Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-10-17

barn the property, as may have been
intimated by letters in the public prints,
signed Patience" and so forth, but that
should not deter the board from doing
what was right and just.
Capt. Carter's speech was well done.
B1r. 0OndIey Argues.
F. A. Sondley, attorney for the Ashe-
vile street railway company, spoke next.
Mr.. Sondley dived deeply into the legal
side Of the question and made splendid
argument for his client. He read several
decisions from his books which bore on
the case under discussion. He became
so thoroughly worked up that he ad-
dressed the board as gentlemen of the
jury" The company he said, had viola
ted no contract, and ought to be let
alone. The argument was lengthy and
covered all the legal points desired
brought out for his side.
Straight Talk.
Col. Reuben NcBrayer then took the
floor. The Colonel was not the attor-
ney of anybody, representing no one ex-
cept himself as private citizen. He
told the board that if the wishes of the
people we're disregarded by the board,
the people could have no redress. The
board are the representatives of the peo-
ple and having been elected by them,
should hear them. The street railway
company was shooting with double
barreled gun. 1t said FIRST you haven't
the power and again If you have the
power you oughtn't use it. He was thor.
oughly satisfied that the board had the
right to regulate the fares. A former
board could not legislate away any
power of a subsequent board. The city
attorney said that the board had the
power to regulate the fares, continued
Col. McBrayer, and he was surprised to
know that the board was still undecided
after that opinion. Every corporation
getting charter receives it knowing
that new boards are elected every few
years, and that charter was liable to
change, to suit the changed condition of
the city.
Col. McBrayer said the only question
was "ls it wise to regulate the iare?'
There was no doubt about the power to
do it. The Colonel sspeech was a strong
one and would have convinced almost
any man.
"Three Cheers FOR Jim Martini"
Capt. Garter made closing eulogium
Of "Col." Martin, telling how he had gen
erously gone into his own pockets, and
even mortgaged all his property to build
the lines OF railway called for by public
demands. Another mass meeting should
be held. in which "Col " Martin should
be commended for his great heartcdness
and self-sacriiice. All should say Three
cheers for Jim Martini"
All Untieist.
Mr.. Gudger's ordinance was then put
on its second reading and lost. by the
following vote, which result had been
known to those ION the inside" for sew
eral davs:
Ayes-Gudger, Starnes. McDowell-3.
Noes-Ieonard, Brevard, Reynolds-3.
A tie resulting, Mayor Blanton voted
'No"-and the people were left to whis-
tie down the wind.
oh, HE'S a Five-Center! r
Then Mr.. Brevard stood up.
He said he was as much FIVE
cent man as anyone in the city, but at
the same time he wanted to be fair to
the company, and did not want to break
any contract made by the old board.
He had seen the books of the company
but had not examined them item by
item. He had been told all about it,
though by Col" Martin and was sure
the company was not paying dividend
on even 5000. He seemed to think his
resolution was the cure-all, and warmly
recommended its passage.
Then Mr.. Brevard sat down.
The Resolution Adopted.
Mr.. Brevard moved the adoption of his
resolution. The vote on this was as fol-
| lows:
Ayes-Leonard, Brevard, Reynolds-3
The mayor, long ago an expert in un
locking ties, voted aye" and the thing
was done.
The crowd rushed tor the door, ana II
few minutes the room was deserted
Outside there were congratulations ans
congratulations from some bodyto some
body else for SO and 50, with all til,
liquidness which naturally goes will
such congratulations.
some other Business
Before the special order was taken "
Capt. Matt Atkinson called the attention
of the board to the fact that Col. Nc
Clure, of the Philadelphia Tunes, ant
several friends were to visit Ashevile ant
asked that committee be appointed t.
tender to the distinguished guests th
hospitalities OF the city.
Building permits were granted to 7. {
Davis, two-room house on Robert
street; Thos. Summons, house on Beau
mont street.