The herald., 1897-02-28
PASADENA
Excitement Over Street Car Franchise Hat.
.N4 tsrs-News Brevities


tsrs-News Breviti.s
PASADENA, Feb. 27-The special
session of'the city council called for this
morning to consider the Pasadena and
Pacific electric roads and the rival Ter
minal roads difficulties was very large
ly attended. A committe had been
chosen from last nights mass meeting to
voice the feeling of the citizens against
the action Of the Pasadena and Pacific
road In laying their track on West Colo
fado street. The council chamber was
packed with excited, indignant citizens.
and the session was very stormy one.
The sympa thy was plainly for the Ter
minal company, whose proposed fran
cffise on West Colorado street was in
fringed upon by the Pasadena and Pa
cific company.
Attorney T. E. Gibbon Of the Terminal
was the first speaker to address the
board. He asked that the board declare
the Pasadena and Pacific company's
franchise on certain streets forfeited.
according to tke original contract. This
vtas not done, however. G-n. Pope, at
torney for the other side, the,i said that
his road aoted in accordance With their
first franchise, whicl; was fcr the horse
car line. He Thought that 1t was admit
ted that the franchise was undisputed,
even If the electric franchise was invalid.
by the delay, which was owing to the
prevailing hard times. Mr.. Gibbon
then said that IL Gen, Pope or President
Webster would submit in writing to the
hoard that they were electricizing the
street by virtue Of the power given them
by the horse car franchise. then the Ter
minal company would cease its restrain
er proceedings at once. Gen. Pope re-
Piled that he had no right to demand
such a declaration. He said that the
Council would have no power to declare
the franchise forfeited In part without
declaring it forfeited as a whole. The
e1hsfs, including u. P. Clark and Mr..
Webster for the Pasadena ana Pacific,
and Dr. Thomas. DIN Stewart, ].
s8mona. B. o. Kendall and DR.. Allen for
the Terminal. was very heated Mr..
Webster produced some letters In sup
port of the statement that their work
was delayed on account of the nom
arrival Of rails Mr.. Gibbons exploded
this statement by elicting the admission
that the rails had come and had been
used in Los Angeles, which caused some
laughter.
Tinally,when the warning factions had
been quieted down by Mayor Hartwell,
Trustee Reynolds introduced the follow
ing resolution:
"Resolved, by the board of trustees
of the city of Pasadena. That the fran
chise granted the Pasadena and Los An
geles electric company on December 10,
1894, be declared forfeited as to such
streets or parts of streets on which it
has failed to have its roads constructed
and in operation with electric power
prior to the passage of this resolution"
Trustee Washburn objected to the
passage of this resolution while City
Attorney Arthur was absent. This
seemed to be the sentiment of the board,
and no second being made Mr.. Reynolds
motion was lost. and the council adjourn
ed until Monday without taking any
action.
MEN AT WORK.
The injunction against the Pasadena
and Pacific Electric Railway company
was dissolved this afternoon and the
company now has a large force of men
at work laying the track at West Colo
RADIO street. evidently with the intention
Of having cars running before Mondays
meeting Of the city council. Crowds of
men are discussing the situation on the
streets, and nearly all the opinions are
decidedly against the old company.
TONIGHT'S MASS MEETING.
The citizens mass meeting this even
ing at the tabernacle, which was called
on a few hours notice, brought out
quite a large number of representative
citizens. The committee appointed at
last nights meeting to walt upon the
council occupied the platform with Dr.
g. Roscoe Thomas as chairman. DIR.
Thomas opened the meeting with a re-
view of the situation, showing very
plainly that the franchise of the Pasa-
dena and Pacific road ought to be de-
clared forfeited, from the inactivity of
the holders, until they saw another road
coming in, when they suddenly became
very active in obstructing the new road
Rev. DR.. i. l.. Conger being intro
duced, said he did not come to talk but
simply as citizen who was interested
In all that is for the benefit of the city
anil its residents. If we have given
franchises it is our duty to stand by
them, he said, il they keep their faith
and fulfil their contracts, but we should
welcome all alike and make no discrimi-
nation.
Chairman Thomas read a note of re-
gret from Robert Strong, saying he was
unavoidably absent, but was decidedly
in favor of the council declaring the
franchise of the Pasadena and Pacific
electric railway forfeited, as by all legal
and moral rights it was urquestionably
forfeited.
Judge H. II. Rose was next called I'D
on, and referring to the ancient history
of Pasadena, told of the first street car
line, which was afterwards turned over