The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-15
MIR. BUFFERS LETTER.
Mayor Makes Public the suggestions
from the Cify,s Counsel.

from the City's Counsel.
The origin of the effort to reach a CON-
promise in street-car matters reaches back
to last winter, when DR.. Henry jameson.
one of the local directors of the Citizens
Street-railway Company, met John NJ. But
Ter, special counsel for the city in the
pending suits, and preached the subject TO
him. Dr. Jameson said he was tired Of
the almost endless litigation and desired
that some kind OF a compromise be reached.
This conversation was followed up at diff
ferent times, but was not mentioned to
the city authorities until early in the sum-
mer when, after correspondence with other
directors of the company, DR.. Jameson
thought he had reached point when the
matter could be preached. Before that the
talks with Mr.. Butler had been of an in
formal nature. Finally Mr.. Werner came
to the city and had conference with
Mayor Denny. MIR. Butler and Mr.. Scott
were present at this meeting and while
there MIR. Scott made notes of the subjects
discussed and finally drew up an outline
of proposition, which it was understood
was the offer that the company expected
to make to the city. Mr.. Werner took this
East and other conferences resulted, but
at none OF them was anything dennlte
talked of in regard TO what the city would
do. 1t was ali in regard to the PROPOSE
ton that the company expected 10 make
after the matter had been discussed Dur
ing this time Mr.. Buffers health mad
failed and he did not leave his home.
Finally, when he found 1t necessary TO so
to Newport he wrote Mayor DENNY let
ter outlining what he understood 10 De
and what he understood the company would
be willing TO ofter. This letter Is dated
June % and is addressed to Mayor Denny
and City Attorney Scott. After snort
Introduction Ii says:
"Some months ago DR.. Henry Jameson,
as director and representative OF ,a the
as representing the city, entered upon the
consideration of some way by which the
litigation might be satisfactorily settled.
Ii is doubtless true that the bondholders
and stockholders of the East have be-
come very much dissatisfied with the sit
uation of affairs. and have sought earnest.
amicably settled.
"Mr. Werner the chief owner OF the Citi-
zens company' asked o n henry ermaneni
settlement. DR.. Jameson refuses TO take
any steps in the matter until he had full
authority to negotiate maj settlement lem
a result OF his visit, telegraphed DR..
Jameson that he had procured full aus
thority to negotiate a fun ana complete
Mr.. Werner has been here two or three
times in reference to this matter. He was
here last week, but was suddeniv called
death of a member of his family. He has
now taken his family to Asheville, n. c.,
but DR.. Jameson has received from him
letter asking him to proceed on the
lines he and Mr.. Werner had talked over,
which are the same lines L have can
va ssed fully with Dr. Jameson.
MIR. Werner does not ask or expect the
| city TO make any Affirmative proposition.
but he simply wants TO know whether =
probably that lines D
Werner and myself have discussed. ] have
not discussed anything with Mr. Werner
personally, but my discussion has been
with DIR. Jameson, and through him with
The letter then outlines what Mr.. Butler
Understands the proposition of the company
| for thirty years. with the provision that
| the city may buy the plant at that time
| or. in event that cannot be done, that an
| extension of thirty years be granted apon
| terms mutually agreed upon or determined
| by arbitration. The company to sell six
| tickets for % cents, good only for two and
| a half hours in the morning and evening.
| The company to pave between the tracks
| on all streets that may be paved, but the
| done during a term of years. The company
| TO pay to 21s per cent. of Its gross re-
| ceipts during The time that its present
| after that time After this outline Mr.. But
| Ter then closes his letter. as follows:
Now, the sum and substance of all this
| is that desire you two gentlemen to care
| fully consider the foregoing outline. 1t COM
mends itself strongly to my best judgment
| as to the proper course in which TO settle
| this whole affair in such a way as to re-
| dound to the interest Of the people and the
| city. Whether these figures are right or not,
| of course, / am unprepared TO state. but
| do believe that the line proposed is the cor
| rect line. and l further believe that the
| city should not, in its demands, be at all
| exorbitant.
After careful consideration of the above
outline, ] desire you two gentlemen 10
| have a full conference with DR.. Henry
| Jameson regarding the same. have prom
| ised him would ask you TO carefully con-
| slider this outline and then confer fully with
him.
IL now hope to be able to leave Indian
| apolis for the seashore toward the close OF
| next week. Nothing would suit me better
| than to know before i get away that this
! troublesome litigation is likely to be salts
| fac;orily settled. With best wishes 10 both
| of you, am yours most truly
| This is the history OF the case as given
| by Mayor Denny. He says that until with
| In the last ten days there has been moth
| ing in the negotiations of definite nature
| and for that reason they were not made
public.