The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-15
In COL. JOHNSON'S INTEREST
An Ordinance Before the Common Coun-
Gil That Needs Careful Attention.
1t Proposes to Give the Citizens Street Rail-
way Company Monopoly Of the City's
Thoroughfares for Electrical Railways.

The members of the new Council are just be-
ginning to get glimpse of the methods by
which the Citizens Street Railway Company
has taken care of its interests for number OF
years. There are, perhaps, not half-doz-
en- members of the body who know that on
Monday night after the ordinance requiring
double-end platforms and conductors on the
principal lines had been passed. the agents of
Colonel johnson succeeded 10 getting upon the
files ordinance that nominaliy gives them
charter. with exclusive rights to all the
streets of the city for all time to come. The
ordinance, ostensibly, is for the purpose OF
granting the company the right to operate
line to Grown Hill Cemetery.
1t was prepared by the company
and handed to Councilman Darnell last week
with the request that he present it to the Coun-
ell Without understanding its real purport.
Mr. Darnell consented to introduce it. On
Monday night, just after other street railway
matters had been passed upon, it seems the or
dinance sent to the clerks desk. and. upon
the motion of someone not now known, it was
referred to the railroad committee without
reading The ordinance escaped the hands OF
the reporters, and, until it found among the
Council papers yesterday. not a half-dozen per-
sons knew of it's introduction. 1t is brief, but
in the opinion of the city attorney and council
men who have examined It, it means great
deal. In full. it is as follows;
An ordinance providing for street railway to Crown
Hill Cemetery, supplemental to ordinance en-
titled An ordinance authorizing the construction
extension and operation of certain passenger rail
ways in and upon the streets of the city of Indian
apolis, passed Jan IS 1864"
Section L. BE it ordained by the Common Council
and Board of Aldermen of the city of Indianapolis
by given and fully vested in the Ctzs StreetraI
way Company of Indi napolisS and their successors
railroad lines together with all the mechanics
trlvaEces necessary to oper tie the by
pair affect the existing right of said company
animal power any of their saidlinesprovided, that
nded one of its lines to Crown Hill Cemetery and
have the same in operation within ninety days after
the passage of this ordnance
Section z This ordinance shall take effect and be
in force from and after its passage by the Common
Council and Beard of Aldermen.
1t is not necessary to pass an ordinance grant
ing the company the right to go to Crown Hill
Cemetery. 1t already has the right of way to
the city limits and the County Com missioners
have granted the right of way beyond. When
the ordinance was presented to Councilman Oar
nell 10y tie company 1t was represented that an
electric railway was to be constructed to Grown
Hill, but the ordinance does not make any such
promise 1t is stipulated that the rights of the
company to animal shall not be i'm
paired, ana it Is consequently left free to oper
ate mule-cars to Grown Hill. if it sees fit. ..It
really means that the company Is to have the
right to run electric railways every street in
INDIANAPOLIS" said City Attorney Taylor yest4r-
day. sit is nothing more or less than an artful
dodge for new charter"
Councilman, who read it for the first time.
said he could not what it meant, unless it
was charter. 'tNotice the exact Ian 2uage."
said he. sit gives them authority to build,
erect and maintain their streer-railwav lines,
together with all the mechanical contrivances
necessary to operate the same by electricity
1t doesn't say upon what streets the electric
lines shall be operated. and from the artfui
wording of the paragraph it was doubt in
tended TO give them the right construct cleo
trio railways on every street in the city. Taken
at its meaning, at first sight it would give them
the right to operate electric all the lines
they now have, and according to the companys
claim that it has right any street in the city
it would give them the exclusive privilege
''Fhe sole purpose of the ordinance is to pre-
vent any competing companies from building
roads here" said another councilman Recently
the cabie-road company has taken steps indica-
tive that it is going to work Immediately. and
as it has intimated that it proposes to construct
electric road two. Colonel johnson wants
to head off all competition by slipping through
this ordnance"
II have but one thing to say" said President
Wright, of the Board of Aldermen Before the
company is granted any more extension of rights
a clause should be inserted compelling it to i'm
prove all the streets between its tracks,"