The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-15
NEW STREET-CAR OFFICERS
Mason to Be Made President of the
Citizens Company This Morning.
Steele Will Probably Be the Superintendent
City Likely to Attack the Validity
of the Charters Extension.

A meeting of the directors Of the Citi-
Gems Street-railwsy Company was held
yesterday afternoon. in Chicago. q meeting
afternoon in Indianapolis. There were
present at it Messrs. Mckee, Werner. Clay.
and other members of the new syndicate
which has purchased the plantlin this city.
The formal transfer of the property known
as the Citizens Street-railway Com
psny was made the day before
from the old hands into the new,
and tho meeting of yesterday was for
the purpose OF the new owners discussing
its operation with the old. and with the Sc
lection of the active officers under the new
regime who will be voted in to-day. In
the consultation there were the old board
of directors. including Mr.. Shaffer. of this
city, and President Frenzel. 1t has been
stated for some time, and with consider
able persistence, that Mr.. Frenzel would be
asked to continue In his present position
by the new management. and that he had
concluded to accept the offer. but he will
not do so. Whether this Is from the fact
that he does not desire it, or that the
directors have concluded that they
Wanb ouobuCI Mou, 10 " huOWGs
At the meeting to-day Augustus l..
Mason will. unless the unforeseen happens.
be elected the coInpany's president, carry
ing ont the programme announced by the
Journal In January. He Is at present it's
attorney. and the services ho has rendered
it In that capacity, and the manner OF do
ing them, have made him sought for to fill
the office. Two local directors are also to
be elected at tO-day's meeting. They will
be Mr.. Mason and Albert c.. Porter, more
than, I,tnI M ~ GfooIa mil -r4h.tlu h.
given the superintendent, and Michael
Burns, the present street commissioners. will
probably be made foreman of the roads il
he desires the position.
The meeting will probably occupy all of
the directors time to-day. and tomorrow
will be given over to an inspection of their
property. On Friday the gentlemen will
be introduced TO the members of the Board
of Public Works, when the subject of fran
chisee, the extension or the company's pres
emit charter and other matters will be dis
cussed.
The opinions on which the city attorney
and his assistants have been working have
not Yet been handed in to the
the matter been studied upon in any
but q general way by them. but il is pretty
generally understood that the attorneys
will render an opinion that the charter of
year, on the Gath of January, If the Council
will, In the meantime. repeal the seven
years extension ordinance of 1880. If such
prove to be the case. the new company Will
find itself with a mountain on it's hands at
the outset. The property was purchased
with the assurance that tho charter had
until 1901 to run. and at that time 1t was
thought that there would be little
or no trouble about getting it
renewed. The act on which the COM
pan bases Its belief that it's rights do
not OK piro until the year 1891 was An ordi-
nance passed by the Council IN the year
1880 which was to amend the original ordi-
nance granting the company it's rights In
the city. 80 as to read thirty-seven years
instead of thirty years as it had originally
been. The former would make 1t expire in
1901. and the latter next year. President
Conduit of the board, Is of the belief that
the charter does not run the longer period.
as are many of the city officials. and City
Attorney Jones has intimated that such
will be the verdict rendered when he and
his associates have completed their labOrs.