The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-11
The UNION PACIFIC
The Omaha City Council Declares
War on the Road.
FRANCHISES TO BE REVOKED
Tracks Of the Company to be Torn From City
Property Excitement Among Railway
0fficials-Bee Comments.

OMAHA, Feb. 10.-ISpecial telegram to
THE HERALD. As the elimination of the
efforts of Omaha citizens to secure fair
treatment from the Union Pacific railway
company, the city council last night passed
an ordinance revoking all franchises
granted the company by the city, and in
structing the city attorney to take immedi-
ate measures TO have the tracks of the
company torn up from the city property.
AS preclude to what was coming the
mayor presented the following message:
Il respectfully call your attention to tue
Union Pacific railway company with ref
erence to the iobbers, shippers and whole
sale dealers of Omaha in requiring the
payment of excessive charges for switches,
also the determined purpose of such rail-
way company to violate its contract for the
construction of a new depot building in the
city of Omaha, and in every way
possible, to injure the city and its
business interests. l believe that the
time has now arrived when the city should
assert its rights and to the utmost limits
of its power bring this corporation to terms
l suggest and recommend that the rights
and privileges granted to this company, by
numerous ordinances be revoked by re-
peal of said ordinance. further recon-
mend that such legal steps be taken at the
earliest time possible as may be necessary
TO enforce and protect the rights Of the
city,
The ordinance cancelling all franchises
was then presented and rushed amid G
scene of the widest demonstration from
the large number of citizens present who
knew what was coming. The following
resolution was also adopted:
rod 10 ali y-Tt IA 4
is hereby instructed to take all immediate
steps necessary TO recover all Of said lots
ana lands, also the moneys that have been
collected by the Union Pacific railway
company, for rentals, or leases, or received
by said Union Pacific railway company"
Considerable excitement exists in Omaha
over the result of the city councils action
last night in revoklng all franchises
granted at any period TO the Union Pacific
system. No effort was made to-day to
forcibly remove any of the company'E
tracks from city property. 1t is under
stood that if the company will
open the Missouri river bridge to al
roads on q fair basis the prosecutions
may be dropped. The railway officials are
greatly excited. This action is supposed
TO undo the work Of all previous councils
in granting favors to the Union Pacific.
Among Union Pacific officials this morning
they pleaded ignorance Of the councils
action. Vice President kimball inquired
what that action was and then ven
tured the opinion that il was very doubtful
if the council could revoke the
rights heretofore granted. The tracks
in question had been laid in response TO
the petitions Of the owners of AUDITING
property. Ordinances had been passed
giving the necessary right TO use the
streets, and in no ordinance has such occu
pany been limited in duration. He pre-
sumed the city had the power to grant suct
privileges, or it would have been chal
lenged long before this, and he doubted the
authority Of the council to deprive the rail
road company of rights acquired under
these ordinances.
Superintendent Nichols had not hesrl
Of the councils resolution, but he was quite
sure that the right to use switches ono,
granted could not oe revoked. He though
the agitation about switching charges hat
been stirred up by par les not dirtctly in
terested persons who have to make anois
in order TO make their presence in the cit,
known. The Zee, the state Republican
paper, says editorially on the subject
Omaha has been regarded everywhere a
mere railroad reservation, with the cit,
officials, on the payroll of the roads, read,
TO vote away and close UP all tn
streets on the request OF the man
ayers. Not only this, but Omaha's con
ungent to the legislature has nearly AWAY
worn the brass collar and hence incurre
the emnity OF all representatives Of othe
sections of the state that were no. ident
fed with the railroads and committed I
support their policy through thick an
thin. Now this radical policy is the re
suit
The conference committee Of the Unto,
Pacific is partially awaiting the arrival O
Manager Clark. They are inclined to tn
belief that Clark will increase the salar
scale all over the system, especially i
Wyoming. He is said TO have expresse
the belief that the men in the mouutainou
district were underpaid. S. Z. Wilkinson
grand master of the brotherhood of Raj
road Trainmen, was detained by troubl
on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and hi
place in Omaha viii be taken by 2. Z
Morrisey, first vice-grand master, VIII
will be here tomorrow. Grand Chic
Conductor E. Z. Clark is due to- day
General Manager S. II. H. Clark is e.
pected tomorrow or Friday