The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-08
COUNCIL MEETING
CONTINUED from Page IL

/
| We hope to make such read djustment
of lines as will answer all reasonable de-
| mands for facilities from each section OF
| the city to every other, and we believe that
this arrangement will give greater salts
faction TO our patrons than any other.
Very respectfully yours,
'''UNIoN RAILROAD COMPANY.
BY NELSON w. ALDRICH, President.
Snow, Mr.. President" continued Mr.
Kendrick, "right there is where the
COMMITTEES, and, 1 believe, the City
Council, beg leave to differ decidedly
the Union Railroad Company. believe
there is nothing will answer the purpose
OF accommodating the public but
Some Reasonable Arrangements for
Transfer Tickets,
aud / am free to say that think the
company make q serious mistake--I have
always thought so. and think SO today
| that they do not arrange some system
which would be more equitable and more
| satisfactory to the public than they have
at the present time. II does seem to me
that IL is possible. 1t seems to me that
| II is desirable; IL seems to me IL 10 a mat
| ter OF justice that the public have a right
| to ask this. Yet am aware of the fact
that, as far as the pecuniary point ap-
plies, the pu bile are not in position where
they can judge OF the facts. The railroad
company are the only ones that under.
stnd, and have figures for proving whet her
that 10 practical or not from the financial
point OF view. But il does seem TO me
that ii is something that should demand
and should receive careful attention on
the part OF the railroad people. So far as
the service is concerned, SO far as the
men they employ are concerned, IL is in
my opinion ahead OF any in this country.
IL is my misfortune 10 have to travel
good deal. i am acquainted with railroad
facilities from Quebec 10 the Gulf, and /
never have tound place yet where the
with the service OF the city of Providence
that we get today. say this as a matter
OF justice to the company. i don't think
there Is anything gained by misrepre-
senting either one side or the other. /
say IL we had transfer tickets, II the COM
pany were in position where they could
great that without bankruptcy, II they
could give US transfer tickets with the
present accommodations that we have,
and probably extend the plumber of cars,
we should have the best street railroad
service in this country. Anybody travel
will tell you the SAME thing.
1T will be seen that the Union Railroad
Company either do not care for an ex-
tension of their franchise or consider q
general transfers system too much TO pay
for the advantages TO be derived for an
Il
that the city has the right to grant.
1.-The belief OF the ompany is that they
can meet the demand for transfers to a
large extent by extending their lines
across the center OF the city, rather than
by transferring from one line to another,
and that system of general transfers
would cause the company such loss of
revenue as they would not be able to
stand and maintain their plant on q pay
ing basis.
"While your committee are unanimous
In feeling that general system OF
transfers would be equally beneficial 10
the citizens and to the company, yet il is
not easy to refute the arguments used by
the officers of the company, as the differ
ence Is one OF opinion, the correctness of
which cannot well be determined except
by trial. That the railroad companys
lines are exceptionally well equipped,
kept IN first class condition, and well
manned, no one can deny who has
been obliged to ride on the average street
car lines In most cities in this country;
and We feel sure that our citizens here
would not consent to such service as
most other places submit TO, even for
little cheaper rates. While we regret not
to be able to report favorable action on
the part OF the company in regard TO gen.
eral transfers, we believe that we have
used all the arguments at our comman
for the accomplishment of such a result,
ana know OF no power by which the
company can be compelled TO establish a
system of transfers against its wishes, so
long as the exclusive franchise granted
by the Legislature to the company con-
tinues.
Close of the Report.
"Your committee would therefore re-
port:
i. That under the provisions of the
existing statutes, the City Council may
require the construction of system of
cross-towp lines whenever, in their judg-
ment, the construction of such lines is
required by the needs of the public.
z. That the esta bishment of a cross
town line of street railway with a system
of free transfers TO and from the same
over the intersecting lines would be OF
great advantage TO our laboring popula-
ion.
8. That no system of transfers can be |
obtained, whether in connection with |
sucn cross-town lines or otherwise, prior |
to the third day of May, 1912, except by |
4 voluntary agreement OF the railway |
company thereto.
L. That such agreement can only be |
binding on said companies IL made in |
The form of q contract with the city of |
8. That, by the provisions OF the act
of 1895. the city and the companies have
1ow authority 10 make such contract.
y. Iuht the UNION hallrOa0 company
'efuses TO consider at present the terms of
my agreement for the establishment OF a
general system of transfer tickets.
z. That, as the Council has directed
his committee not to proceed except on
he basis of the establishment ofa system
" transfer tickets on all street railways
within the city, nothing further remains
or the committee TO do so long as the
Union Railroad Company is of its present
mind.
Your committee accordingly respectful
y request to be discharged from the
urther consideration of the subjects re.
erred to them.
Respectfully submitted for the commit
ee, Jos. III. KENDRICK, Chairman.
Providence, July 9, 1895.
Now, Mr.. President, this committee
md through them this Council have been
subjected to the Severest Criticism,
10Th by the press and from the platform.
The Journal stated a short time ago that,
m the presentation OF this report and
he discussion, that the chairman proba-
'ly would present to the Council all the
which would be chargeab BILE to
he papers, in the last summer, which