The morning call., 1893-09-05
MONOPOLY WINS.
Oakland COunCilmen Are
Weak=Kneed.
BIG TALK BUT NO ACTION
A. n. Towne Speaks and the Rail-
road Ordinances Are Laid on
the Table.

which were before the City Council and
which were to have been finally passed
last night, met with fate the people of
Oakland did not look for
Manager Towne of the Southern Pa
cific spoke his little piece, made prom
ises t" Fix the cars' before the Council,
and the backbone of some of the Council
men suddenly lost it's strength.
One Of the ordinances was tabled, an
other was referred back to the com
Hnittes, where it viii probably be killed
sttIl another was so amended not to
hurt the Southern Pacific Company If
it is fin ally passed at the next meeting
and one providing for "A fagman was
passed without a dissenting vote. The
Southern Pacific representative did n OF
object To this.
For three long hours last night the Oak
land City Council labored with the local
railroad question. At the end of that time
all that had been accomplished was the
fact that some of the members were Sor-
rowfully aware that other members had
broken their promises and that the South
ern Pacific had carried off the hOnOrs of
the engagement.
After being called to order the Council
proceeded TO clear the way for the all.im-
pOrtaDt business of the evening by passing
motion to suspend the rules for the pur-
pose of taking up certain railroad ordi-
nanceS.
Councilman Dow put the ball in motion
by moving that the ordinance compelling
the railroad company to place flagmen at
all crossings where the company's lines
were crossed by electric, cable or hOrsecar
lines be put on Its final passage. The or
dinance was passed without dissenting
vote.
Councilman Dalton then presented
petition numerOuSly gned requesting the
Council TO adopt the necessary measures to
compel the railroad company to do away
with steamcarS, substituting therefor cable
or electric cars. The petition set
forth that the present system of steam
cars on Seventh street was detrimental
10 the city. for the reason that II present
ed many dangers 10 the life and limb of
the citizens. and also because it mOnOpn-
LIED one OF the principal streets 10 the al
most total exclusion Of other travel.
At this iuncture Mr. Towne asked per-
mission TO address the Council, and, in
part, spoke as follows:
Il am here tonight in response to the
wishes of friends in this Council. The
subject now under discussion is one of
the greatest importance to the COM
Inonwealth, and for that reason, II no
others, il stands YOU in hand, az the re pre-
senLatves of the people, TO 10 nothing
UaStly anu TO pass no laws LDaI are not
for the best interests of all par
ties concerned. [ wish | was able
to convince you that what the
Southern Pacific Company Is doing
IS right, and that we have now, as In the
past, the best Interests OF this community
at heart. We have for wears tried to
make our railway system ana Its connect
ing ferry system as attractive and con-
venient as possible for your citizens who
may have business interests in the com
Inercial city across the bay.
However. We make no special point of
this. Our special aim has been 20 make
our railway and ferry system ore of your
established institutions, that In the end
you might look tayOra5ly upon our efforts
and appreciate them. We have made this
system onr special stUdy-such a study as
you never thought OF giving il. \ on will
pass ordinances that seem to be fair and
just to all parties. but | can assure you
that the least miscalcuation will destroy
the efficiency that has made the service so
satisfactory. We are ready to join with
you in anything that can serve to
make the service better and you
have emily to ask and we will grant
anything within reason. Any improve
ment that you would like made, any sug-
gestion that you have to offer, We are will
ing to grant; but wa ask that you consider
what you want and determine that il is
not lmposs bic Tor us to grant 1t and still
maintain the effectiveness OF the service.
fathers and mothers relative TO the way
their children have of jumping on or of
our trains. This has been a subject that
has been given special consideration, and
you know that this is a hard condition TO get
around, We have no desire to antRgoniZe
your people, and l come 70 you here to-
night to ask you 10 make your requests
and we will grant them. Now, is there
anything that you would like to ask me?
If there is ] will give you any information
that have in my possession"
Mr.. ToWne then reviewed briefly the
history of the Southern Pacific Company,
and made the statement that the receipts
from California last year were $780, 900 be-
low the amount of expenditures. lie also
said that his company paid $500, 600 a year
to its employees in Oakland alone, and that
this fact should be Borne 10 mind in the
consideration Of the subject in hand
What have you TO say on the subject of
electric or cable cars as outlined in the
petition presen ted by Mr.. DlatOn?" in
CURED President of the Council TOwie.
1.-THE present condition of travel be-
tween this city and San Francisco would
not permit of it." replied Mr.. Towne. 81
think that this must be appar-
ent to every one of you. Some
two cities becomes greater more boats and
more cars Will be put on. We will always
change our ferry and train service TO meet
che existing changes in tie volume of
travel. The present traffic could not be
handled by either cable or electric cars"
Dalton-What specific reasons have yOn
Tor not wanting these ordinances passed?
Iowne-Wheu you limit us to certain
rate OF speed we cannot smake the time
necessary to give you a half-hour service.
II some ilttle thing happens we cannot
make up the time.
Dalton-Havey you not run your trains
through the city at the rate of twenty-five
or thirty miles an hour?
Towne-Grant that it is So Is IL not
desirable to your residents to reach your
places Of business in the city as rapidly as
possible?
Daton-Not at the sacrifice of human
life.
Snell-We have been given 60 under
stand that you are willing to stop trains
at all stations if we will give you speed
limit Of eighteen miles an hour between
stations and eight miles across crossings.
Is that SO?
Towne-We will do so if we can deter
mine upon a schedule between stations
that will be satisfactory to all parties.
Manuel-It is not a question of good
ferrV- boats or QoOd train serVice Wa