St. Paul daily globe., 1889-06-16
THE BOARD OF TRADE
Fayors Granting Another Fran.
chise If 1t Can Be Done Le-

chise If 1t Can Be Done Lee
gaily.
At the special meeting of the board
of trade yesterday morning Secretary
Hall read a communication from Ander-
Sun & Douglass, setting forth the propo-
sition made by them for the establish
ment and operation of cable line syS-
TEN. Capt. 0. c. Merriman suggested
that the proposition should be re-
ferred to committee for Investigation.
Upon the motion of w. E. Steele,
the chair appointed as the committee
0. c. Merriman, Leander TOrton, Mel
son w. Harris, G. P. Lowell and w. E.
Steele. The committee is to report at
special meeting of the board to be held
at IL o'clock Thursday morning.
The committee met Immediately after
the adjournment Of the board and re-
ceived expressions of opinion from the
members. Dorillius Morrison opposed
the granting of franchise to the new
company by the council so long as the
street railway company is able to meet
the requirements of the city, as he
claimed it is doing. The granting OF
lead to litigation detrimental to the
city. A. B. Barton wanted to have the
legal right of the council to grant
franchise settled first.
E. S. Corser said: Il hope the council
will be wise enough to grant the new
company the required permit. OF
course, | desire to have the city's inter-
ests properly protected. The city is
badly in need of the transportation IA
cilities this company proposes to es-
tablish. Every branch of business will
he benefited, and there is no reason
why Minneapolis should not have these
facilities as well as other cities in the
country. If We go into the moral side
of the case, then we shall have to con-
slider the right of quarter of million
of Inhabitants, as well as the rights OF
Mr.. Lowry"
J. T. Wyman said competition was
the life OF every branch of business,
and, if he had right understanding OF
the matter, there was no legal or moral
obligation which prevented the council
granting the new company the right to
build and maintain the system pro-
posed. If this company was ready to
give bonds to carry out their part of the
contract he favored the plan. Ii would
be great benefit to the entire city to
have these lines established, and it was
an opportunity that the business men
of the city had no right to let pass by.
Judge Daniel Fish questioned the
right of the council in granting an ex-
elusive street railway franchise to Mr..
Lowry in the first place. He did not
believe the franchise was legal one.
This was question, he said, that the
courts would have to decide. He was
not certain that the council would now
have any right to grant the new COM
pany franchise. As there was certain
to be contention between the old and
new companies. If the franchise was
granted. the courts of necessity would
have to settle these rights.
Capt. Merriman, who was mayor when
the exclusive franchise was granted Mr..
Lowry, said when the ordinance was
submitted to him for his approval or re-
lection, he seriously questioned its le-
gality, but finally approved it, believing
it was for the best. Under the circum-
stances he did not think the present
council bad any right to grant fran,
chiSe to a new company, and questioned
the legality of such action.
DR.. o. J. Evans, who was member
of the council that granted the Lowry
franchise, said while there was moral
right to be considered now, he believed
that if the city demanded the building
of certain lines of railway, and the com-
pany holding the franchise failed to
comply, the right could be given to
other parties. Aid. c. P. Lowell spoke
in favor of the proposition, and other
addresses pro and con were listened to.
The committee went into executive
session, at which it was decided to get
the opinion ol Judges Lochren, Smith
and Young as to the legality of the
company's right to grant the new COM
pany franchise. and then adjourned
to meet Tuesday at o'clock. 1t is un-
derstoOd the committee will unani-
mousiy indorse granting the franchise
if it can be done legally.