The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-19
Mr.. Winter Spoke for the Company,
and "A Hearing TO Re Given the
City Next Monday.
HARRISON EXPECTED TO TALK
BILL PROVIDING FOR THE ExAMINA-
TIoN OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.
General Packard Makes an Argument
Before the House Committee
in Charge OF Ii.


on affairs of the city of indianapolis yes
terday afternoon a partial presentation Was
made Of the various interests involved in
the bill amending the act fer the incorpora-
ton of street railroads. Chairman New
and Messrs. Hugg, Hawkins. Gostlin. Wat
son and Rinear were present, Senator
Humphreys being absent account OF a
death in his family. The committee met
IN the rooms of the State Board of Agricul-
ture. Mayor Taggart, City Attorney Cur
lis and John w. Kern, associate counsel
in the matter, there to present the
citys side of the question, while j. j. Tur-
| ner and NJ y. Werner. directors. and A. =.
Mason, president of the Citizens Street,
railroad Company. with Ferd Winter the
company's attorney, were there to secure a
postponement if possible, and failing in
that to show why the bill should not be ap-
proved by the committee. Mr.. New stated
the purpose of the meeting. He said the
committee understood the Citizens Street.
railroad Company and the city officials were
desirous OF having hearing on Senate bill
| No. 81, concerning street-car companies
Mr.. Winter said the company desired to
| suggest that constellation of the bill be
| postponed for short time. He said the
| bill, while purporting to be general in it's
| provisions, was intended 10 refer TO the
| Citizens Street-railroad Company. He said.
| as the members of the committee residing
| in Indianapolis were aware. there had been
| litigation pending in TIE United States
courts since 1894 and is stGl pending in the
Supreme Court of the United States, where
| il will probably be determined the latter
part of this month or early in February. He
said that General Harrison had been the
principal counsel OF the company in the
pt-bf oh inv
pany and which will determine whether the
! company has the right TO remain here be-
yond lS0l. He said the Dill proposed
| termination of the rights the courts are
| now about to decide. He said General Har-
rison was i'm New York at the time the bill
was introduced, returned last Friday, and
/ had no time for more than a brief con-
| ference, because he had 10 engage in pre-
pairing for an argument in Washington
/ Wednesday or Thursday of this week, for
which he left yesterday with W. III. II.
| Miller, another representative of the COM
I pany. There was no time for him TO pre-
| pare q written statement OF his views on
| the bill
GENERAL EARR1SON'S PART IN 1T.
The company regarded il, he said, as
n Vitally important that General Harrison
| appear before the committee, both as TO the
| presentation of the company's side and TO
! help the committee reach a just and fair
conclusion. Last week Mr.. Mason wrote
General Harrison a note informing him
of the conditions and asking him TO appear
before the committee. Mr.. Winter read his
reply, in which he said he could not con-
slider the case until after his return from
! Washington the last of the present week,
| probably about Friday. Mr.. Winter seid
there was no necessity for haste as the
| pubic interests would not be injured BY a
weeks delay. The very fact that the bill is
| one Of much Importance, he asserted,
| was reason why a reasonable delay
| q made.
Mr. New said he was aware that when
parties go into court and show good cause
| Tor delay cOntinuanceS are granted, but he
! said the committee had before il an inn
mense amount of important work TO be dis
| posed of in a very short time. He spoke OF
the course the bin must pursue, how it
| must first pass the Senate, go TO a House
committee, and finally pass that body. Con-
| sidering all these facts IL was his personal
| impression there should be no serious de-
lay. He spoke of the fact that the COM
| pany had been notified Wednesday OF
last week that the hearing would be held
| yesterday, and said the company ought TO
have prepared itself TO make at least
| partial presentation by this time
| Mr.. Gostlin moved a postponement until
next Monday, stating that he had some
| constituents who were anxious 10 be heard
but were not present Mr.. Hugg said while
! he was willing TO give the company every
| opportunity to present its case, he believed
| something ought TO be done at once. lie ap-
| preciated the fact that the company and
| the committee should have the benefit OF
| General Harrisons views. Mr.. Hawkins
| said inasmuch as the committee would
| doubtless have to hold more than one ses-
sion something should be done without
| postponement. He had no desire TO cut or
from the company the benefit OF General
! Harrison's appearance, but thought they
ought to do something Immediately. Mr..
| New said that was the idea he had I'm view,
| but that as the time was limited IL was nec-
essary TO proceed with all possible haste.
| The committee retired for short private
| conference. Mr.. New then announced the
committee had decided that IL must pro-
ceed, but that its report would not be made
| Harrison and Mr.. Miller had had an oppor-
tunity TO be heard. He said the committee
would hold over for nothing else
When this decision was reached Mr.. Win
| ter was about to suggest that the repre-
sentatives OF the city make the first argu-
| ment. when Mr.. Kern sharply declared the
| city had not asked TO be heard. but was
there to hear what the company had to say.
when IL might possibly desire TO reply:
For the benefit Of those members of the
committee not residents of indianapolis.
Mr.. Writer said IL might be well for him 10
review The controversies between the City
Street-railroad Company and the Citizens
company, which he was there TO represent.
The first question TO be considered. he
said. whether there should be any
legislation at all at this time. He said that
while the bill was intended 10 effect The
| Cftizens' Company alone IL was general I'm
terms and in the future might effect many
companies. I'm its present operation it
would effect only the Citizens Company.
but in the future IL will apply TO every
street-railroad company IN Indiana lie
questioned the propriety or bill 80 sweep
ing. when in point or fart II was INTENDED
to effect only one company. He denied that
a bill local i'm its bearings could not be
passed Notwithstanding the constitutional
provision that all bills must be general.
He said. assuming the purpose OF the bill
was TO effect the Citizens Company alone.
there was no occasion 10 pass it. as IL Is
premature The rights of the company he
said. he took IL for granted every one would
agree did not expire until Jan. II. 1901. In
1899 he said. there Is 20 Dc another session
of the Legislature. He did not intend TO
intimate that this Legislature Is not COM
petent but the Legislature OF 1899 VIII act
at time nearer the time necessary for ac-
tion. when the views Of the citizens OF IN
danapolis will be more settled and they
will know better what they want than now.
He said the controversy as 10 the rights
OF the company TO occupy the streets Was a
most important question and that the
LEGISLATURE could act more inteiiScntiy
after the adjudication OF such questions
now pending in the courts.
THINKS LEGISLATION PREMATURE.
I'VE are not controvertlng the right Of
this Legislature to decide for itself the
questions involved I'm these lawsuits. il Is
question OF propriety. We submit that
such legislation is premature. II the courts
4 were 10 decide tha city iS wrong the Id gls-