The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-17
PRESIDENT MASON RETURNS
Nothing TO Say as TO the CompanY's
Intentions About the Franchise.
Denies that Mcdonald Has Purchased the
Lines, and Knows of No Negotiations for
Stock-Did Not Meet Him.

President Mason, of the Citizens Street.
morning from trip of something over o
weeks duration to O number OF Eastern
cities. 1t was made in the interest Of the
company which he represents. and was for
the purpose of conferring with the prInci-
pal stockholders of il in regard to the ac-
ton which they will take In reference to
the franchise which the city has offered for
bidders Mr.. Mason met the Messrs. Nc
Kee. Werner and Evans at Rochester. N. Y.
on last Tuesday. While there the gentle
men inspected the plant of the Rochester
railway system, which is regarded as one of
the best IN the country. and from there
they went to New York city.
Mr.. Mason YVES seen at the residence OF
ex-Governor Porter last evening. and was
asked about the result of his journey. He
said that be wGs not In a position TO talk,
and that there was nothing that he could
say;
charter offered by the cityf" was asked OF
him.
II cannot say at present, and prefer not
to. any way, until We make a statement TO
the board. In fact, i cannot say that 1t
has been decided what we will do. There
mag be many changes In the situation be-
tween now and them"
lit is implied by that statement, then,
that you Will make q proposition OF some
sort to the board, Is it mott"
We'll. will not say as to that
MIR. Mason was asked If the reported
rumors to the effect that r. 7. Mcdonald
had purch at least q large proportion
of the stock of the Citizens company, If
not controlling interest. were true. He
replied that as far as he knew anything
about it they were not, nor did he know
that there had been any negotiations tend
ing toward it. He said that he did not see
Mr.. Mcdonald while he was East. and that
stockholders OF the company had. fpe
AS nearly as could be gathered from the
conversation of Mr.. Mason. 1t seems likely
the company will not make hard strug-
gle for the franchise, preferring TO run on
city, despite the fac. aa' f sSss ta the
city attorney has said that it ex-
pires within the year. To run
under the present grant would be by far
the cheaper for IL, as it would escape the
cost of paving, of cleaning and sprin king,
and Of many other things which are pro-
vided for at the expense of the company
securing the franchise which Is now being
offered. The Citizens company is firm In
Its belief that its present grant does not ex-
pire as claimed by. the city attorney. and
that Is also the opinion of many attorneys
who have been looking into the matter.
However, it will cost a lawsuit to main
tain that position, and q suit that will be q
long and rather disastrous one both to the
city and the company. and that is one of
the questions which is now in an undecided
state in the minds of the company's
directors.
Messrs. Werner and Mckee will probably
arrive in the city Monday or Tuesday to be
present at the meeting of the board on
Wednesday afternoon.
The amendments. published yesterday,
which were made by the Board of Works
TO the franchise which 1t drew up several
days ago. have not caused very much talk
among those interested in the street-rail-
way situation. They do not, in fact. make
any material alterations in it's provisions
and are rather corrections of some of the
read them. and that he did not believe that
there was anything that was to be said on
them.