The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-17
STRONG SPEECHES MADE.
The Board of Trade Resolutions
unanimously Adopted.

The meeting was called TO order by James
B. Curtis who announced it's purpose. and
also announced the election by the citi-
Zens' committee of the following officers of
the committee: President, John w. Kern;
secretary Albert Lieber: sergeant alarms,
w. f. g. Colt. After performing this per-
functory duty Mr.. Curtis turned the meet
ing over to Mr. Kern chairman. Mr..
Kern said. in substance:
Il consider it a very great homer to pre-
side over such a representative body of
men. This meeting has been called in aid
of the street-car bill now pending in the
Legislature, which is designed TO give this
city control of its streets. 1t is also called
to congratulate TIE senators from Marion
county for their manly and patriotic fight
on the floor of the Senate and in the COM
mttee for this BILL in which we are all so
much Interested; to bid them and the mem
bers of the lower house from this county
Godspeed and assure them that the people
are with them and will give them all the
assistance possible.
Leading men of all political parties are
here to enter the battle together and stick
to 1t to the end. Business is represented;
capital and workman stand side by side in
the battle We are here to discuss matters
or interest to every man, woman and child
in the city. Thirty years age a weak cor
poration came knocking at the gates Of
this city for admission. 1t was given life
by the State, but that was all the State
gave it, for it was provided that before it
could enter any city and do business it
must get the proper authority from the
Council of that city. 1t gave the company
the right to accept the terms and the Coun-
Gil the right to make terms. So this little
corporation came knocking and humbly
begging the Council to name its own terms
which the Council did in an ordinance
passed Jan. Is, 1864 saying, We will lease
you our streets if you will agree to the
terms in this ordnance Principal among
those terms was the fact that the life of
the contract was to be thirty years. The
Council gave this little weak company
rights of great value and did not ask
single thing in return. All it asked was
that when the time expired the streets
should be vacated. L have said before, and
L repeat 1T now, that IL the Citizens Street
railroad Company had said at that time:
Let US in your gates and will remain
there forever; We will never pave between
the tracks. and We will bear no part of the
public burden there would not have been
man In the city who would have said
let it in.
tracks claim pass out; you have seen the
time extended seven years without consid-
GRAFTON; you have seen the grasping power
or this corporation IN municipal affairs
how 1T seemed at one time to own the City
Council and demand and get what IT
wanted; you have seen its efforts to use
the same means to fasten itself upon the
city through the Legislature. Thirty years
ago il was a humble corporation; now il is
say dropsical aSvisedly. for have in mind
the immense quantity of water that has
been absorbed in its tissues. (Cheers)
REGULATING THEIR CONTRACT.
They insist that they have a right TO re-
pudiate all that part of the contract that
binds them and enforce all that binds the
city. They pressed their claim SO strongly
in the courts through learned counsel that
federal judge has said that, notwithstand-
ing the fact that this is contract and that
the city has a legal right to control its
streets, the Cnoucii has no I.Glt to make
a term of thirty years in it, contracts.
Judge Baker held differently. Some day,
when the matter gets through a higher
court it will be decided which judge is
right but it will not take you long TO de-
eide the matter as a case OF equity.
(Cheers)
Now we have another phase of the ques-
ton. The people of this city for the time
being admit that the decision of that learn
ed Judge is correct and that the remedy is
with the Legislature. They go TO the Leg
islature and ask that the remedy be APP
piled and are met with the argument that
they should go to the courts and settle the
question:; that it is not thing for the Leg
islature while the matter is pending in
court. L tell you fight is being waged by
the Street-car company in the Legislature
by the side of which all its other battles
sink into insignificance. L question no
mans right TO fight me in manly, open
way. but | do question the right of man
to fight me in a dishonorabie way: Why,
they have employed man to go to the Leg
islature and bring the silver question into
this case, Gaughter) How do they do it?
They tell the silver men down there that
most of the men who favor this bill are
gold bugs and tell them that If the silver
cause is to triumph, the silver men
must hang together on all points. The wine
suppers of Mr.. Werner have become famous,
white cross on his back to indicate the fact
to the people of this city. They have even
tried to bring the race question into this
fight. L merely mention these things to
show to what desperate means the man
ayers of the company have gone to main
tain their hold on the streets of the city.
Then there are honest men who, without
knowing it, are helping along the cause Of
the company. These men have started the
argument that the bill that passes should
contain clause for scent fares. These
men do not know that any amendment to
this bill at this stage will mean that there
will be no legislation. and while they are
perfectly honest in their expressions, they
have given the company another point.
Now, the company has suddenly discovered
that IL mas great desire 10 give scent
fares and to pave between its tracks, but
must have legislation giving ii authority
to do so! What do you think Of that? Do
you believe the company Is sincere In these
protesIa tons? There is something catchy
about this but remember that this oil gives
the Council the same and more power 10
control the fares than - ever had Don
be led away by side issues and thus defeat
the whole thing, but stand firm on the main
question and win this life-and-death strug-
gle with the company that claims the right
10 enter Meridian or Delaware street and
take possession at any time ii may choose"
REV r. V HUNTERS SPEECH.
Chairman Kern then introduced Rev. X.
man who is always informed on public
topics and Is never at sea 10 find some
thing of value to say on such subjects Mr.
Hunter said he was willing 10 give the COM
pany credit for giving fairly good service
except on some lines about O'Clock in the
evening He did not want TO condemn
everything because the company is so
grasping, but he could not see. he said. why
the city should give the company every
thing in sight simply because the company
is giving fairly good service.
There Is nothing in this bill, he said.
that jeopardizes the rights or the COM
pany, If IL cannot afford TO pay a reason
able sum for the privileges IL enjoys, then
pany that can. (Cheers.) We want moth
ing that Is not just. but We want justice
and are determined TO have it," (Cheers.)
DR. F1ayius j. Van Norhis was the next
speaker I'VE must always remember one
thing he began. that a corporation has