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

HC dluCIHlCu uSdiu.
Did the aldermen heed
Gaze for answer upon the names above
given, in bold type, that there may be no
mistaking the attitude of Ashevilles
board Of aldermen, by the aid OF the
city's most worthy mayor. -
All the readers Of the CITIZEN have
been following the matter of the ten-cent
fare charged by the Asheville street rail.
way, Of which Col" J. G. Martin is the
Chief Gougist, ever since it was first put
into operation.
The boards committee, after being as
sured by "Col." Martin that the com
pany vas not making money, made q
straddling majority report about as the
Sol" stated the case.
Yesterday afternoon was the time, and
4:3O was the hour tor the consideration
of the matter. That there was consider.
able interest taken was shown by the
crowd that attended.
The meeting was held in the mayors
sffice, thanks to the all-seeing eye OF
Mr.. Brevard; and the full board was
present, Mayor Blanton also attending
and occupying his accustomed seat with
all the dignity of his Office.
Among the legal lights attending were:
JIM. Gudser, F. A. Sondley, Col. K. Nc
Brayer. Capt. Melvin E. Carter, Maj
W. IL. Malone, Judge Geo. A. Shuford
Chas. A. Webb, Capt. Thomas ID. John
ston, T. X. Ransom and Walter 5. Cush
man.
Col" Martin, who several times tan
talizingly requested Col. McBrayer to
address him as "Colonel,' sat during the
first part OF the performance rather back
from the arena; but finally came nearer
and occupied his time by twisting his
moustache and blowing clouds OF smoke
which latter article coquettishly insisted
upon minglins with the "Colonel's" fore
lock.
Time was called by the mayor soon
after 4:30. Mr.. Starnes broke the ice BY
moving to take up the special order-the
consideration OF the ten.cent fare ques
ton.
Here's the "Cure.AIi."
Mr.. Brevard, who looked at the "Col
ncl's" books, arose and, without any at
tempt at ostentation, offered a resolution
which he thought would cover the case
He prefaced the resolution by a lew re
marks, reading from the "Fariuholt or
dinance." He didn't think the boart
ought to go back on the work Of it
predecessor. The resolution follows: =,
BE it resolved, That from the invest,
CATION made by the committee OF thu
board, and the board itself in reierenc,
to the charges for passenger tar,
made by the Asheville street railwa,
company, the board is Of the opinion
that there has been up to this time nc
violation by said railway company in it
rates of passenger fare of it's rights ant
privileges under it's charter granted by
the legislature and the former board o
aldermen"
Here's No Dummy.
Alderman Gudger then arose and spok
his mind in the matter. He differed will
the majority report. He did not like t,
contend for matter OF five cents. HI
told of how a church goer wishing to &C
from lurch street 10 the First Baptis
chufch, would have to pay in car far
what he had expected to put in the plate
The company undoubtedly had righ
to charge ten cents, but il ten cents is tn
maximum iare, then the ten cents shoult
. be charged for each trip, no matter how
long OF how short. The present systeu
10 simply deceiving of the entire trave
ing public. Mr.. Gudger introduced tn
following ordinance:
"Be it ordained by the mayor an
board of aldermen, That the fare fo
transportation Of passengers in the cit
of Asheville by the street railroads ther,
in shall be five cents, which shall entit
the person paying the same on one col
tinuous trip to travel to any point will
in the city limits, and to effect the SAN
it shall be the duty of the railroad con
= papy to which the passenger shall pa
!, his fare to give transfer ticket, and an
connecting road or line shall upon r.
. ceipt of same transport such passenge
And any railroad company within tt
city violating this ordinance either by r
fusing to accept transfer ticket, or
q give one, or charge for transportatio
more than fve cents, shall for each an
every such offence, pay fine of 6ity do
lars"
The company had no right, continue
Mr.. Gudger, to cut its one line mp int
= several lines. Every decent street in tt
4 city is covered by these car lines, an
= every time you get on car you are cor
PEELED to pay five cents, and when va
transfer it is nickel more. But" say
the company, we are not making money
Why, they say they are going to p,
down Trail all over the lines. The cor
pany certainly shows every sign Of pro
perity. They have violated the spirit I
the charter. Whene YER the company CO.
!, vinces me that they are losing money,
will be the FIRST to give them relief
don't want lawsuit out Of this thin
but il it must come, | say let it com
There is possibility that the compar
are "hoggiug." II we pass this ordi
ance the company has redress in Il
courts, but il we accept Mr.. Brevard
resolution the people will have no redres
MIR. Starnes then moved to put the O
dinance on it's first reading. This ca
rie1, and Mr.. Gudger moved to susper
the rules and place it on its second ar
final readings, which also carried.
Capt. Carter for the Road.
Capt. M. E. Carter, attorney for til
Asheville street railway company, the
talked about the business. He had nc
+. attended any Of the fare meetings, b
cause he thought the matter was one
, be settled by the board, and not BY pe'
: ole who had no official authority. Al
mass meetings to be held, and the boar
dictated to and spat upon, because
decided to allow the fare to remain as
now isl Do the friends Of the compau
want to Gee them forced to charge Il
cents over anv one line +. This 10 not
matter over which the people shou
become excited and indignant. Here Il
beard Is asked to disregard form
board 3 contract almost before the N,
YwhO invested their money Ii, the ente