The record-union., 1891-09-07
Mr.. HENRY TALKS.
He Refuses to Illegally Use Money
of the Stockholders.
The Subject OF the J-Street Assessment
Freely Discussed-The Q-Street
franchise.

j. II. Henry, President Of the Central
Electric Railway Company, is in the city,
and was seen yesterday by reporter in
search of information, who remarked:
Mr.. Henry, the RECoRD-UNIoN would
like to know why your company refuses
to pay the double-track street improve
ment assessment on street, between
Twenty first and Twenty eighth streets"
In order to answer your question:"
replied Mr.. Henry, II shall have to go
into details somewhat. IN the first place,
we have only 4 single track over that
portion of the street, and when Street
Commissioner Mclaughlin made his
assessment for a double track against our
company he and talked the matter over
and could not agree as to our liability.
! He said he would like to have that ques-
ton settled, and proposed getting the City
Attorneys opinion on the matter. l told
him that was the proper way to settle the
matter. II we were liable for 4 double
track when we only had q single one that
we would pay it without q word. The
opinion OF the City Attorney was TO the
effect that we were not liable.
I'm that same opinion, | think il was,
ne said we had no authority OF law for
operating our line OH the side OF the
street. That, III my opinion, cuts no
| ngurc in the street assessment, becauSe if
we have no right to operate the track in
Its present position the payment Of the
assessment Will not give us such right.
| That question is strictly governed by
statute, and the Trustees have nothing to
Go with II, but il we have no right to op-
crate that portion OF our line where it
now lays, we shall Immediately take
steps to put 1t where the law will protect
US.
u DO not care to operate a street rail
way contrary TO law. We would take too
many chances in doing so. This is new
question, and very serious one for us.
as well as some others who are operating
street railways in this city. ana / shall
take the matter right up, and. as [ said
before, II ! find the track should be in
the center OF the street, TO comply with
the law we viii get there in a hurry.
Going back to this claim OF the
Majors again-how can I, the managing
! officer OF this company, pay a bill clearly
known to me to be unjust, unfair and
Illegal? Would / not become personally
responsible TO the stockholders for a mis-
appropriation OF funds?
What would the Major do if bill he
knew TO be illegal was presented to him
against the city? We all know what he
would do-refuse to pay it.
Il saw 1t stated In one Of the papers
the other day that we are only waiting to
have this street work paid and then we
would lay double track, thereby getting
the benett Of the Improvement. Accord
ing to the terms Of our franchise, We have
no right to lay double track at this late
day. That privilege expired some time
ago. Hence, II we want to lay an addi-
! tlonal track, we must first get a franchise:
in granting that, the Trustees can impose
such conditions as they think proper"
You say you have no right at this late
day to lay the additional track. You re-
Gently doubled the track from Nineteenth
to TwenJy-tirst. Why did you do that
without first getting perinIssiOn?"
" dl4 that without knowing the ex-
act terms of the franchise. We goJ per-
mission Of Trustee Mclaughlin, but |
presume at the time he did not know the
terms of the franchise"
''What do you intend to do about thisP,,
I'VE intend" replied Mr.. Henry. "now
to apply for franchise covering these
! two blocks OF new track, so as to put rs
within the pale Of the law
Are there any other tracks in the citv
laid on one siue of a street so as to permit
the laying Of an additional track when the
business of the road requires it?"
''Yes, on X from Tenth street out. and
If mistake not, Mr.. Carey is laying his
new road on Third street in the same
manner. IN San Francisco there are
plenty of such cases. This center of the
| street question is a new one-that is, the
question of drawing it fine is a new
one"
Mr.. Henry" queried the reporter,
''do you think you will get the Q-street
| franchise?"
Yes, sir, I see no reason why we
should not"
''Is there any truth in tho report that
you threaten to abandon the line on J
street, from Twenty-first to Twenty
eighth and NJ, if compelled to move it in
the center of the strect?'
No, sir. i never made any such state
ment as that, although it would be for the
cOmpany's interest to abandon that por-
ton after we build our new station and
make the M-street line the through line
to Oak Park