The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-13
STREET CAR FRANCHISES
Important Developments in that Di-
rection Expected During This Week.
City Attorneys Opinions Awaited with Inter-
est-Reorganization of the Citizens Com.
pany-Progress Club Debate.

This ought to be the week of important
action In street-car matters. The Citizens
company proposes to perfect its organize
tion. and will 60 before the board to ask
certain favors, the exact nature of which
1t would be interesting to know. Much
depends, OF course, on whether the Board
of Public Works proposes to startle the
city. as intimated, by declaring, on the
strength of the city attorneys opinion,
that the Citizens charter will expire in
1894. instead of 1901. Since municipal
ownership of natural monopolies and ex-
elusive franchises is not possible under
our State Constitution. there is an I'M
preston In some quarters that the Board Of
Public Works will try to reach the same
advantages, as nearly as possible. by some
sort of q general franchise. This, it is
admitted, cannot grant to one com.
pany al the streets to the exolu-
s sffeos of wilt ether be- s0"Da prsssic. pT. the ss
still give tho city authorities q sort of
check to any abuse of the monopoly en-
joyed. it will first be necessary to give the
present operating company a competing
will offer competition to the Citizens com-
pany without q previous foothold in the
city. Mr. Mcdonald has made that clear to
the board. To be q party to such q pro-
oeeding would compel the Citizens COM
paDy TO bid against a sort OF blackmailing
basis to protect their property from a par
tial confiscation, which would result In
their winning in the end. The city might
be the gamer In the matter of dollars and
cents. but would certainly lose. 1t Is held,
in other ways. There is every reason to
believe that the board, being composed of
practical and honorable business men, have
q full appreciation of this aspect of the
question. The point has already been made
that unless this consideration is given at
ton there will be no competition in
the letting of the charter which is Co
succeed the one about to expire. The con-
olusion Ia therefore very strong that the
board will grant o franchise giving the
petitioners right of way in the city on
streets not now occupied by the Citizens
company.
This week Will also probably witness
some important developments from the
offic e of the city attorney. The board has
been expecting answers to questions sub-
mitted several weeks since, the answers to
which were expected before the first OF
March. 1t was this that led the board to
promise Mr.. Mcdonald an answer on that
date. The problems of law have no doubt
required more time than City Attorney
Jones affected. and lt is also said that
the legal work imposed upon him by the
city has been piling up faster than ne
oOuld dispose of IT. Inquiry at his off e
on Saturday elected that the opinions ex-
pected will not be forthcoming until the
middle or latter part of the week. The
board is in q conservative mood, as Mr..
Conduit intimated, and will not hurry the
eplies.
Progress Club on Franchises.
A number Of speakers addressed the
Progress Club. yesterday afternoon, upon
the subject Of street railway franchises.
Councilman Charles A. Gauss made the
principal address. He claimed that the
present CouncIl would not grant any fran
chises. He was in favor of requiring the
company to give first-class service and re-
duced fares. but did not think favorably
of city ownership or of the city deriving
any benefits in the way of q percentage of
receipts. Councilman White thought The
city ought to build all extensions and lease
them out.
Mir. Felix McWhirter favored cheaper
fares and the right of the city to take the
plant when IL was not satisfied with tho
service. Mr.. Otto Stechhan thought that
cheaper fares were demanded by every
body, and that ought to be made the basis
of future contracts, and that this city
should build its extensions when it i'm
proved streets. A resolution was presented
in line with this plan. which was laid over
until next Sunday. Cheaper fares, with
first-class~ service, was the prevailing senti.
ment, butt was agreed that the problem
was q knotty one. and needed much study.