Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-29

Who were they?
What did they want.
What laws were they defyingP
Where was their den?
How many were in the conspiracy?
What sort of man was their lead
err?
Be patient, gentle reader and we will
tell you the story.
In the early days of indianapolis, a
street car company was chartered.
Authorities disagree as to the time
limit of the charter. Different persons
set the time as 1891, 1897, 1901 and
1907, while the Street Car Company
has the unparalleled effrontery to claim
a perpetual charter" In 1923 an
agitation was begun looking toward
city ownership. The lines were then
nearly all mule lines. This agitation
stirred up the company and the equip
ment was changed to electricity and
transfers were granted. This "sop"
pacified good many people and the
agitation died out.
Meantime another company was
formed and made bid for charter,
which was granted, recognizing the
rights of the city and of the people.
AS soon as the new company was pre-
pared to occupy certain streets, the old
company rushed hundreds of men and
teams, and carloads of steel rails onto
these streets, and track was laid tn ere
on SuIday-when legal notice could
not be served. This done, these street
lines are used little or none, but the
ole company occupies" them, to the
exclusion of, the new company. Dur
ing the past winter, the legislature
took hand and passed three-cent
fare bill.
1t was asserted at once that the law
was unconstitutional" and would not
be observed. The company assumed
the right to pass upon the constitu-
tionality of the law!! April 18th was
the day'set for the law to go into effect.
A few days prior to the date, the Cen
trail Trust Company of New York came
in and announced they would enjoin
the officers from enforcing the law.
Time slipped by and April 18th arriv-
ed. Five-cent fares were paid regu
larly until noon, the hour fixed for the
law to go into effect. Promptly at II
,Lo'clock the struggle began. Some lead
ing citizens boarded the cars and offered
the legal three-cent fare. 1t was re-
jected and the people were put off. All
afternoon it was repeated. AS the
night rush came on, matters came toa
crisis. Thirty determined men boarded
a car and resisted election. The cars
stopped. Passengers swore, doctors
swore prosecution unless the cars car
ried them to see their patients. Con-
ductors called for the city police only
to be informed that the city police
would not assist in defying the law, and
would not interfere except in case of a
riot. Many people were put off Some
were bruised in the scuffling and falls
that were had. Traffic was very irreg
ular all the evening. The second day
Witnessed repetition of the scenes of
the proceeding day, but early in the
forenoon the city authorities took a
hand. The President of the Street Car
Company and his official staff were ar
rested and put under bond to appear in.
court and answer charges of violating
the laws of the state. Conductors and
motormen were arresstd on every street
corner, wherever found refusing the
three-cent fare. The grand jury was
summoned in special session and quick
ly found indictments against the Off
cials. President Mason finally sue
cnmbed and about noon of the second
Aday of the struggle, three cents was
accepted for a car fare and quiet
reigned again. The anarchists were
subdued. -Nonconformist.
Since the above was published in the
Nonformist the following dispatch
from indianapolis, dated April 80,
shows that the editors conclusion that
the anarchists" were subdued was
most too hasty. The corporation was
ouly waiting to hear from its old
friend. the supreme court:
"The decision of Judge Showalter of
the United States Circuit Court involv-
ing the three-cent street car law, was
received by the clerk of the federal
court in this city today. The Hugg
law is declared to be unconstitutional,
because it is special legislation, apply
ing only to the city of indianapolis.
It Is the opinion OF the court that
where proceedings in effect destructive
of vested property right are threat
ened by defendant in official position |
under color Of void statute, the pre-
liminary injunction ought to issue.
The suggestion by the attorney gen
eral, the court says, that in any event