Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-02-28
ALDERMANIC WRATH
Stirred up Through Alleged Cable
Company's Shortcomings
THE WHOLE FIfTH WARD Up IN ARMS
4 special Ssaaeii Msetiag Last Night
That Ma Nss hsls-esst Monday
Ala Saunders " IA Ak the 3 eE-
IelGass Of fIansntses-

ktt u<>>Atks4 ANtttsA Oi the I'm " Ata
al the action OF tue Cattle Company Ia
dlse0aginulng certain ear serves, as es-
pressed ia las ulteIanees Of Alderman
Saunders at the oommlttoe meeting of
Thursday evening, took form in con-
eiilar action much earlier than had
been looked for. A eagl Was issued yes
lerdsy tor q special council meeting
last evening 10 take acton on the
matter.
AT the appointed hour nearly all the
city fathers were IA their seats, and
Mayor Ulh took the char. Iastead OF
bringing down the gaTel. he asked the
gentlemen present 10 hstoa Ia him for
jus, a moment. After roeltlng the
Tact OF II call for a sprclai meeting has-
lng been issued, he stated that the law
provides that notices OF special meet
lngs be gwen at least eight hours presi-
Gus to such proposed meetings. Upon
investigating the present case, lie ols-
covered that the notices sent out had
not coniornied 10 the requirements of
the law. The full eight hours notice
mad not been gwen 10 ali the aldermen,
and the fact would render nngaI0ry
any action the council might take.
Therefore he would not call tue body
10 order. III. however," continued
lbs II onor, rising aud stepping down
ward towards .i,e floor, ''ll be demed
advisable, meeting may be now or
ganlzed Tor the informal discussion of
such matters as may burden the minds
of councllmen."
The hum of voices directly began as
the aldermen and other citizens sep3r-
ated into groups about the council
chamber 10 discuss the situation. No
effort WAS made 10 organize a meeting
and the talk was ali desultory ana
broken IN such wise that no intelligent
opinion could be formed as 10 the
opinion of the majority of the council.
1t was the intention OF Alderman
Saunders to present preambles and
resolutions prepared Tor the occasion.
The failure of the meeting last night
does not bury the resolutions. for they
viii bc presented 10 the council next
Monday evening. The text of them is
as follows:
Whereas, the Valley City Street and
Cable Railway Company has, for
period OF about two weeks, abandoned
portion of its line known as the
Clancy-st. line, and also has abandoned
the line known as the Oltawa-st. line,
and given ont that they propose to
abandon the second line named uuill
they can replace the same under an
ordinance Offering to substitute cleo
trlcity, involving the abandonment OF
the last named line for a period OF
some three months or upwardo, and
"Whereas, The said first line named
was granted to said company as con-
dltop precedent TO the granting OF its
franchise, for the right OF which said
first named line WAS part, which
route otherwise would not have been
granted by the council; and
"Whereas, SAID Ottawa-st. line was a
part and parcel of the franchise granted
for the line of which 1t constituted a
part and
"Whcreas, The abandonment of
either or both OF said portions of said
lines works the gross injustice OF the
citizens and residents OF the lines SO
abandoned, but 1t is IA complete breach
OF the express terms of the ordinances
authorizing the running OF street cars
by the said company, and absolutely
destroys If persisted in. all the safe
guards that this council. as representa-
tives OF the city of Grand Rapids, threw
around the citizens thereof III toe said
ordinances; therefore,
"Resolyed, That IN the opinion of
this council, such action on the part of
said company as entirely unwarranted,
and, as a matter OF law, Justlfes under
proper proceedings, the entire cancella-
ton of their charter, and IS "A breach of
the contract relations existing. between
said city and said company, and that
the plea OF said company that the
operation of said lines would be TO said
company a financial loss is no justifica-
ton for their course, said company
having persisted IN importuniag the
council TO grant the various franchises
which they now seek 10 avoid; and that
this council, relying upon such repre-
sentations, granted such franchises;
therefore, be IL further
Resolved, That IN the opinion OF this
council, no further franchises should
be granted TO said company, or TO the
company which IL controls, towit: the
Street Railway Company of Grand Rap
ids unless SAID Cable Company at
once restore service upon SAID Ottawa
ST.. and provide for the ultimate reetor-
alton lsubject 20 the approval of this
couacIi1, of service upon the Clancy-st.
line, as this council may approve, and
be IL further
Resolved. That in case ssid Valley
City street and Cattle Railway Company
refuse, fail or neglect 10 50 comply, the
city attorney OF SAID city be instructed
% causs Proceedings OF quo wsfranio
10 forfeit tBe charter Of sad last named
company to be instituted"
Il l--IIs<4l<.s,n