The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-11
The Citizens Company and Board Of
Public Works 10 Confer Next Week.
Board Considering It's Power to Grant EXclu-
siye Rights. and the Question of When
the Present Charter Expires.
New officers of the Company to Be An
nounced Next Tuesday and Take Hold.
Steele TO Have the Practical Supervision Of
the Lines-sass Meeting Of Thinkers
Unable TO Settle the Question.
s1REEr-oAR FRANCHISES.
Board of Works Wit Meet the Citizens Co
pany Next Week.


Board of Works VIII Meet the Citizens Com
pany Next Week.
It has been stated that the delay on the
part of the Boar of Public Works In grant
ing McDonald's application for franchise
il due to q legal question upon which the
board 10 not satisfied. This question. as
Journal reporter learned yesterday from
President Conduit. is concerning the right
TO give o general franchise of the city. 1t
will be rec allied that Mr.. Mcdonald offered
to start the bidding for such q franchise at
$500, 600, subject. of course. TO the property
rights of the Citizens company. and upon
the basis Of an expired charter and an open
field. The agitation concerning natural
monopolies has opened the public mind for
departure from old ways.
The obvious adv antages of having alllthe
street car lines under one operation was
given emphasis when Mr.. MoDonald's offer
was made. and the board set to work to dis
cover whether it could grant an exclusive
franchise. The question was referred to
the city attorney. and the board has been
awaiting his opinion before giving MI.
Mcdonald an answer. when do you ex-
pect to decide as 10 the Broad Ripple fran
chisei" was asked of Mr.. Conduit.
al cannot tell. We are waiting until we
satisfy ourselves upon some legal points,"
Does the board have doubts about Its
right to grant general franchise. after
the suggestion in McDonald's offer to start
the bidding ct 100000 for such fran
chise!"
THAT is the legal question that we are
considering. The street-car situation is
very important situation. and we feel that
We ought 10 go slow. We want the city TO
reap all the benefit that II can out of the
general
chise under the present circumstances pre-.
suDposes an expiration or the Citizens
charter"
Then You take no cognizance of any
petualp
mot in the least There is great deal
more foundation for holding that the Cit
Izens charter expires in 1894 than that it Is
perpetual This is one of the legal ques-
tions before the board"
Did you appoint day to give the Citi-
zens' company hearlng"
s.Mr. Mason was before rs this morning.
and inquired what we had done or pro-
posed 20 do for others seeking franchise.
He said that his company would like TO
appear and talk over the question OF fran
ehises with Us. and We agreed TO meet him
and such others "a be desired to be present
some time during the latter part OF next
week"
"OId you agree to withhold an answer to
Mcdonald. until you hear from the Citi-
zens' company
"Then you are free to act In the McDon-
aid matter in the meantimep
"Yee"
Mr.. Conduitt's reference to the possible
expiration next year of the Citizens char
ter shows that 1t Is question to which
the board 10 giving serious consideration.
Der of the board said yesterday
that the decision of the board would
be surprise when IL comes: and
that the city would not be found
walking the floor" there is ground to be-
lieve that the date of 1894 viii be decided
20 mark the close OF the Citizens charter.
The point upon which the expiration of
the charter hangs Is whether tho Council
had the right to extend 1t seven years. as
was done some years ago In consideration
OF certain Improvements to the streets
promised by the company. A failure OF
performance would invalldate this extern
sion.
When Mr.. Mcdonald was before the
board Wednesday no told the members that
he would agree to build lines on the Sonth
Side on any popular route upon which they
and the City Council would agree.
Mr. Mcdonald, with q boldness and readi-
ness for which his business transactions
are noted. comDlemented. 1t Is said.
at his last meeting with the board.
his first proposition for q specific
franchise with an offer that If he is granted
the specific franchise asked for, including
the South-side line, he will bind himself to
enter INTO cOmpetiblOn 1Or 9 geQerai Crane
for oil the other streets OF the city. He will.
he says. begin Work within thirty days
after the grant is made. and the lines will
be finished within SIX months. He will
agree. he says. to pay for the paving be-
tween the tracks to conform TO the balance
OF the improved streets. aud to bear q
similar part of the expense of paving
streets vet to be improved. This offer. it Is
estimated. will entail cost of 100000.
Mr.. Mcdonald further asked for as early
an answer as possible, in order To proceed
with the Necessary contracts for iron, wire.
etc. When once established in the city,
city Is TO be disposed of. nc 10 thought the
Mcdonald syndicate will be ready TO enter
into contract for it on terms agreeable to
the city.
Sim Coy. who was member of the Coun-
ell when the Shatfer franchise was rejected.
, believes that the city has lost o great deal
by that act. He said yesterday:
IF that charter had been granted In.
dianaDolis would to-day have electric lines
cars seen. It would have meant 10000
more population. as / sec it, and an influx
or . corresponding amount of capital The
trouble Il. men are sent to Council
claiming TO be representatives when they
become mere echoes for q lot of undecided
talkative fellows. who oppose progress.
There Is too much quibbling over legal
points. 1t is best to 20 ahead with what
seems the best for the city and let the
lawyers fight IL out In the courts after
ward"
1t will be recalled that at the public
meeting at EnglIsh's of citizens TO organ
ize the committee TO have charge OF the
Grand Army campment Colonel Lilly