The Indianapolis journal., 1892-01-12
MR.. STEELE'S GRAVE CHARGE
The Street-Car Company's Ex-Superin-
tendent Makes Startling Statement.
He Asserts that Mr.. Frenzel Was to Get Large
Sum of Money for Securing New Char
ter-Mr. FreDzels Vigorous Denial.

''Do yOu know, ealu tnis RentioHan, tnaS
q combination was formed some time ago
to secure this franchise; that three or four
gentlemen combined together and proposed
to secure and deliver to the Chicago cap
italists. known as the Citizens Street-rail-
road Company this new franchise, and for
SO doing were to be paid $3.50, oOof'
This gentleman gave the reporter a num-
Der of pointers, and with the information
thus secured the latter called upon w. L.
Steele, until recently superintendent OF the
Citizens Street-railway Company.
Said Mr.. Steele: The Saturday before
Mr.. Frenzel was made president l had
letter from Mr.. Fowler, of the company,
asking me to come to Chicago on the fol-
lowing Monday. Mr.. Fowler was then
president of the company. having succeed
ed Mr.. Shaffer in that capacity. On Sun
day night left here. and was in Chicago
on Monday morning. | went to Mr.. No
Cormack's headquarters. and there found
Mr.. Fowler, and from there went to Mr..
Alerton's office, where directors meet
ing was held. AS had never been in q d.
rectors' meeting said would be in at the
next door. NO, SIR said one of the di-
rectors. we want you to be at this meeting;
we want you right here'"
"Who were present at that meetingi"
asked the reporter.
"S. w. Allerton. president of the board.
]. ]. Mitchell, Mr.. Butler. Mr.. Mccormick
and j. c. Shaffer. In few minutes they
asked me what thought of making Mr..
Frenzel, of Indianapolis. president of the
street-railroad company. / told them the
question was rather abrupt; hadn't had
time to think about it. The first thing
wanted to know was how much talking had
been done to Mr.. Frenzel. They told me
quite good deal. 1 said that
if Mr.. Frenzel was not made president of
the company he could fight us harder than
he did last winter before the Legislature.
Mr. Shaffer spoke up and said he had been
promised. if this deal or contract was
not entered into, Mr.. Frenzel would
say nothing for or against getting o
charter. 1 remarked that didn't believe
such course was possible for Mr.. Frenzel;
that he was q fighter, and fought as hard
after he had lost his forces as when he had
them: that he was q man who
did not know when he was
whipped. Some other conversation followed
in the same line. Some of the directors
then said they would arrange with Mr..
FrenZel for getting a cnarter. This ar
rangement was to last only thirty or sixty
days. told them that might be good for
the company. He had come highly rec6m-
mended. One of the directors then asked
Mr.. Sha1fer how much he lShafferl would
get of the money paid to secure the fran
chisef Shaffer made an evasiye answer.
He was asked if he could. directly or indi-
rectly. get any of this money which was
to be paid by the company for the purpose
of securing a franchise. He said if
they chose to give him anything he would
take it, if the road was sold after this he
would get handsome commission. Mr..
Fowler told me afterwards that the con-
tract they had talked about making was
that Mr.. Frenzel would get charter for
them before lie was made president That
was on Monday. At that time L didn't
know any body was in the scheme to get q
charter except Mr.. Frenzel. and l had not
then heard the amount of money that was
to be paid for that service. did not know
who Mr.. FrenZePs associates were, or If he
had any.
ION the adjournment of that meeting /
went home with Mr.. Fowler. and remained
at his house all night. L had obtained
copy of the charter they wanted Mr.. Fren-
gel to get through for them. and looked it
over. That kept me mp until II O'Clock at
night.
Mr.. FIenzel and Mr.. Cortland Van Camp.
of this city, were present / was not In
when the preliminaries of the contract were
talked over. Afterwards we all went to the
company's attorneys, in the Rookery Build
ing. IN Chicago. where the contract was TO
be drawn. 1t was suggested by one of the
directors that should not go into the at
torney's room; that while i knew a great
deal about it, did not need to see the con-
tract signed. / remained outside and
waited until they returned from the office.
After that we came down into the rotunda
of the building. Most of the directors.
Mr.. Frenzel, Mr.. Van Camp and myself
stopped there. At that time Mr.. Frenzel
said he could carry out the con-
tract. as be controlled the News
Mayor and Board of Public Works than
any other man in Indianapolis. Mr.. FrenZel
said that Steen would have to take care
OF the Council; that | had more influence
over the Council than any other man in In
dlanapolls. 1 told him he greatly over
estimated my ability; that had only two
or three friends IN the Council. and did not
know that l could count on them every
time. Mr. Frenzei remarked he would have
to have my support with the Council. and
that then he would have no trouble In get
ting majority.
.'At that Monday afternoon meeting they
said. Now, gentleman. we may be getting
too fast In this matter Mr.. FrenZel Is a
stranger to us. We ought to send for the
minute book and take some of the powers
was sent to Mr.. Anderson. secretary. at In
di8napolis for the mlnute-boOk. and Ii was
In Chicago on tuesday morning.
After this meeting at the Rookery had
talks with MIR. Fowler and Mr.. Allerton.
Mr.. Fowler said he wanted Mr.. Frenzel and
Mr.. Van Camp to make q written contract
that they would give me (Steelei all the
money they had agreed to give Mr. Shaffer.
and be sure and have it in black and white.
The directors did not want Shaffer TO have
any of the money. Right there they told
me the contract was $l50,000 for securing
the franchise. The directors desired that
the portion of the S150.0O0 that was to go to
Sbaffer should come tome and that would
return it to the company.
"Mr. Fowler and lMr. Allerton said to me
| to 60 home that night with Frenzel and
Van Camp on the same road. had q round
| trip ticket on the Monon. / gave my return
| ticket To Mr.. Allerton. aud boughta ticket
| on the Panhandle. to he on the same train
with Frenzel and Van Camp. Before going
| to the station / had eaten with MIR. Van
| Camp at the Grand Pacific cafe. told him
| that Mr.. Fowler and Mr.. Allerton had de-
| manded of me to have this contract made,
leaving out Shaffer. When i got co the
Panhandle depot | was surprised to lind
that Mr. Van Camp had not come"
did you talk to Mr.. Frenzelp
"No. The reason did not was because
was reasonably certain that Mr.. Van Camp
had made the contract. Mr.. Frenzel
claimed to be tired. and went to bed on the
cars. He remarked that he wished nothing
said about his being made president until
after the announcement had been made IN
the newspapers; that he wanted to visit
the newspapers himself and get satisfac-
tory notices. lt was a couple of days after
that the notice was pu blished. All this oc-
.lx<sxxe st<l l..k IL Il