The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-10
NOT VERY FAR APART
Citizens shows Disposition
to Comply with Most Of the
City's Demands.


ward the final adjustment of street-car liti-
CATION in Indianapolis was held last night at
the Mayors office. The Citizens Street.
railroad Company was represented by
Murray A. Werner and r. W. Clay. Of Pitts
burg, stockholders and directors Of the
company, and attorney Ferdinand Winter.
Of this city. Mayor Denny, City Attorney
Scott and Messrs. Holton and Osierman.
of the Board of Public Works. were pres
ent for the city. besides President Cooper,
o. the City Council. and Messrs- Allen. Co.'S
tello, Golfer, Rauh, Merritt and Schmid, OF
the Council committee on contracts and
franchises. The conference resulted in no
definite action. 1t was held behind closed
doors, and no one except the representa-
tives Of the street-car company and the
city were permitted to enter the room.
Both Mayor Denny and President Holton,
Of the Board of Public Works. favored an
open conference. but the representatives of
the street railway asked that 1t be private.
desire of these gentlemen prevailed.
Both sides had propositions to offer and
the conference continued until midnight.
At that hour each side was in possession of
the others views on the question. The dis
cussion was harmonious throughout. 1t is
now believed that a settlement will be
reached within the next two weeks, al
though there are various dinerences as TO
important details which will require several
days to adjust, IL indeed an adjustment is
made. City officials think that the matter
of paving the streets will prove the stub
While both sides agree on many points in
this connection, the street-car company is
disposed to differ as TO the amount Of street
improvements which il should be compelled
to carry out each year.
The position of the city was stated at
torney Scott and President Hoiton, of the
Board of Public Works. These officials set
out the views of the city and the require
ments which it would exact of the street.
car company. r.e
THE CITY's CONTRACT.
In substance the contract will contain
the following provisions: The street-car
company must abandon all claims to a per-
petual franchise and must place all its
rights in a new contract.
1t shall obligate itself to pave all streets
occupied by its lines between the tracks
and eighteen inches on each side. This
will be required on all streets that have
been improved, and will apply to the same
parts of streets that are hereafter i'm
proved by the city.
For the period of six years. terminating
Jan. Is. 1901, the time when the rights now
claimed by the company will have expired.
it shall pay into the city treasury 2 per
cent. OF its gross receipts. After the ex-
city treasury 5 per cent. of It's gross re-
ceipts on all earnings not exceeding 81
. ;oeo a m'aOc ! Per aS cent $4,000 Co she T amoun 10 S Der
cent. would be required in excess of ST.
On the question of fares the city will
require that a cash fare with the privilege
OF transfer shall not exceed 5 cents. but
six tickets shall be sold for % cents or
twenty-five tickets for 81; this rate 10 be
Mad hy thu rcftol transfer nPip-
ileges.
Suburban railways whose lines extend to
the corporation limits shall have the right
to a designated point on Washington
street which can be reached over the Citi-
zens' street-railroad lines with a suitable
loop over which suburban cars can be re-
this plan is unsatisfactory, the Board OF
Public Works may designate a point at
the city limits where the cars OF
connect and receive passengers and carry
them to the city. II will be provided that
the rate which the suburban line shall
or the terms on which passengers sre re-
moved shall be fixed by the two railroad
companies Should the companies ind them
selves unable TO conn TO satisfactory terms
they may call in a committee of arbitra-
ton.
on these terms the city will agree to re-
new the company's franchise for a period
of thirty years, the contract to be in eff
feet from Jan. IS. 1896. to Jan. 49, 1926. At
the end of this period the city will re-
quire an option which will permit the pur-
chase OF the street railway AZ a price to
be agreed upon by o. arbitra-
ton. - sof9
THE COMPANY'S PROPOSITION.
Attorney Winter, for the Citizens Street.
railroad Company, made a proposition for
his clients. He thought that the city's
demands might be modified considerably
in several respects. He spoke particularly
of the paving feature of the proposed set
Element. 1t was suggested that the period
in which the street-car company should be
required to pave those streets occupied by
the tracks and the streets already i'm
proyed be extended over a period OF ten
wears: that not more than one-tenth or
such work be required during one year.
AS TO paving between the tracks on streets
not already paved, the attorney suggested
that provisions be inserted in the contract
giving the company the right 10 take au,
vantage of the Barrett law. rms wouio
nave the streets already partly improved
and those to be paved hereafter. Inls the
attorney said would make a heavy burden
AS to the gross receipts. the position OF
the company differed materially from Inc
demand of the city. 1t was prcposeu tnat
should only be required to pay into the
citv treasury 2 per cent of its gross re-
receipts. For the second ten years or the
thirty-yearS contract tnC Svhf
be willing to pay 5 per cent OF It's sross
receipts, and for the third ten Yeas II
would turn over z per cent. OF It's earnings;
The COMPANY looked upon the proposed
option of the city TO purchase the me at
the end OF thirty years with 1avor. How.
ever Mr.. Winter had another arrangement
TO suggest. II the city failed TO purchase
the plant or found itself unable 10 unoef-
take an enterprise OF sucn magnltuoe,
there might be an extension OF Irancnlse
to the Citizens company. IL neitner parry
could agree as to the terms OF the secono
franchise the matter could De au1usteo py
arbitration. In this event the company woulu
allow the city an option 10 purchase, the
option TO be continued Tor snort PERIODS or
AS to the rate of fare which the company
would exact from the public, Mr.. Winter
said II would agre to sell single tickets at nve
cents. with full transfer privileges. Inc
Company would also be willing TO sell SIX
tickets for twenty-five cents, or twenty-five
for one dollar, as the city proposed, but
would be unwilling to extend the transfer
privileges. The company would, however,
furnish transfer tickets at this rate Tor
two hours in the morning and evening.
This would enable the laboring classes 10
travel to and from their employment at re-
duced rates. -,
After Mr.. Winter had concluded. Council
man Allen. of the committee on contracts
and franchises. and Mr.. Osterman, of the
BOARD of Public Works, raised an impor-
tant point concerning the paving OF the
streets. In many localities the property
| owners abutting on the strets occupied by
| the street-car tracks have been compelled
y. etc pd fbaexpepsa of paving these thor