The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-16
MUST HEAT THE CARS.
Council Adopts Ordinance with but
Two Dissenting Votes.

Two Dissenting Votes.
The Council committee on public health
to which was referred the ordinance pre-
venting street-car crowding, reported that
the mayor had had a conference with
President Mason. VINO promised 10 put on
more cars, and the committee recon-
mended that the ordinance be put on the
table, where it could be called up ut any
time in case the company failed TO keep
its promise. Mr.. Payne, who introduced
the heating and the anti-crowding ordi-
nances, opposed tabling the ordinances, ex-
planning their nature. General ordinance
No. proposed to limit the number of pas
sengers who could be carried on each car
to the actual seating capacity, plus one
half more. General ordinance No. re-
qures the company to heat it's cars dur
ing the months of December. January.
February and March when the thermome-
ter is as low as 20 degrees. To the commit
tees recommendation that the ordinances
be laid on the table, on the ground that
the mayor had had conferences with rep
rcsentatives of the street-railroad company
and the company had promised to give
better transportation, Mr. Payne replied
that the promises of the company were
worth scarcely more than the paper they
were written upon. The company, he said,
had gone into the courts to fight a writ
ten contract entered into with the city. IF
the company is willing to violate it's writ
ten contract, what shall we expect of a
mere verbal promise?' he asked. He pro-
posed the adoption of the minority report,
made by Mr.. Woody, on the two ordi-
nanceS.
Messrs. Golfer and Clark thought the
ordinance limiting the number of pas
sengers to the car was impracticabie but
the former seemed to favor the ordinance
for heating the cars. They argued that to
require conductors TO refuse TO take on
passengers, after the limit had been
reached. would work a hardship, as it
would cause people to be late 10 work, to
miss trains and to be unable to fill APP
pointments.
Mr.. Woody made a strong speech for the
measures, especially for the heating ordi-
nance. The street-car people are a set
of hogs" he declared, and they will keep
the people OF Indianapolis Will allow them.
The Lord only knows when they would
stop. They are ready to promise anything
now because they are afraid of their
lives. The Legislature Is in session and
they are willing now to add a trailer or
two for effect. but If the New bill should
accidentally be defeated l doubt If the
seeming anxiety for the accommodation of
the public would last through the session
L do not believe the ordinance to prevent
crowding of cars would work a hardship.
get all the nickels in sight. The ordinance
would force them To put on trailers. AS
to heating. 1t is cruelty; it is wrong. to
allow the company TO fail to heat cars in
zero weather"
Messrs. Montgomery. Murphy, Cooper,
O'Connor and Allen favored the passage
of the heating ordinance, but opposed the
ordinance regulating the number of pas
sengers. On n vote, the report of the COM
mittee TO lay ordinance No. ., to prevent
crowding of cars, on the table, was car
ried. This was done with the understand
ing that ii might be called up at any time
if the company does not continue to show
a disposition TO give the relief in this line
which Is needed.
The committee also recommended that
the heating ordinance be laid on the table
for the same reason that the mayor had
made satisfactory arrangements with the
company. Mr. Allen called attention to the
fact that the resolution regarding ordinance
No. did not apply to No. and that the
mayor had not secured even the promise
from the company that it would heat its
cars. Mr.. Payne made special plea for
this ordinance 1t was suggested that an
amendment requiring the cars to be heated
by electricity be adopted, and Mr.. Golfer
tried to send the ordinance back to the
committee for this purpose, but the Council
would not have this. motion TO lay on
the table was also defeated, the following
gentlemen voting for the motion: Clark,
Dewar, Dudley, Kirkhof. O'Connor Smith
and Wolcott. Mr.. Payne called the ordi-
nance up when bills on second reading We're
reached and ii was finally passed, with but
two dissenting votes, namely: Messrs. De-
war and Kirkhoff. The other nineteen
was amended at the suggestion of Mr..
O'Connor, making IL effective after Dec. 1,
1857. instead of after regular publication.
The ordinance could not have become a
law. however, in time to affect business this
winter. Mr.. Clark tried to force through
a motion to adjourn while the disposal of
the ordinance was pending and secured the
votes of the following members to adjourn:
Golfer, Dewar, Kirkhoff and Smith