The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-11
INDIANAPOLIS TO THE SENATE.

Within the next day or two the bill
to terminate the charter of the Citizens
Street-railroad Company will come up
in the Senate on its second reading.
1t need not be said that it is an i'm
portant matter to the citizens of Indian
apolis. BY their representatives they are be-
fore the Legislature with this matter be-
cause the company, having accepted fran
chise of the city of Indianapolis in the ma
ture of a contract declares that ii will treat
il as void because the Legislature is the
only tribunal which can terminate the life
of the company's occupation of the streets.
Accepting the dictum of the company and
taking its advice to go to the Legislature
TO terminate its franchise, the city is met
by the lawyers and lobbyists with the dec
laration that it is a great wrong to the
company not to permit it to use the streets
for it's gain until the end of time. The com.
panys lawyers have been pathetic over the
great loss which will come to hundreds of
the innocent holders of the company's Sc
curities if it shall be forced to sell it's tracks
and plant in 1901 This statement will not
purchased securities of the Citizens Street
railroad Company upon the assumption
that the company holds perpetual right
to use the streets of Indianapolis. they have
been deceived by the agents OF the company
selling bonds and stock. When the present
managers purchased the property it was
generally known that. at the remotest
period. its franchise would terminate in 1901.
For a long time the present managers pro-
ceeded upon the assumption that their fran
chise would expire in 1901. In view of these
facts. if any person purchased the securities
of the company upon the assurance of a
perpetual franchise. they have cause to
bring action against the companys agents
for selling such property under false pre-
lenses.
Very naturally, the people of Indianapolis
desire that the franchise of the Citizens
Company shall terminate at the time
agreed upon between the City Council
and the company. At the present time. and
so long as the Citizens Company holds the
peoples streets, no compensation is or will
be received for the privilege of using them.
Citizens are compelled TO pay for the paving
of the streets used by the company, in spite
of the fact that the company uses exclu-
sively the best part of many of the most
costly streets in the city. 1t has been init
mated that the company will pay for paving
between its tracks. but when an attempt
was made to compel il to do its lobby
appeared in the Legislature and defeated
the city's bill. The larger part of the
streets which the company uses are paved
and drained by costly sewers. For these
the company pays not a cent, while citizens
are taxed hundreds of thousands annually.
More than this. the officers of the company
have set UP claim 10 the right 20 enter
any streets 1t pleases without the consent
Of the municipal authorities. in other words,
IL has been in the courts to make a claim
OF complete ownership. in effect. .Ex-Judge
Brown at first decided in favor of the COM
pany's assumption, but subsequently re-
vised his decision.
The people of indianapolis believe that
the right to use its streets for railway pur-