at Chicago
telling him he would like to consolidate the tw,
roads. l think we waited on the company lon,
| nOhh Qfo ha nj