The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-04
THAT GREAT ANACONDA.
WHY. THE STREET RAILROAD COM
~ PANY WANTS CONTROL.
A Beautiful History OF Grasping Creed
on One Side and pnfinohing Fidelity
to the People on the othor = A
Smashed Contract.

to the People on the othcr - A
Smashed Contract.
The people know that the street railroad
company is at the bottom Of all this cleo
ton excitement and the little discussion
raising ii. They also know that the com,
pany has the criminal court and ward pol
iticiansthe rule or ruin clique. Mos, OF
the people also know what inspires all this
turmoil and strife from the aforesaid fac
lions, especially the street car company.
AT this time the retrospective view OF the
cause and effect will prove apropos and
mighty interesting reading
In order TO set at rest any misgivings
that may he entertained az to the untena-
BILE position no tenaciously and greedily
held by the car company authorities, aud
10 substantiatc the position which TuR
ArPEAL has consistently maintained, in
obedience TO the just demands and rights
of the people Of the city, II has carefully
compiled n history of the important con
trovesy between the companies and the
Taxing District government. The COM
plete history Of every step in this most
Vital controversy TO the city can be found
in the Taxing District office, and il open
for personal inspection. Most Of the mat
ter bearing upon IL has been already pub
lished, and at this important juncture
would be produced but for it's tedious
length. The proceedings in this matter
most conclusiyely show how earnestly and
zealously the present officials Of the Tax.
ing District have watched and cndeavored
to protect its interests, and nj the same
time, with what untiring seliishncss these
would-be corporate kings have labored by
''hook and crook" a. wrst from the pco-
pie valuable property franchise for long
term Of years, for which they would pay
little II anything at all. The Taxing Dis
trict authorities properly resisted the en-
croachmcnts Of the monopolists and filed
suits in the courts 10 bring them TO time.
discriminating suits were filed by the rail-
road company 10 parry the force of the
suits against them. The time approached
Tor the forfeiture suit Of the city 10 be
called against the company, and evidently
fearing the decisions Of the courts, they
went before the Legislative Council nj lis
meeting ON February -, 1887, and had
resolution introduced and adopted, pro-
viding Tor the appointment OF committee
Of six, three 10 be appointed by the prcsi-
dent Of the council, and like number by
the officers Of the companies 10 whom
was 10 be referred, for adjustment, the
lawsuits then pending between the re-
spcctive parties In the courts. President
MADDEN was one Of the committee for the
city. Presidents Hill and Fuyscr were on
the committees for their respective roads.
In the meantime bill was introduced in
the Legislature by member from Knox.
vile, and as this bill exactly fitted the case
aud answered the purposes the Memphis
companies were after, II IN most probable
that, " the truth were known. this hill WIS
introduced ut the instance OF the railroad
magnates and the man chosen 60 intro
ducc II frOn distant part OF the State In
order 10 ward Oilsuspicion. That bill pro-
Nidcd 10 amend sections Of the code from
No. l. 63 10 No. l,272, inclusive. ~ ~ 10
enable street ga companies with iniepect-
Ing lines 10 consolidate with another road
with Ike lines. AMI IL also ratified the con-
solidaiion OF all roads which had done 10.
As soon Ms the bill WAS introduced In the
House Speaker W. l.. Clapp forwarded
cory oi 10 President lladlcn. Mr.. Had.
den, nj once pcrcciying iis dclctcrious e.
iects to ulis city, wrote the following able
letter TO Speaker Clapp and followed IL 10
Nashville the next day;
"Munin, TrNS.. Marh IA. isss.
The Hon ". l. Clarr Nashville Teuns
"DE,n SiR Copy Of street railroad bill
nccived. II will hc strcnuousiy opposed
tot reasons below The purpose oi the
bill Il manifest. The charter of the old
company expires about eight ycars hence.
We have had a bill pending ia the chan.
ccry court for the forfeiture of that char.
ter for alleged neglect and abuses Of liz
corporate duties and powers That case
was set Tor trial last Monday. Just lew
days before the day Of trial n written
proposition was flcl With the district.
asking II To appoint committee Of three
20 meet and confer with like committee
from the railroad company, with q view
u adjust and settle all litigations and dii.
ierenoes The committees were appointed
and have had daily conferences for the
past several days, The forfeiture ease hav.
ING In the mcaniime been continued at
the instance OF the company, In order 20
give u an opportunity 10 make aiildaviis.
IL ~, In my opinion, the purpose Of the
bill not only TO defeat the forfeiture casc,
but oy the consolidation. 30 extend the
charter Of the oil company for twenty
years beyond Ia present life during the
charter Of the new company. lS,r sec.
tion No. l,ebS) The old company has al.
ways claimed, aud yet claims, absolute
power over the streets OF the city
The city will resist that claim Ia the
last ditch, and ono Of Ia strongest weap.
ons of resistance Is the forfeiture bill. II
The oct passes that ease is certainly gone.
aud all the streets II the city are lcit-if
the construction is right the mercy Of
these private corporations Tho charter Of
the two Memphis companies, granted
them in 1893 and 1857, when the body 81
or Intelligent people werc DISTINGUISHED.
stc the only instances ON record where the
charter Of the street milrad company did
not especially requip the company TO got
The consent of the city before going on a
street OF the city. The general law u the
State ~ requires, and certainly the Ieqis-
lature ought not 10 do anything 10 cripple
the efforts Of the city In every Legitimate
mode 10 compel thesc companies 10 admit
the absolute control by the city VI It's own
streets, and nj the expiration oithe charter
oi the old company Ia SECURE every lcgiti-
mate advantage 10 the city for the yalua.
nie franchise oi operating street cans over
Its principal streets. Please keep us AL.
yiscd about this bill. Very truly.
DAVID =. llADDEN, President"
Before leaving. however, for Nashville
the next day, President MADDEN and Mr..
Napoleon I'LL held q conference, at which
Mr.. John Ovcrton, IT,, was present and
acted m referee ON the terms which the
two gentlemen discnsscdand finally agnccd