The sun., 1895-02-06
killed. The post was all that kept the car from
going through the iimsy ferryhouse into the
VH1r WIZ scBIEREy no,
Strikers Tryisg 60 gsauencs Hiw 90 Sian
the FrnnchIses' Revocation.


Naturally there is n good deal OF speculation
In Brooklyn over tho resolution passed by the
Board of Aldermen revoking the license OF the
trolley companies to run cars by electricity and
tho question of It's legality, and further ques-
tion Of whether or not Mayor Schieren can be
scared inta signing 1t. Most OF the ablcst law
yers In the city say that the resolution Ia pre-
posterous. but there are some, and they are
supported by the people who don't like the
trolley roads, that the Aldermen have the legal
right to take away the licenses II they want to.
The resolution was drawn by Lawyer Mirabeau
l.. Towns, the counsel to the strikers, aod was
passed in exactly the shape that he prepared 1t.
In an official statement issued for the strikers
yesterday Lawyer Towns said;
THE resolution passed by the Board Of Alder
men is legal in every respect, and think the
highest courts Of this land will hold it to be legal.
The principle involved was decided in 10l United
States Supreme Court reports in the matter of
the Railway Company VS.. Philadelphia. And
the doctrine laid down there has been followed
or anticipated in many other courts throughout
the different United States. There can be no
doubt as to the fairness and justice of vesting
such power In the Board of Aldermen
For the privilege of running carsin city is
always in pursuance of license and not a con-
tract; such licenses granted under the police
power OF the municipalities, and although the
companies may have legislative charter. the
City Council has the power to regulate the fran
chises which they may grant such corporations,
to modify them, increase or diminish their
scope and to increase or diminish the license
fee demanded of the companies for the privilege
of operating the roads in the streets.
This seems to me to be fundamental law.
cannot understand how members of the bar can
have any two opinions about this matter; it is
JoI In md right and in enIity
Where would the people be If they could not
control their streets through the Board OF
whom may have been given franchises to use
said streets? Suppose it should develop. which
is not entirely impossible, that the operation or
cars by electricity is not feast Bile. is eminenty
dangerous to human life, and virtually stops
FOR any other purpose i'm practicable. could it be
said by lawyer, special pleader. politician rail-
road agent, or even newspaper waiter that the
operation OF GERS by electricity through the
streets over which they had perfect control?
The railroad companies do not own the streets
nor is their use OF the streets based upon con-
tract but simply license. License differs from
mutual obligations: II license is based upon u
privilege granted for IL fee certain or uncertain"
AS Mayor Schieren has already vetoed two
resolutions which were passed for the same oh
ject AS this one namely. to cmbarrass the rail
road companies, ii is almost certain; despite the
threats of the strikers that he will veto this.
But he has done 50 many things since this strke
began that nobody thought he would do, that
u
iugs as to his action.
The Mayor was visited yesterday morning by
twenty men, headed by Peter A. Meehan Of
Mugge's Hall. Meehan is striker, and he told
the Mayor that the men were hon-union men
who had thrown up their jobs and who wanted
To be Gent home. Cornelius Howard. one of the
men. said he had come from Indianapolis. ami
the company hadn't kept its agreement with
him. The Mayor listened to their stories and
We'll | don't see that can do anything for
you. lou men have made u contract with tho
railroad COMPANIES, and it's u matter for you to
settle with them
Several of the men insisted that the railroad
companies had violated their contracts. The
Mayor told them to hire II lawyer. They said
they didn't have any money to hire lawyer.
The Mayor wanted to know why they didn't go
to the railroad companies and demand salts
faction. They said they didn't want to do that,
and Meehan said they thought the Mayor might
send them home.
III you have any grievance" said the Mayor,
you should go before II Judge
well" said Meehan. these men have been
cheated and there is ninety more like them out
at East New York TatipE All TO hear h fI2m YOU; 10
a contract with the railroad company. hadn't
any idea that would come under my jursdic-
ton"
the men TO leave their work. Meehan didn't
even smile as he answered that they hadn't. and
that 225 men altogether had left of their own
accord.
The men stuck to the Mayor and wouldn't he
shaken until Corporation Counsel Mcdonald
was sent for and told them that the only redress
they had was in the courts Then the Mayor
went into his private room, leaving them out
side The visit of this delegation is only the
first. There will be plenty others, for j. is
part of the scheme of the strikers to influence
the Mayors action on the resolution OF the Al
dermen to poster him daily with stories OF al
legged bad treatment by the railroad companies
dermen will reach the Mayor this morning. He
may take immediate action on 1t, Or he may take
ten days to consider It,