The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-14
THE SECOND STREET FRANCHI:E.
Council Committee Hears Employees
and Council for Bondholders.

A meeting of the railroad committee
of the city council for considering the
question of a new franchise to the Con-
eolidated Street Railway Company was
held in the house of delegates hall at 1890
Yesterday morning. Delegates James.
Voigt and Little were on hand. with
Chairman Sweeney presiding and Corpo-
ration Counsel Scott by his side Among
those who took part in the discussions
hut were not on the committee were:
Judge Burke, the counsel for the bond
holders: w. s. Jennings, OF the street
Car Union: f.. F. Cleary, of the Western
Central Labor Union: Receiver Backus, L.
r. Spencer and George Hyde Preston.
The first speaker was Mr. Jennings. who
outlined the general principles on which
was based the petition of those In whose
interests he had como there. He was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Cleary. who pleaded elo-
duently for the insertion in the proposed
franchise Of a clause providing for arbitra-
ton in case of difficulty between employ
ers and employees. Mr.. Cleary illustrated
his remarks with an account OF an ex-
perience Of his when working on a street
railway line I'm Portland and which, he
claimed went to show that, as matters
now stood there was an almost infinite
DELAY in many cases in which railway en-
Moves endcavor to obtain through the
courts what is justly due them. Some
general
two points that had been brought up at
n previous meeting were also talked over
again namely the proposal that there
should he inserted a clause relative 10 the
choosing OF only such men as had been
properly adjudged competent. and another
clause to the effect that the wages OF en-
ploves should never he less than - cents
an hour Judge Burke said in his opinion
the arbitration business was matter for
"a attend and
rueraed that the gentlemen that had pro-
r,oSe3 the insertion OF that clause carry
their plea 10 Olympia and have a law
made that would take effect throughout
the state The city council, IN his opinion
was not the proper place 20 which 10 ap-
plv As 20 the question OF competency.
who would decide If a board for the
ru~pose were formed, wouh It not tend
~ shut or the Young men OF the state
that might desire 10 enter the trade? As
- The third point e. seemed TO him that
IL was not SO much protection that the
workman needed as fair chance 10 show
What he could do The workman had in
teilizen~e and ability. and wished for in
tiepenlence and 50 was willing 10 trust 20
himself n given opportunity
Here elise moved that the discus
sion % these matters be postponed and
that the proposals about transfers ana
percentage he brought before the COM
rn{tts-a Noigt seconded and the motion was
carried Judge Burke read the clauses re-
latsng - transfers being granted for cross
lines 4 said lines were " the same COM
rany as the line % which The fare was
taken up AMI not AZ ali for parallel lines
After considerable talk as - what should
and What should not be considered cross
lines the committee and the judge came
20 agreement. and proceeded TO discuss
The posts pavements and percentage TIE
disposition Of each side was % meet the
other HALF way and finally the proposal
nj the committee relative - the condi-
tfors in regard 20 the city was noted nv
the nudge and the meeting adjourned 20
meet again probably on Saturday when
fhe Eastern bondholisrs viii have been
heard from.