The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-20
ELLIOTT COMPANY CAPTURES II.


Its Bid Surprised Everybody-Citizens De-
clined to Make q Prop position.
The unknown" com pany had its innings
yesterday. When the Board of Public
Works called for bids on the franchise
which il mad prepared for any corporation
desiring to operate the street-railway sys-
tenn in the city ex-Judge Elliott, in behalf
Of the unknown" was the only one that
responded. He had been occupying back
seat in the Office OF the board while the
preliminarIes wero being gotten through
with. and when President Conduit called
for the bids he quietly walked mp to the
table around which the board sat. Reach.
ing down into his overooat pocket be
pulled out bundle about the size Of
brick, which was carelessly tied with some
brown wrapping twine. and laid it on the
table. Going into another pocket be pulled
ont an ofioiallooking envelope. which he
laid on top of the bundle. IL have bid to
offer." he had said as he approached tho
table. and. as he laid the bundle and en-
velope on the table. continued: Here il
the SIS. 900 required by the board as an
earnest pointing to the brown bundle).
and here is the bid" tapping the envelope
with his hand. Every eye was glued to
that little brown bundle on the table. and
from every mouth came the exclamation;
"Ahr
TERMS OF THE PROPOSITION.
President Conduit. of the board. quickly
pulled the bundle that was worth mora
than its weight in gold over to him. and.
carefully shielding it with his folded
hands, asked If there were any more bids.
He waited for nearly five minutes and
there being none forthcoming. the one he
had received was opened and read. It was
INDIANAPOLIS, April 19, 1898.
To the Honorable the Mayor and Board Of Public
Works of the CITY of Indianapolis
Gentlemen-For and in behalf OF the associa.
tion for which i am the attorney and represents
tive. accept the proposal contained in the
draft Of contract prepared and promulgated
Sa as to ay and
ply with al the terms, provisions and conditions
thereof In every respect.
tons TO pay to the controller Of the city Of Indie
annapolis, in the event that contract Is made
with said association and It obtains and enjoys
the franchises, rights and privileges In said
contract described and provided for, the follows
ing proportion OF the gross receipts; that Is 10
annum; for the second period o. i've years l2is
per cent. per annum, for the third period OF i've
years l3i per cent. per annum. and for the re-
mainder or the tine the said contract
covers ana embraces. 14lo per cent per annum.
The payments OF the percentage OF gross receipts
to be made In al respects as in said contract
provided. BYRON X. Elliott
Attorney and Agent.
When that bundle of one-th houssnd.dolla
bills was thrown on the table the soens
partook of the nature of q scene from some
followed was hardly less so. When the
amount OF the per cents. which the CON-
pany proposed to pay to the city were read
aloud the face of nearly every person in
the room wore an expression of surprise.
which gradually grew. until their eyes
looked as If they would jump out or their
respective owners heads, and O moment
later everything was in q commotion OF
comment and speculation.
Mr.. PEARSON WAS THERE.
For considerable period before the time
set for the receiving of the bida, 8 o'clock,
there was hustle and stir in the Office Of
the board. The first of the people inter-
ested in the streer-railway controversy 10
appear on the sceno was w. Ii. Latta. tho
private secretary of President Mason. OF
the Citizens Street-railway Company. He
came in alone, and took q seat over in ono
corner by himself. A few moments later
Judge Elliott. accompanied by q robust
young man. his clerk. came in the door.
and seeing no ono IN particular that ho
wanted 10 speak TO. be also took
O seat to one side, with seemingly
no object In view but 10 caress
his long gray beard. After him came Will
liam Bosson. OF the Bank OF Commerce, who
has been more or less remotely connected
with various street-rallway syndicates
that have tried to gain foothold In the
city and after him came Judge Clay pool
and w. =. Taylor. who. In connection with
Leon Bailey. have had IL. L. McDonald's
interests in charge. John II. Pearson. man.
ager of the gas company. was on hand.
Morris Defrees was the first one OF the
board 20 appear On the scene. and he took
his accustomed seat after greeting those
present President Conduit was next to
arrive, and he> az once retired TO the
Mayors private Office for Q consultation.
Whon ho oamo hank into fha of5ioo Of hh(