The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-22
RESOLUTION BY ALBRIGHT
CALLING FOR A WHOLE LOT OF
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
COMPANY,
IT'S FRANCHISES AND EARNINGS.
Also It's Indebtedness, It's Business,
It's Market for Purchasing
Supplies, Etc.


the assembly last night, calling for an
investigation by joint council COM
n1ittee, Of matters pertaining to the
street railway company. The resolu-
ticns were as follows:
What the committee on streets. sewers and
bridges of the, assembly and board OF a-der-
men, acting Jointly, be and are hereby IN
structed to investigate and report to the COM
mon council, with suitable recommendatons
ana without unnecessary delay upon the
following matters. relative to the ST. Paul
CITY Railway company, and the Twin CITY
Rapid Transit company, to-wit:
First-What lines of street railway are
now being operated in the city, under what
franchises specifying the dates on which
each of said franchises expires, and what If
any franchises have been abandoned and are
not beng complied with.
Second-The nature, qua d. and adequacy
of the service furnished by said companies
on each of said lines of street railway.
Third-The number of cars operated on
each of said lines OF street railway ana What
sums, if any, have annually been paid into
the city treasury as license fees upon said
cars.
Fourth-As nearly as can be ascertained,
what work, If any, has been done by each
of said companies toward the cleaning and
repairing of, as well as the removal OF snow
from those portions Of the public streets
occupied by such lines of street railway, as
may be between the rails Of each track and
a space of two feet on the outside Of such
tracks; and what if any, amounts have here
tofore been paid each year into the city
treasury by either of said companies on ac-
count of the cleaning and repairing OF and
removal of snow, and what amounts have
been expended annually by the city for such
work.
Fifth-What amount of taxes and other
public charges have been paid into the city
treasury from each year since the granting
of such franchises.
SiXth-A detailed statement of the property
and assets of said companies in said city,
as nearly as can be ascertained, and the
present value and original cost thereof.
Seventh-The gross earnings of each COM
pany in said city for the year 1896 and prior
years as far as deemed material, and the
operating expenses and disbursements there
of each year; as nearly as can be ascertained,
the amount of capital stock of each COM
pany, the average market value thereof in
the year 1896 and prior years SO far as deemed
material, together with the amount and rate
of dividends paid thereon during said years,
and the date amount and purpose of each
issue of such stock and the consideration
realized therefor.
Eighth-The amount of the bonded indebt
edness of said companies at the present
time, upon what lines of street railway liens
have been created on account thereof, the
duration thereof and the interest paid there
on.
each of said lines of street railway, and
the number of transfers issued TO such pas
sengers during the year 1896 and prior years
so far as deemed material.
Tenth-The cost, approximately, of change
of motive power on the Fourth street and
Selby avenue cable line, so-called, from cable
to electricity.
iEleventh-What proportion of the supplies
of said companies are purchased locally and
what part of their local earnings are cur
rently deposited in said city: The scale OF
wages paid employees on each. Of said lines
of street railway and the conditions OF en-
ployment, and such other matters as may be
deemed material by said committees.
Mr.. Albrecht thought an investiga-
was a question of what are the con-
dition Of affairs, and the public should
be informed of such facts as could be
secured. This council had been in
power eighteen months and a great
rortion of this time had been spent
in preparing and trying to pass reas-
enable ordinances and resolutions on
street car matters. The result was
that the coucil formulated an ordi-
nance which was returned by the
company with the proposition that the
ordinance did not suit them. The
time for compromising had gone by
and the council, if it went one step
farther, would violate the confidence
reposed in them by the citizens. 1t
might be said that the council was
treading on the company's private
business, but this was not true. The
council had the right to see that the
business of the company was properly
carried out as to the interests of the
public. The street railway was
quasi public corporation, and as such
the council had a right to make
reasonable investigation.
Mr.. Kirke questioned whether all
the information asked for could be as
certained in the life of the present
1t ha 1cr1of
as most Of the information was in the
hands of the city comptroller and
other officials The resolutions passed
by a unanimous vote.
The resolution passed by the board
of aldermen at the request of the city
engineer directing the payment of the
cost of cross walks from the general
fund, was concurred in. The amount,
about $4,000. Comptroller McCardy had
street, sewer and bridge fund. This
proposition was objected to by the
city engineer, who contended that
under the charter the expense should
be paid from the general fund.
When the motion came UP, Mr.. Rear
don said that the comptroller had re-
ouested him to have the resolution re-
ferred to the committee on streets.
Corporation Attorney Markham ad-
vised the assembly that under the
charter the money must be paid from
the general fund.
Mr.. Reardon, however, insisted that
the comptroller be given chance to
be heard before the committee on the
question.
Mr.. Albrecht argued that it was
legal proposition solely, and as the
legal department had given an opinion
it would be a waste Of time to have
the committee consider it. The motion
to refer and give the comptroller
chance to explain his construction of
the charter was defeated by vote of
5 to 4. those favoring the reference
being Messrs. Craig, Dix, Thompson
and Reardon. The resolution was then
adopted by a vote of to L, Mr.. Rear
don voting against 1t.
The reouisition of the police depart
ment for authority to purchase $50
worth Of hay and oats was recon-
mended not to pass by Mr.. Reardon, OF
the requisition committee. Mr.. Rear
den stated the provender had been
purchased and used before the requis1-
ton was applied for. This was the
practice. Mr.. Reardon said, which the
present chief of police had followed
for months He suggested that the
corporation attorney inform the coun-
ell if purchases made Of this kind
could not be charged up to the officials
ordering them, if no requisition had
been received. The matter was sent to
the committee on ways and means.
The adverse report on the final order
for the paving of Arundel street was
adopted The final orders for the paw
ing with asphalt of Nelson avenue,
from Summit to Western avenue, and
Kent street, from Ashland to Selby,
were passed.
The communication from Secretary
Innis asking for funds with which to
employ a stenographer and for other
exnenses went to the committee ON