St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-29
SOME nerve AT LAST.
The Council Will Ascertain
Who Owns st. Paul's
Streets.
Injunction Proceedings Or
dered Begun Against Low
ry's Company
To Stop Further Proceedings
Tearing Up Sixth
Street.
A Council Meeting Enlivened
by Some Interesting
Eloquence.

When o'clock came around last
evening there were but eight aldermen
present in the council chamber, and it
looked very dubious tor quorum. Col.
Barr, of the street railway company,
was present in all his glory, and circu-
lated around among the SOlons who
were present, swapping repartee. The
meeting was called for the purpose of
taking some action regarding the tear
ing up of Sixth street and laying down
of tracks by the st. Paul Railway CON-
pany without the consent of the coun-
Gil. A number of property owners on
Sixth street were also present. ready to
make their protests against Mr.. Lowry
occupying the street.
About 500 several more aldermen
Strolled in, making a quorum, and the
meeting was called to order. Assistant
County Attorney Mum was the first to
speak on tine subject. He said that he
thought it necessary for the city to take
some action regarding the attempted
usurpatiOn of Sixth street. Mr.. Lowry
had stated that il the city council had
not granted a franchise to any other
company he would not have begun work
in the street. "It is now time" con-
tinued Mr.. Mum. ''for the council to
take some action to protect the rights of
the city, il they ever intend to. They
ought to find out what right they have
to grant other companies franchises"
THE ENTERING WEDGE.
Aid. Fischer thought that no company
should be allowed to lay tracks on Sixth
street. He did not think, however, that
the council ought to fight battles of
other companies. Aid. Melady then
offered a resolution. the purport of
which was to vest the city attorney with
power to enjoin and prevent the street
railway company from occupying Sixth
street. Before the resolution passed,
however, Judge Flandrau, who repre-
asked to say word in self-defense. Col.
Barr sat next to him, and as the
Judge got warmed up on his theme, he
would smile complacently and nudge
himself as if in self-congratulation ON
having secured such wealth of elo-
quence on his side. The judge made
quite long speech and very effective
one. He said that there was no use in
denying that Mr.. Lowry had an undiS-
puted right to lay tracks on any street
in the city, with the exception of those
exempted by law. During his discourse,
he made several sarcastic illusions to Mr.
Rogers speech on Monday night, which
he termed as batch of fiery elOquence.
He said that the courts had decided that
MI Lowry had absolute rights which
could not be questioned. 1t was now
too late to raise any objections. GLOW
ever" he went On, "Mr. Lowry does
not wish to occupy Sixth street if the
people of the city do not wish it, but
what right has the council got to grant
any other company right to occupy that
street? Mr.. Lowry is laying his tracks
there simply in self-defense, not in de-
fiance of the will of the people,. Repeal
the ordinance giving the other company
the right to occupy Sixth street and Mr..
Lowry will withdraw with pleasure"
THEN CAME A DISCUSSION.
81 don't believe, though" broke in
Aid. Melady, "that Mr.. Lowry, or any
one else, ought to be allowed to run the
city. We want to have the city pro-
tected."
Aid. Weber suggested that the ordi-
nance granting the Jockey Moore COM
pany the right of way be repealed and
the company given another route. He
said he would like to make motion to
have the vote by which the ordinance
was passed reconsidered, if Aid. Melady
would withdraw his resolution.
II will do so," said Aid. Melady, eff
the St. Paul Railway company will as
sure me that they will not occupy Sixth
street."
81 will give you that assurance" said
Judge Flandrau.
County Attorney Mum then made
hit at Judge Flandrau by stating that
despite the assurances of the judge that
the supreme court never reversed its
decisions, he could say that the court
had done so number of times, and even
some made by the judge himself.
Corporation Attorney Holman then
spoke on the subject, remarking Incl
dentally that Messrs. Rogers and Mum
ought to be hired to help fight the fran
chise battles in court, provided they
would work without compensation.
This was said in rather sarcastic tone.
and Messrs. Rogers and Mum did not
like it.
~ wish to state" said Mr.. Rogers,
"that am not looking for job"
"You may count me in on that, tOO,"
Mr.. Mum.
Aid. Weber'S motion to reconsider
was finally put to vote, but 1T ended
as 1t was lost by vote of
z to 8. Aid. Gehan then presented a
resolution to have the whole matter
turned over to the mayor, or acting
mayor and corporation attorney, and
give both sides an impartial hearing.
President YOerg then took the floor and
stated that if the matter came before
him, it should have an honest and i'm
partial hearing. He took advantage of
the liberty of the floor to administer a
slight roast to Col. Barr regarding his
action in certain crossing cases. Col.
Barr got up to explain. but did so in
such low tone of voice that nobody
but himself and a cockroach perched
upon a cuspidOr could hear what he
said.
THE RESOLUTION PASSES.
Aid. Gehan's resolution then came up
for pro and con discussion. Amend
ment after amendment was offered and
men and the corporation attorney had
had hand in altering it the resolution
was finally laid aside, and another one
by Aid. Melady introduced. This one
gave the corporation attorney full au-
thOrity to take such steps as would pre-
vent the st. Paul Street railway from
Sixth street, or any other
new street. Aid. Bickel insisted on
having an amendment added to this,
but he was finally prevailed upon to
desiSt, and the resolution was put to
vote.
Col. Barr fidgeted about in his chair
while Clerk Prendergast was calling the
roll. Things were not going just as he
wanted them to, and he felt nervous in
When the result of the
vote was announced it stood to in
favor of the resolution. Then some one
made motion to adjourn, which pre-