The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-20
DEBATE ON THE DUMMIES
THE ISSUE CAUSES A'LIvELY FLING
OF STRONG ARGUMENTS.
Mr.. N. b. johnson Champions the oppo.
sition and Greatly Exercises Mr.. w.
M, sneed. Judge T. ]. Latham and the
Hon. H. NJ. Hill--Red-Hot Times.

II was based upon conference at the Tax.
ing District presidents office, in which
Mr.. Nathaniel b. Johnston, as spokesman
for other influential citizens, demanded to
know OF the city's executive il he intended
TO enforce resolution passed at a meeting
of the council held February 0; last, re.
quiring the companies to substitute animal
for steam power within the corporate limits.
The attack was precipitated on schedule
time, arriving at the legislative council
meeting yesterday afternoon. The follow
ing petition springing the bolhersome
problem was read in a deliberate, cold
blooded manner by Secretary pullen:
To the Hon. u. 2. MADDEN, President etc
Dear Sir.--At meeting of the Legisla-
tive Council held February ., 1855, reso-
luton was passed requiring the East End
railway to move its cars inside the cor
porate limits by means OF horse power un.
ill the said railway supplied itself with the
unobjectionablc steam motors contcm-
plated in IFS charter, and inasmuch MS
there has been no alteration whatever
made by this railway company since that
time looking TO the lessening of these oh.
jectionablc features, but, on the contrary,
they have been increased by the doubling
! OF the number Of trains run, and il being,
| by the terms of the resolutions above re-
ierred to your special and particular duty
10 have the same enforced ''aftcr reason
able time has elapsed in which the com.
pany may have time TO make the change
required" and this reasonable time"
having been allowed during which we, the
undersigned, being residents and property
owners on the streets over which this rail
way passes, have patiently endured the
| ills recited in the resolution, now come TO
your honor, rs the one authorized 10 act
in the matter, and ask for the rigid en-
forccment OF the law, aud in doing 80
would refer your honor TO the acts Of
the Legislature of Tennessee of 1875,
page go, upon which the charter OF
this East End Railway company is
based, where il says, tho company may
operate said street railway by animal power
or may use dummy steam engine, pro-
vided said engine shall not give Off either
smoke or steam 30 as TO annoy or frighten
either persons or animals, and we will
submit that these conditions. recited in
the act are impossible of fyliillment with
the engines now in use, and that instead
OF our asking any extraordinary favor at
your hands, or asking anything likely
10 work 10 the injury OF any law
abiding citizen, we alllye that the East
End Railway company las violated the
plain letter Of the law every day that il
has run ears over It's tracks, and is Us
much a law-broaker as any Of the mis-
creants who are daily sentenced by you 10
hard labor for yer. much more trivial
oilcnscs; and, furthermore, we claim that
We should not bc compelled 10 20 TO the
expense, or be required TO incur the delay,
incident TO litigation IN enforce our insi
rights, seeing that this company IL acting
In plain violation OF its charter, and Il
thus law.brakcr, which il Is your dutl
10 arrest, and that you have the OK
plicit instruction Of the council In th,
matter, and we now have 20 ask that ihi
company be required TO comply with tn
terms OF It's charter; that the resolution q
the honorable Legislative Council be en-
forced, aud that this company be forcvcl
forbidden the use OF steam engines within
the corporation, until they have iirst beer
shown and proven 10 be Of the unobjec
tionable character contemplated by the
trainers Of the law, that thus We may b,
protected as law-abiding citizens, in ia,
irce and comfortable possession Of on
property and homes. Respectfully yours
n. II. JOHNSTON,
w. r. BOwDRE,
JusErm BRucE,
w. \. BRrcr.
President MADDEN then asked that III,
resolution upon which the foregoing lie
ition was based he read. Secretary Pul
len referred 10 his minutes Of the mcctin,
OF February .. and read m follows:
Whereas, II IL provided by the chartcr
Of the East End Dummy line and ia,
Prospect Park Dummy line that said com
panies may operate their cans "by aniina
power. or may use dummy steam engine
provided, said engine shall not give Of
either smoke or steam ~ NJ 10 annoy o
Tighten eithcrpcnons OF animals and
Whereas, The motor engines now In us'
by said companies do moi conform 10 ihl
requirements Aforesaid, but ON the con
tmry give of an amount Of steam IN,
make ~ much noise and disturbance ~ 4
frighlcn animalsand practically 10 exclude
all other vehicles from the Use ~ thI
streets occupied by them. aud greatly 4
damage the property within the disiric
adjoining the same: Therefore. be- IL
Resolved, That said companies be AN,
they are hereby required Ia substitute ani
NAL power within the limits II the 1axinl
District for the steam motors nov ia Use
and 81 10 continue the uso NJ animal powc
p until such steam motors d. provided n
! conform TO the rcquirinenis oi the charter
Of said companies, and that ilic prcsidcn
oi the police aud fire commissioners lie ia
I s,ruricd 10 enforce this resolution, allow
ing reasonable time 10 said companies 4
make the substitution hcirin required.
"Now, gentlemen II the council, ~
|, marked President lladdcn. "ihcy hay
conered INC, by insisting that ! oniorc
that resolution. What IL The will OF thi
councilG'
Silence for an awful moment. and N
: president continued: '.Uun't all speak d
once. But u You all say jail carryy on
> the resolution, then Il goes That pctiliO
IL q pretty salty document. dealing In pcl
7 sonaliiics toward me, bpi 1ais all right
There afc two presidents hoU VIZ. Sncc
7. aud Judge latham, and Harry I'LL j. III
I attorney. Then. TOO. thcc arc Mcssn
I Johnston, Bruce and EoWdr. They en-
give NJ flood Of light"
Mr.. snccd then arorc, .nd claimed tbs
be had Letters from the manufacturers q
iablisbing the fact that ihe mOion Use
by his company were Of lcm0si improve
y pattern. lie also complained 81 III
II council constituting ridiculous ~
!. II the Legislature without giving ihc'
h ~ chance for hearing. u io defended -
company at some length and gith a grci
p. deal of earncsincnA. Tho, had aiicmpio
:, and inicpded 10 carry oui lliai contract