The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-01
STRING TO IT ALI
THE COUNCIL HOLDS A CAUCUS ON
THE STREET RAILWAY
ORDINANCES.
FAVOR A SELBY ELECTRIC.
THEY WILL ALSO PASS THE OLD
THOMPSON DEPOT LOOP
ORDINANCE
UNLESS THEIR MINDS CHANGE.
Each Man, However, Reserved That
Right when the Question Comes
Up Again.

The common council has caucused
on the street railway ordinance, and
the expected has happened. Nothing
definite was accomplished. True, the
caucus by a majority vote indorsed a
proposed ordinance ordering the CON-
version of the Selby avenue cable into
an electric line, and the Thompson or
dinance for union depot loop. But
as every member who voted in the af-
frmative did so with a reservation,
whereby he retained the right to vote
against these ordinances, provided
upon closer examination they didn't
suit him, and as it was generally I'M
derstood that no one was bound by the
! caucus anyway, it cannot be said that
! the caucus amounted to much.
There were fourteen members of the
| common council in attendance, the six
absentees being Assemblymen DAILY
/ and Craig and Aid. Bigelow, Don
| ahower, Stutzman and Larsen. For
! three hours they talked. Assenlblyman
| ReardOn was made the chairman Of
the caucus. 1t was decided at the out
set that the best and simplest way to
solve the problem was not to attempt
to change the omnibus ordinance now
| pending, or to agree upon a new meas
| ure of the same blanket character, but
| to consider separate ordinances, one
| by one. providing for such changes
and improvements as all would con-
cede We're demanded by the public.
Aid. Sanborn had an ordinance to
offer. which in effect was the same as
that portion of the omnibus ordinance
providing for the substitution of al
electric line for the present Selby ave-
nue. cable line. Before offering the
measure Aid. Sanborn made a few re-
marks. He called the attention of the
! caucus 10 the fact that everybody
! seemed TO desire an improvement of
the service to Merriam Park, which
meant the change of the cable to an
electric line. Aid Sanborn thought
that the council ought to decide upon
something acceptable to all. The al
| derman took occasion to say that the
omnibus ordinance submitted to the
council was simply in the nature Of
proposition for the purpose OF getting
! the matter before the council, and the
neopIe for discussion The principal
! objections to it, in the opinion OF Aid.
Sanborn, came from the retailers, VINO
were opposed to having the interurban
and other cars run down Fourth street
to Broadway. Aid. Sanborn admitted
| that there was objection, particularly
on the part of property owners on Uni
versity avenue, to the running of cX-
, nress cars along that avenue, and also
| jnorpa in the fare
to fifteen cents, but he thought that
there was quite a demand for a speed
lei. service between ST. Paul and Min
neapolis, and believed that the desired
! rand transit could be secured in Il
| manner that would cause these objec-
| lions to disappear. Aid. Sanborn also
spoke of the demand for a union depot
| loop.
Aid. Kenny thereupon sounded the
first dicordant note. He declared that
| any street car tracks on Sibley or Third
street would be a nuisance, and that
the business men in that vicinity were
to man fatty opposed to the PROPOSE
ton.
Assemblyman Dix agreed with Aid.
! Kenny that the business men on Third
and Sibley streets would object to the
| laying. of even single track on thoSe
| streets.
| Aid. Kaldunski remarked at this juno
! ture that he believed in ordering the
street railway company to build lines
on several streets in which sewers have
been laid, and thereby forcing the COM
pany to come to the council.
do you suppose" inquired Assem-
| blyman Kirke, that this council could
ever unite on such an ordinance, when
we can't get together on this?'
Aid. Kaldunski's suggestion met with
| general disapproval Mr.. ReardOn
thought that if the resolution directing
the street railway company to pave be-
! tween it's tracks on Fourth and Third
streets was enforced, that the company
would quickly change the cable into an
| electric line Mr.. Thompson suggested
that the change of the Selby avenue
line and the matter of a union depot
| loop be provided for by two separate
ordinances. If the company refused to
comply with either, then the council
could direct the city attorney to insti-