The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-15
Administration Calls n Meeting to Sc
Iect a Committee of One Hun
dred to Look After 1t.
PAID LOBBY is HARD AT WORK
MEASURE LIKELY TO COME UP ON
SECOND READING TO-DAY.
Possibility of an Interesting Time
Over Ii in the Senate-Expres-
siOns on the Bill.

Mayor Iaggart and other members OF the
city administration have become appre-
hensive as to the fate of the new street
car bill the last few days and are finally
aroused to the necessity for decisive ac-
ton. The mayor has issued a call for a
meeting of the influential business and pro-
fessional men of the city, to be held in his
office this morning at 9 o'clock. to devise
means to secure it's passage. NJ. A. Down.
ing, president of the Board of Public
Works. said yesterday that he thought that
a committee of one hundred of the most
substantial and influential business men of
the city ought TO be appointed TO work for
the passage of the bill. Colonel Downing
will urge that such a committee be ap-
pointed. He had heard. in the last few
days, that some senators were saying that
they did not believe that the people wanted
the bill passed. because there was no dem
| onstratiOn being made in its favor.
This is a mistake" said Colonel Down
ing. Il do not believe you can find a man
in this city who will not say that the bill
should pass in all equity. The people
want it passed, but have taken it for
granted that it would pass. simply because
they believed il ought to pass. Most of
our business men have neglected to de-
vote any time to working for the bill be-
cause they are busy and have thought il
was unnecessary, because the bill would
pass any way"
Colonel Downing declares emphatically
that the people deeply interested in
this subject as any other that is before
the Legislature, but have taken no ac
lion because they felt that the Legislature
would not dare refuse to pass II.
The bill WILL in all probability, be called
up in the Senate this morning. 1t IS now
| on second reading and stands for amend
ment, recommitment TO the comittee on af-
fairs of the city of Indianapolis, or en-
grossment. There are indications that the
opposition will be led by Senator Gostlin,
who signed q long minority report against
the substitute bill. in which the writer re-
capitulated the arguments made by attor-
neys of the Citizens Street-rairoad Com
pany, who made several speeches against
II in open meetings of the committee. 1t
is said that the main opposition will come
from those who say that they are opposed
10 the clause which limits franchises that
may hereafter be granted to thirty years.
Just what the street-car lobby has been
able to accomplish and just what lnfiu-
ence Mr.. Nerners notorious wine SupperS
have exerted may come 10 the surface at
this time. although II is possible that all
rs power will not be revealed until the
bill stands on it's final passage. The street.
car lobby has been even more &C
tive against the new bill than 1T was
| against that introduced two years ago to
compel the company 10 pave between It's
racks. 1t is recalled that at that time per-
5onal efforts were made by influential clti-
zens to secure the enactment of the bill.
rhe lobby succeeded Representatives of
the administration fear that the bill Will
be so amended as TO lose its force. Friends
Of the bill. including the Marion county
senators and representatives, have been
confident all along that the bill would pass.
It is for the purpose OF lending them moral
support and encoura cement that the COM
nrittee Of one hundred will be appointed.
There is one consideration which II is
said is likely to cause senators from other
49, tn iv1y ftllx hon
opposing the bill. 1T is the fact that in
all cases where purely local bills have
come before that body this session no OPP
position has been made TO them. The plain
assertion of the authors that the bills We're
meritorous has been regarded as sufficient
in most cases and such bills have received
no opposition.
Aside from the words that have been
spoken in favor of the bill by the Marion
county delegation, there has been no force
IT work urging its passage, another city
official said Saturday. and tor this reason
he feared il would bc defeated He said
that Mayor Taggart and City Attorney
Curtis have watched this bill. along with
The charter amendments. and have spoken
4 word here and there urging that il be
passed. All of the newspapers have been
OutSpOken in saying that IL should pass.
but far is known there has not been
any public demonstration for IL. If iniiu-
entail citizens have worked for the bill
they have done so so quietly that the fact
has not become known. Fer this reason
the city official mentioned expressed grave
apDrehensions about it.
This Is a question on which the public
ought to be aroused said he. IF there
We're bill before the House to repeal the
Nicholson law, for instance, scores-yes.
hundreds-Of men would be down on the
Legislature at once. fighting against such
action. | fear that the public has had too
much confidence ard has trusted to the eff
forts of the Marion county senators and
representatives To offset the powerful in
1uence of the lobby
There has been n good deal of curiosity
hos rIre T.nr FrD.. I
galleries as to when the bill would come
up for discussion. and doorkeepers have
heen questioned on this score.
II Is the intention to have the committee
get to work at once. and il is likely that
there will he a strong representation of
the business interests of the city in the
Senate chan bcr this morning. when the de-
bate on the New bill begins. Until the meet
inc is held AMI the situation IS talked over
what plans will be followed will not be
known.