Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-04-18
WHIRLWIND OF GAS
The Council Talks Jtself TO sleep
and Adlourns.
RAILWAY ORDINANCES UNSETTLED
Nstwithstaadiag the Mayor Urged the
Aidsrmsn 10 Act in the Interest ct
Fairness-Ihs Measure stil
fendIpg-Ihe Council

The Common Council held 3 very
windy session last evening the discus
sion being over proposed amendments
TO the latest street railway ordinance.
Amendments were numerous and as
the aldermen were some n hat finicky
the arguments were windy and wordy.
The warmest debate of the evening Was
over an amendment proposed by Alder
the effect that other companies should
have the use of the tracks OF the Grand
Rapids Street aud Cable Railway Com
pany Tor distance not 10 exceed 600
feet, at reasonable compensation.
Alderman Tateum made = lengthy ar
gument IN opposition TO the amend
nient, cGntendEg that the provision
was unfair and unjust; that IL would
encourage snlde companies To come
into the city and build stub lines tor
the purpose of obliging the old COM
panies To buy them out al handsome
protit. Aldermen Turner and Stein also
opposed the amendment IN vigorous
manner. Alderman Saunders said that
the company had been granted an
ordinance by a unanimous vote OF the
council, but seemed determined not TO
accept any ordinance unless every one
OF Its demands WAS acceded TO. As
matters now stand, II would appear
that the company had determined TO
dictate to the council IN the matter of
ordinances, but he did not consider
that the aldermen were 10y any means
the servants of the street railway inter-
est. He opposed any measure which
would have the same effect as an ex-
elusive franchise. Alderman O'Don-
nell gave hearty support to the amend
ment.
The Mayor Makes . Speech.
The mayor called Alderman Stein to
chair and taking the floor, made a
splendid argument IN favor OF the
amendment. He believed IN fostering
and favoring the street railway interest
il every thing that is just and reason
able, and opposed the hampering of
the company by obliging 1t to build
lines into territory where the patron
age would not warrant such extensions.
The measure before the council re-
stricted the use of the tracks by other
companies to very narrow limits, and
he believed the provision not only
reasonable but just. He failed to see
| how it worked any injustice TO the
present company and thought the coun-
cil should only consider what Is night.
"Be just AMI fear not"
The mayors argument seemed to
give the aldermen a chance to get their
second wind and they all reiterated
their former statements. Alderman
/ Creque said that the company was
financially in the soup and that IN order
to raise more money on another mort
gage they had got to have q clear
swing.
After half an hour of further argu.
ment the motion was put and lost. Up
TO this time not q single amendment
was adopted and the general opinion
was that the original ordinance would
pass without any modification.
During the talk Alderman Emmer
grew facetous. The aldermen from
the Sixth opposed the amendment as
they held that if the company was
granted its demands the Sixth ward
would get about Il mile of new railway
service. Mr.. Emmer inquired with a
smile ''If one mile will buy two alder
! men, how much would 1t take to buy
the couucil!"
His arthmetcal problem was not
well received and Alderman Anderson
was almost too indignant to see the
joke.
At ii O'Clock after sco-sawing, argu-
ing, juggling and wind-pounding for
three hours the council postponed
further Inaction until next Monday
night.