The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-29
FOR TRACK LOCATIONS.
The Union Railroad Company Asks
Exclusive Grants
TO OPERATE THE TROLLEY SYSTEM
President Aldrich States the Position Of
the Petitioners-Judge Cooke Appears
I'm Behalf OF the Interstate Railway
Company-Petition for Locations

In the course OF his remaks yesterday
before the joint committee on railroads
OF the city council who were given
hearing ON the application Of the Union
Railroad company to operate the trolley
system from Dyer street to connect with
the present track in Exchange place. Sem
ator Aldrich said that a majority of the
stock of the Union Traction company Is
owned, controlled and will continue to
be controlled by people of this city. 1t Ia
| n foreign corporation only inasm uch an
l. was incorporated under the laws of
New Jersey, for the simple reason that
| that state Is more liberal in such matters
than the state of Rhode Island. 1t is true
| the company has right to run it cars
| over the tracks of the New England Rail-
road company now on Dorrance street.
but the company is desirous OF having
| its own tracks on that thorouRhfare. The
| Union Railroad company carries about
| $1,000 passengers day across that street.
| ana with the completion OF the new
| Union station it will be necessary for the
| company to run tracks through Dor
rance street TO the station, as there II
| no other street so available.
Judge Cooke said the Interstate Rail-
way company did not object TO the grant
| lug of the petition to lay tracks provided
the Interstate was granted similar privi-
| leges.
President Aldrich said the granting of
the petition would give them exclusive
use of the street. This hearing was then
| closed.
The hearing on the petition OF the In
terstate Railway company for permission
to operate trolley system on certain
| streets through this city aud to Roger
| Williams park was continued.
| Judge Cooke reviewed the legi islation
| relative TO the Union Railroad company
since 1864. aud pointed out wherein he
considered the act of May 3, 1892 uncon-
stitutional The original Contract be-
tween the city OF Providence aud the
| Union Railroad company was such that
| the city might grant to the corporation
| the privilege of laying tracks, and that
further the city might permit other COM
| panies to run their cars over them, also
that it might oblige the company to take
| up its tracks from any street after ninety
days notice. Now, said Judge Cooke, In
| that bill OF last year the right Of way
granted to the Union company is made
An Exclusive One,
and to the ninety days notice clause Is
appended the condition that ths city
upon requiring the railroad to leave one
street shall provide some suitable one in
its place. This was legislation changing
the terms or a contract. The speaker in
troduced several references on constitu-
tional law to sustain his point. Judge
| Cooke came to his conclusion that the
Union Railroad company was not enti-
tied 10 exclusive rights, and then went
on TO speak OF the privileges asked for by
the Interstate railway, advancing the
same arguments In favor OF that concern
AS he had present.d ID in the hearing inn
mediately preceding
President Aldrich expressed surprise
that the committee on railroads had
been called upon 10 determine the con-
stitution Of the United States. He said
il the city Of Providence and a corpora
ton doing bu-iness and having rela-
tions wi h the city under authority and
law could not go to the general as sembly
for "a modification of those relations,
whether contract or otherwis under the
constitution OF the United States. he
had learned something tn It greatly sur
prised him. In May. 1892. She general
assembly In this state used an act con-
corning the Union Railroad company,
which modified the conditions which ex-
listed heretofore beGweel these two COR
porations. and it wa, ma 10 with the con-
sent OF botn parties, and was as clearly
constitul ional as any act could be. But
this question is eaLirelS aside from the
present issue. You are not Cd deter
mine whether the constitution OF the
| Unitel States
Has Been Violated.
You are to consider the public interests
and how they are best to be served. The
act of May, 1892. allowed the Union Rail-
road company exclusive use OF the streets
in which they were located or where
they might hereafter be located in the
city of Providence. For this the Union
Railroad company was required TO pay 3
| mi nf inn lf.fst hxs
city treasury and was also required To
Juild any road the city OF Providence
should r,quire IL to upon application.
| Tue speaker saw no reason to suppose
that the city council did not i'm
tend in good faith to live up
ask you TO give us the right TO
lay rails on Eddy and Dorrance streets.
On Eddy street the property owvers have
asked you To give the Union Railroad
company the right. He Thought this
| privilege ought to be granted to the
company TO sell them. " .he city wanted
| TO sell the privileges whv not put them
up at auction The Union Rilroad
company is wiling TO 40 y1hing that
the pubic interests require iC TO do. and
we ask you not to embarrass US TO the
advantage OF other companies.
The repre- sentative OF the Interstate
ridiculed the idea OF an auction. And as
Tor trading, the only proposition for any
thing OF that kind has come from tie
Union Railroad company. We have no
idea oi selling cut, but aireadv two gem
tlemen nave come to us from the other
concern aud asked what we would sell
our rights Tor. IL Ill becomes Senator
Aldr.ca TO suggest such thing.
| Sc .ator Aldrlch replied that since he
became president of the Un on Railroad
company two months ago no one author
II A. al 40 MI m AZ a m n n .h m A.
ton. Tue hearing was then adjourned