The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-08-04

A shrewd Move of the Citizens' street-RAil
road COMPANY

road Company.
The Citizens railroad Company
has made a Napoleonic stroke 1t has
elected John P. FTenZel president, at a sal
airy of 5000 per year, and has induced
him to accept the management Of the CON-
pany's affairs. Though this is. of course,
purely business transaction, there are
plenty of unthinking people who will Jump
TO the conclusion that there is both policy
and politics in ID. for they will recall the
fact that Mr.. Frenzel has been one of the
strongest opponents the company has had
in Indianapolis, and that he IS hacker of
the particular clique of Democrats who
have control of the city administration.
Even the Journal, before it was reliably in
formed by Mr.. Frenzel himself. that it lie
purely business arrangement. was misled
into thinking politics had netting to do
with it. On Monday, July 20. it published
the following:
The Citizens Streetraiiroad Company seems
to be beginning at the bottom in its efforts to get
It's franchise renewed this Time The first fact 1t
has laid down, apparently. Is that the municipal
administration Is Democratic, and the second
fact Is that 1t Is largely controlled by the two
Democra,io h,ewsparers ana small eiique OF
there has been a striking change in the attitude
of the News upon the street-railroad question Of
late Instead OF advocating competition as u for
merry did it has sistentiy opposed the effort OF
the Cincinnati street-railrOad syndicate 10 get
footing IN either the county or the city.
and President Fowler, last Thursday night, was
mentioned in Fridays Journal A little after 10
o'clock that same night Messrs Fowler and
steele, or the Citizens company, called at the
Sentinel office. where they had conference OF
over an hour with s. r. Morss. editor, manager
and principal stakeholder OF the morning Demo
IA a
Citizens company ceased some weeks ago, but
10 has not yet gotten to the point or fighting the
new company in its interest.
A great many of the councilmen, when
they first heard of the new deal at last
nights meeting. were mIsIed into the same
belief IL heard the thing was going to be
done little over week ago." said one of
''the gang" members. but didn't think it
WAS true. for had no idea that Morss had
that much influence with the company.
The way understand it is that Fowler and
Steele went to the Sentinel and News peo-
pie and asked them what would stop their
opposition, and that Morss suggested
Frenzel, SO he could manipulate the
thing for Sullivan In this city election. and
that the News agreed not to do any kick
ing If the company would help Sullivan
out. Its reputation and prestige depend
on Sullivan's reelection. you know"
Nearly all the members regarded 10 in
political light. except Col Bilr HicklIn.
"Sm-smotherin' Moses." he calculated.
lyon wouldn't think Fat there was any
politics in that, now would your Wy. of
course, there aIn't~
This political view of the deal is q mis-.
taken one Il was notified of my election
to-day" said Mr. Frenzel. land I presume
the formal action was taken IN Chicago this
morning. The negotiations have been in
progress for about six weeks. You are
doubtless surprised. but not bit moro
than l was when these gentlemen made
their proposition to me. Ii came like light
ming from q clear sky. After due consider
alton decided to accept it, for it is q big
thing, and am proud of it. 1t is. OF course.
pure ly business upon my part, as well as
theirs. / am making no investment in the
property. nor are any of my friends. SO far
as know. simply accept the manage
ment OF the company's affairs, and act as
the local representative of the directors"
To follow ont their policy"
II would not accept it unless l were
given full control. 1 cannot announce my
policy. because l have none as yet. 1 have
not taken hold. do not know the condition
of the property, aud have no definite in
formation upon which to base policy.
position and my ideas have been pretty
directly opposed To what thought was
the policy of the company. / have always
thought that such corporations should
n
the franchises they enjoy than they
are in the habit of doing. In fact, have
gone so far as to believe that cities should
own their light. water and transportation
facilities. told the directors these things
and found them ready to meet me at every
point, ready to 20 as far rs could ask or
as any body can ask them to 90. What they
want is to give Indianapolis the best trans
portatIon sy stem In the country. whether IL
is rapid transit or what. And the transpor-
tatior question is one of the greatest factors
In any city's deyelopmept. Of one thing
can assure You. Whatever the company
does will be public. open and above board.
There Will be no movements in the dark
Have You ever had any experience in
the street-ralroad busnessi" was asked.
We'll. no." replied Mr.. Frenzel. with a
the things the company has asked for"
Were not you pushing the suburban bill
last wInterf
mo; had nothing to do with that. but
was in favor of the paving bill and worked
for it. That is one of the reasons why
was surprised when this proposition was
made to me. But found these gentlemen
were willing to accept my idea. All they
ask is q fair return on their investment
And there are. by the way. some very exae-
Rerated notions about the amount of money
invested and the amount made in this bust
ness"
will Mr.. Fowler let 60 at oncei" was
asked.
You remember" replied Mr.. Frenzel,
"that when Mr.. Fowler was elected last
May 1t was announced that he took it only
succeed him / suppose he will remain
with the company awhile at least. in some
capacity. will have to have somebody to
instruct me in the details."