The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-21

,ni.ted to Impose a Liceuse on Depart
,nent Stores.
Councilman Reese presented petition
to the council last night regarding coal
rates to the city, and moved the bo0y
pass a resolution adopting the prayer
of the petition. The resolution was as
follows:
Whereas. The Missouri Pacific Rail-
road company, the Atchinson, Topeka
and Santa cFe Railroad company, the st.
Louis and San Francisco Railroad COM
pany and the Chicago and Rock Island
Railroad company operate lines of rail-
road which enter the limits Of the city
Of Wichita, and part of the lines OF
each railroad are situated within the
limits Of said city OF Wichita, and that
these said railroad companies are. and
giave been engaged in transporting coal
from the eastern and southeastern por-
tons Of the state OF Kansas TO the SAID
city OF Wichita, and that the rates
charged for freight in in transporting
said coal from the fields OF eastern and
southeastern Kansas are unjust, unrea-
sonable, and extoEtionate; therefore De
il
Resolved, by the mayor and council
OF the city OF Wichita that a complaint
be made to che railroad commissioners
Of the state of Kansas 10 the effect that
the coal rate as made and charged by
said railroad companies from points in
eastern and southeastern Kansas to
q bIp
extortionate ana unjust; and that the
mayor Of the city Of Wichita be author
lied 10 make and file such complaint as
contemplated in chapter 50, section .
Of the general statutes OF the safe or
Kansas, 1897, for the purpose of obtain
ing a reasonable rate in transporting the
coal from eastern and southeastern Kan
sas to the city OF Wichita, and that the
city attorney be instructed to draft sucn
complaint and TO prosecu.e the same to
final discrimination before she railroad
commissioners.
Reese moved that the resolutions be
adopted ana the city attorney be author
lied to prosecute the case before the
safe board Of railroad commissioners
Councilman Herbig, himself a railroad
agent. arose 10 inquire why the Kansas
Midland road was not included, and adj
ed that 50 far as his road was concerned
they owned no coal mines and would hail
with JOY any reduction Of rates, as they
were Obliged to get their fuel from the
other roads. The original motion was
Withdrawn and Councilman Minick
moved - amend by inserting the Mid
land. Mr.. Herbig did not like the way
I,,- oieaT -fy1rT
they were incomplete and meaningless;
taat this question had all been gone
over and considered three years ago
waen Sne board OF commissioners met
in this city to investigate the same
complaint and made certain rulings
which were never enforced. DR. Minick
followed with an eloquent roast on rail-
roads generally, saying for years Wich-
ita had been made 10 suffer and he
thought il was nigh time to do some
thing. The honorable mayor responded
ny telling the excited doctor that ''the
city already had irons in the fire to
sco-ch them"
Councilman Schell wanted to amend
70 eake in the Wichita anl Western and
after some discussion. Minicz's original
amendment to include all lines enter
ing the city. was seconded and on vote
unanimously carried, HeTbig not voting.
Under the report os committees, j.
Giles Smith, on behalf OF the finance
committed read an extended report rel
ative to the report from r. f. Guthrie
On me controversy between Sedgwicl1
county ana the city of Wichita. The
report in fun is found elsewhere in this
-
know If the refusal of the County COM
missioners was unanimous: that he had
been informed that one member on the
board was favorable to allowing eX-
pert Pat,erscn's report ID be submitted.
Smith replied that the voice of the goard
was unanimous. Mayor Ross explained
thst Mr. Harmon was favorable 70 sub
niteinG Patterson's report. bat County
Attorney Amidon mad advised not to do
50 i was moved by Minick. with Schell
as second. that tHe report be accepted
with its recommendations to commence
suit for the funds due the city. The
mayor suggested that a roll call be made
on this vo,e that II might be matter
of record It was unanimously carried.
Under the head OF fire ans water,
Smith asked that twO more fire alarm
boxes be placed in his neighborhoo&;
that recently they had experienced a
a,are over there and found tce nearest
box was half mile away. He moved
and was seconded ny Schell that She
fire marshall anz the committee be in
s,ructed 10 place boxes at once on the
corners Of Grove and Douglas and Hill
side and Douglas. Carried.
Or. Minick. for the light committee.
asked that the councilmen be ready az
neXs meeting 70 report the locations os
the allowed number % arc lights in their
respective wards so that ne confusion
or misunderstanding would take place
wlea the contractors commenced - put
in the $50 lights as per contract. They
ali promised 30 be ready
Miller was given another week 10 re-
port on sewers. and was urged by the
mayor to be ready. as the sullivan dam
mater was again ready TO come UP.
Under public Improvements. Dr. Min
icS said he was going to continue -
hammer away on that alley between
Washington and Wabash from Central
TO Elm
Under license ana franchise Mr.. Hand
ley handed 20 the clerk a copy Of the
Eagle for December I4sh and asked that
an article there be read. 1t recued that
a growing evil IN the nations CONNER
cial interests VAS the department store
that they were slowly but surely driving
OUT al the smaller lines OF business.
and advocating the licensing os them.
Mr. Hsndley explained tha; he had de-