The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-26
TRACK PAVING BILL REPORTED.
senator Wishard Gives His Reasons
for Opposing the Measure.

for Opposing the Measure.
The report from the committee on the af-
fairs of the city of indianapolis. so much
desired by Senator McHugh, on the bill
requiring the Citizens Street-:ailroad Com
pany to pave between its tracks, was made
in the Senate yesterday. The majority re-
port was in favor of the indefinite postpone
ment of the bill. Senator McHugh pre-
scented the minority report, signed by him.
self, Senator Stuart and Senator Kern
While the clerk was reading the report
Senate Crumpacker moved that the two
REPORTS and the bill be printed and the
motion was carried.
Mr.. Wishard, chairman of the commit
tee. gave the following reasons for report
ing adversely on the bill:
.The bill introduced by Senator Me-
Hugh" Mr.. Wishard said, lis a copy OF
a similar bill pending before the Legis-
lature two years ago. At that time over
50 per cent. Of the mileage of the Giti-
apolis, the only company that would be
affected by the, bill. was operated by
e electricity t The conditions are entirely
different now from what they were at
that time, as respects the position OF the
city Of indianapolis and the company. At
that time Senator McHugh and myself s.S
favored the passage OF tine en olls ana sea
that time the Citizens company had he
undsputed right to the, use and occup-
ancy of the streets and was furnishing
very poor service to the citizens of In
dianapois. The service now furnished by
city and the company has spent several
hundred thousand dollars in the better
equipment of its property.
ports on this bill to the effect that 1T is
agreed that the contract, or charter. un-
espir Mh until 's the YEAR 1901 is not true
The city OF Indianapolis now has. an ac-
ton pending In the Circuit Court Of Ham
company from the streets of the city of
indianapolis. At the present time She city
road Company and the City street-rai-
way Company. are litigating over the
question OF what company Is entitled to
the city of Indianapolis.
Under the city charter the city gov
contracts relative to street improvements
to be made by street railway or railroad
companies. $500
is that the Citizens company, If it has
any right at ALL is operating under a con-
in any event, expire until 1901 That con-
tract, If good for one purpose, Is good for
ALL and under it the city could not i'm
pose the conditions sought to be imposed
"As the city OF indianapolis is now con-
testing the right of the Citizens company.
to the use and occupancy of the streets, IL
this act is passed and enforced. and the
improvements contemplated by the act, will
1t not as a result establish the claim OF
perpetuity of the Citizens company to the
streets of the city, subject only to legis-
lative enactments on imposing additional
conditions under which the company shall
operate?
1.-THE lines of the Citizens company in In.
dianapos reach over a large amount of
territory, and the proportion of people pa
tronizing it's service is very much smaller
than in many of the larger cities. To my
mind the principal thing that will be of adj
vantage to the people OF the city of In
dianapolis in general. will be cheaper
fares. 1t is a matter of common opinion
that this is more important than the ques-
ton of street Improvement, which is solely
to the advantage of the owners of prop
erty along the line OF the tracks.
1.-THE complicated condition In which the
affairs of the city of Indianapolis and the
street-car companies are now involved Is
such that a reduction OF fares cannot well
be secured: and II street paving Is imposed,
it will without debut prevent n reduction In
the price of fares that ought to- and would
be made when the litigation is determined.
THE principal newspapers of the city of
indianapolis have all expressed themselves
upon the impropriety of the Legislature in
any way passing an act that would further
involve the affairs of the. city and the
street-car company until the courts shall
have determined the affair"