The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-16


adopted by viva voce vote
Senator Wood offered the amendment
which Is given below. There was some
question as TO the exact source from which
this amendment emanated. One story was
that Jerry" Collins had asked one senator
10 present the amendment who refused TO
have anything 10 do with IL. The senator
refused to discuss the subject, but die not
deny the story when ii was suggested to
him that he was credited with having re-
fused 70 offer the amendment Jerry"
himself said, when asked about IL:
Yes, that's my amendment. It's good
ore, too"
During the discussion of the amendment
Senator Ellison pressed Senator Wood. who
orIered the amendment. pretty closely as to
the authorship of the document. The latter
was little evasive. Senator Wood was
urging that the amendment ought to be
adopted because ii would prevent a con-
tract from being let by the city authori-
ties to company that would not agree TO
three-cent fares.
Has the senator any assurance that the
Citizens Street-railroad Company will
second his philanthropic motives? asked
Senator Ellison in tones of quiet sarcasm.
Il don't expect that they will. responded
Senator Wood. who went on talking with
out answering the question more directly.
Il would like TO ask the senators another
question: Was the amendment drawn up
TO suit his own motives or the motives OF
some attorney interested in the old COM
panies" asked Senator Ellison little later
Tor the purpose OF getting an authoritative
reply. Senator Wood flushed perceptibly
at this pointed question. He hesitated as
III ct q loss just what answer TO make.
Finally he said. slowly. so far as | know
it was not. l Will say that it was drawn
by a person who is interested in seeing
fairness prevail
Senator shively remarked that that was
an improper question for for the gentleman
Lieutenant Governor Haggard raped
loudly for order. He declared the question
out of order. No senator has the right to
impugn the motives of any other senator
on the floor of the Senate, he declared.
Let him ask questions, SAID senator
Wood. he continued replying. The lieu
tenant governor insisted that both the
question and answer were out OF order.
THE AMENDMENTS WORDING.
The amendment reads as follows: THE
Common Council of said city shall proceed
not more than two years nor less than
three months before the expiration of the
time limit in the ordinance contract of
the company then in possession OF its
streets for street railway purposes to let
the right to use the streets for street rail-
way purposes for such period as shall be
determined upon at the expiration of the
preceding term, which letting shall be by
open and fair competition. to the COM
pany or person or persons, then or there
after Incorporated. who shall bid the best
and most favorable terms therefor. Before
letting such right the Common Council
shall adopt and embody in the form OF an
ordinance or contract the regulations, con-
ditiOnS and period OF time FOR which the
rights to use the streets, describing the
same. will be granted; the minimum obli-
cation which will be imposed as to street
paving and repairing the minimum
amount. If any. OF earnings or receipts re-
quiTed to be paid to said city; and the max
imum cash and ticket fares that shall be
permitted to be charged, ana thereupon
said Common Council shall give notice by
publication for not less than three weeks
before the day fixed for the letting. in at
rla.a. t.aflx asaxtrS nor N
city, that bids will be received for the right
to use the streets named in said ordinance
or contract for railway purposes upon the
terms and conditions and for the PERIOD Oh
time named therein, and that such right
will be let to the company or person or per-
sons then or thereafter Incorporated VINO
shall bid the best and most favorable terms
for said city and public as TO street paving
and repairing amount of earnings or re-
ceipts TO be paid TO the city and fares
charged. and the right to use the streets
shall thereupon be awarded 10 such Glider.
Speaking TO the amendment. senator
Wood said that the proposed change was
made so as to make the bill fair; TO give
every one an opportunity TO bid Tor the
franchise. and 10 prevent any conflscatlon
of property. He said 1T was meant for the
benefit TO be divided by the people using
the cars instead of those owning the COM
pany, by giving opportunity 70 make con.
tracts for lower fares. He said IL was not
proper for the Legislature TO faste1 nVe-
cent fare the people.
He thought that all street-car companies
in cities as large as indianapolis could well
afford TO carry passengers for tnree-cent
fare. He argued that the bill did not al
feet Indianapolis alone. but as prececchl
would be made by subsequent legislatures
to apply to all the cities IN the state usihs
street railroads.
He was interrupted by Senator Early,
who asked: Are you speaa lsl13e: 10 the
amendment against the Dill!
ITO the amendment, replied senator
Wood. but l am against tie or, one 8, as III II
stands. for it shuts off com.et itlon IN the
franchises.
AS the reading progressed III was clear
that the amendment was intended 70 wipe
out the vital features OF Bill OF. Sena .t
Hawkins made the point of order That the
amendment referred to the printed Dill and
could not be entertained After some ilttie
sparring over technicalities Senator Wood
read the amendment himself ana then pro-
ceeded to speak upon II.
Il desire to say in behalf OF this amend
ment" he began. that this amendment
proposed to amend this bill so that any
change shall be fair to every one, that fuli
and free competition shall be had ana so
that no confiscation of property shal be
had Its purpose is TO see that the man
who rides upon the street car shall be the
recipient of advantages as well as the man
who owns the roadbed The time has
come, not alone in this city IL You please.
but in most cities OF the State. when / be-
lieve any street-railroad company can az
Il I'd TO carry passengers f0rf3 cents apiece.
don't think the time has come Tor a nys-
cent fare to be fixed upon any city py this
Legislature. This amendment looks 10
that end This amendment will meet with
the satisfaction and commentator or the
masses of this city.
The senator denied that the bin applied
to Indianapolis alone. 1t is simply an open
ing wedge until the law will apply 10 l-o-
gansport, Lafayette, Richmond and other
cities of the State, he SAID.
us the gentleman talking for the amend
ment or against the biil?" asked Senator
Early.
II am talking for the amendment. I am
against this bill. 1t provides for the con-
fiscation OF property.
''The gentleman's remarks in no wise APP
ply to the amendment" said Senator New.
Enjoined q second time not to talk away
from the question before the Senate. Sen
ator Wood said that he hoped the Senate
would consider the amendment carefully.
as ii bore upon it's face fairness to everyone
and would assure that there should BE an
omen competition for BLDG on a new fran
chise.
SENATOR HAWKINS'S ARGUMENT.
Senator Hawkins opposed the amendment
first because il wbuld kill the bill. This
amendment has not been drawn by anyone
that had the interests of indianapolis at
heart The sum of the argument advanced
is that the authorities OF indianapolis. the
people of Indianapolis, are not able TO take
care of their own interests" Senator IIaw-
kins said that the biz was not the product
of ore mind, but represented the sentiment
of the entire city. The amendment, he said,
was adroitly drawn ard was SO worded that
nothing could be done for two years. Ii
was the hope of the Citizens Street-rafl-
road Company that Ii might get before the
next Legislature and have X undo what
this one does.
why not give us relief now" he asked.
The object of this bill is to accomplish
hot haa trx-ft,r riLr.,