The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1890-09-01
Mr.. SHAFFER WILL ACCEPT
The Street Railroad Ordinance Is Not All
that He Desires, but 1t Will Do.
Its Friends Think It Will Be Passed, but Mr..
Woollen Will Vigorously Oppose 1t
Card from the Tenth Ward.

The ordinance relating to the Citizens
Street-railroad Company charter is expect
ed to pass the Common Council tonight by o
vote of IA to IL. A Journal reporter sought
President Shaffer last evening. to ascertain
his attitude toward the proposed ordi-
nance. YES. the company will accept it"
he replied, in answer to the report
er's question on that point. 1T
is not all we wanted, nor all
we expected. and ought to have,
but we will take it as it is. Wherein does
it come short of our desire! In this. that
we ought not to be required to relinqhish
our right to the streets, and we ought to
have more time before beginning to pay the
percentage to the city. We concede these
things only in Difference to the wishes of
the Council"
1t is possible Mr.. Skaters Willingness to
take the ordinance as it is may lead to the
strenuous opposition of those who ere not
inclined to give the present company any
thing. A councilman was asked yesterday
ifthere was not a disposition among some of
his colleagues to defer action of any kind
until the present charter expired. He said
opposition had behind it the influence of
those who wanted to crowd the present
company out. 1t was just inference. from
other remarks of this councilman. that
the views of the opposing councilmen were
based upon favor for another corporation
that will be willing to take the valuable
privileges of the present company when the
latter's charter expires He did not think.
though, this opposition could prevail in
face of the Citizens company's readiness
to accept the terms now offered.
Councilman Woollen said yesterday that
his power to defeat the ordinance to- night.
1.-THE Sentinel, this morning" said be to
reporter, printed an article that Is mis-
leading. 1t says that Councilman Yontz
will introduce the ordinance and that
will report against it. In one sense that is
true, but want the public to understand
that the ordinance in question was origl-
nally my own, and that Mr.. Yontz and his
colleagues have simply murilated it to suit
themselves"
Have you any hope of defeating it,"
81 think possibly can if matters develop
tomorrow as hope they will / intend
to make q strong fight. and if ! succeed
shall be glad. If fail shall take my de-
feat with the self-satisfaction that have
done my best"
What are the grounds for your opposi-
tion?"
There are several. In general object
to the CONCESSIONS that are made to
Mr.. Sbaffer and his company. In the
first place 1 believe that fifteen years
extension of the franchise would be enough,
and. in fact, the maximum extension that
should be granted. With fifteen yeals
added the charter would not expire for
twenty five years. Iobject to the provision
that allows the company the privilege of
using 'bob-tair cars without conductors
until Jan. /. 1885, Furthermore. l object to
the proposition to exempt the company
from the payment of its share of the street
improvements that are already under con-
tract. But 1 have still greater objection
than all of these"
''And what is that"
Il refer to the clause which not only
gives the company twenty-year franchise
from 1901. but which also allows it the
privilege for the coming ten years of put
ting down it's tracks on any and all of the
streets in the city. This Council ought to
see that when it votes that right to cor
poration it gives it the privilege of tearing
up Meridian street OF Delaware street i'm
mediately. ] think it will be great mis-
take if the citizens rights are voted away
in this manner"