The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-02

night Will probably 60 down In municipal
history as the equal. if not the superior, of
the one which passed the franchise for
the City Railway Company on snch
points as throttling tactics. vIndiotive
passages at arms of words and even job
berry. Measures which came before it for
consideration were hustled into the strong
box of the city clerk without even the
members knowing what they were except
by title. and when the meeting had
adjourned theseal of secrecy was still kept
intact. with the exception of three of the
members of the committee to which the
document was referred. and the chairman
of that committee refused to allow the
other two members to see IL until within a
half an hour previous to the time of spe-
cial meeting. which was called to meet at
i've minutes past II o'clock at midnight.
When those having the document in charge
were importuned to give it's purport TO
the representatives of the press for publi-
cation they refused TO point of profanity.
The Board of Public Works sent to the
Council for passage an ordinance granting
the right TO the City Railway Company TO
lay and maintain tracks on certain streets
in the city under the conditions of the
franchise recently granted 1t. This list or
streets had been prepared with the utmost
secrecy. for the reason that both the city
and the officials of the company feared
that should the Citizens company obtain
information as to what they were il would
at once pre-empt them by laying tracks be-
fore the other company would have time to
gather its material
The ordinance was read by title. and
then ensued q wrangle as to W neither there
should be q suspension of the rules and it
hustled through at once. or whether there
"a - Ia -. ~,.x1~~ cd
the thing adopted then. The latter pre-
vailed, and nothing but the title was made
known. either to the public or to the mern-
bers OF the Council. There were present
at the meeting several representatives of
the Citizens company. One of them sat-
pencil in hand, ready to take down the list
and hurry with il to the offices of the COM
pany There the offic ials had within
handy communication fOrco OF some i've
hundred men. who were to have been sent
out ut once laying the tracks OF the COM
pany on the streets named. The list was
not obtained. however. and the matter was
deferred six hours.
President Murphy called the meeting to
order shortly after O'clock. with all Of
the members present but McGill and
Sherer. There was q feeling of soddenness
in the smOke-laden atmosphere of the
chamber. and it did not take long for the
storm to brew. After communication
from the Mayor was read. in which he said
that he had approved Ordinances and 20.
which are the appropriation ordinance
and the City railway franchise. one was
introduced from the Board of Works which
was that granting certain streets TO the
City Railway Company. Its title was read
and the roll call of business was continued.
When that had been com Dleted Mr.. Ryan
moved that the route ordinance be re-
ferred TO tho committee on ordinances,
with instructions TO report at the next reg
ular or special meeting OF the Council.
This was done aud there beng no further
hns ha nd
moved to adjourn. 1t then became al
parent for the first time that there was an
arrangement for another midnight meet
ing. and also that Rassmann's motion to ad-
jonrn was a part of il. for his name was the
first attached TO call for the late meeting.
and which came very near being mislaid
by reading clerk Bernhamer. he was re-
minded of it's existence by President MUIR
ply in rather anxious tones. and he got it
read before any one conld act on Rassmann'S
motion. It was signed by Rassmann, Muir
ply. Ryan, McGutfin and Schrader.
Rassmann again moved to adjourn. and it
was lost by vote of 10 TO o. blr. White
then got upon his feet, and wanted to know
| what this was all about He said that he
| did not want to stand in the light of an Oh
structionisJ in the Council. and If the or
linance must be passed. 1t might as we'll
be- done now ss at any time. but he did not
see that 1t was necessary 20 call special
meeting to do IT. He was in favor OF it be-
ing done on suspension OF rules. Contin-
uing. ne said:
1.-THE great evil was done when the ordi-
nance granting these people their fran
| chise was passed, and not In the present
| measure. which ought to go. now that the
! other is in effect. i think that the fight be-
| tween the two companies cannot be precip-
itated any too soon, so that the city will
/ know Just where It stands and will not
| have to stand in the light Of fighting the
| City cOmpany's battles for II. as it is doing
now. If the conrts hold that the City
haa xi.rh$ IN Inv ntya0
! street In the city, ana that the Citizens
| company has the right to ell of them.
| hope that they will also decide that the or
dinance which was passed in tina Council
the other night Is null and void"
Mr.. White then moved that there be
| suspension of rules. and that the ordinance
be taken up on It's second reading. This
! brought Mr.. Casper TO his feet. lie said:
| Il am against passing any thing which this
| Council knows nothing about. l will ven-
! ture to soy that there IS not a man in this
| room, or a member of this Council, who
| knows what those streets are. /! think that
the members of the BOARD of Public Works
| and the public should have been informed
! on the subject Ii they were afraid that
| the Citizens company would pre-empt the
| streets. what 10 70 prevent that company
| from doing so Immediately after this Is
made pnbiIo at tins meeting2 Nothing ut
| ALL l believe that this Council cannot
| grant these rontes. for the reason that the
| Citizens company's charter does not xpre
| until next January. and that until that
time IL has right 10 all of the streets 1t
might Drecipitate a heavy lawsuit on the
| city. i am not O lawyer. but
| No one accused yoI of being O lawy er."
| broke in President Murphy. but Casper
never noticed him, and continued:
II say that this hurry Is not right.
| and"
Il think that you voted for an ordinance
making it obligatory for the city to grant
these routes.' again interposed the presi-
dent of the body and again Casper took
| ND hls broken sentence and continued:
| There is no need of 10. Ii Is not neces-
cary TO call a special meeting. and
I'D like 10 know who engineered the
] last midnight meeting" blurted out Mr..