The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-18

as to the proposition. The proposition
was not to give the railway company
a new grant, but rather terminals the
perpetual franchise Of the cable line
to fifty years, putting it on a basis
with all other lines in the city and
making the system uniform.
One of the citizens present then
asked Mr.. Mum if it was not fact
that the validity Of the cable line fran
chIse had been seriously questioned
Mr. Mum said it was an open ques-
ton as to whether the council had the
power to grant a perpetual franchise,
but 1T was evident that the council IN
tended to grant franshise, and If the
courts were resOrted to they would
have to decide what was a reasonable
franchise, and from all the decisions
he had read fifty years had been held
to be a reasonable length of time.
Following this there was consider
able discussion between Mr. Mum
and number of residents Of Hamline
and midway district Mr.. Mum claim
ed that the present interurban service
would not be enhanced at all by the
proposed new arrangement. The gem
tlemen present thought different, and
good portion of the evening was taxi
Ell up discussing the subject as it af-
fected the midway district Moritz
Helm offered the following resolution.
whereas, II Is reported that the st. Paul
City railway company is secretly circulating
proposed ordinances which 1t intends to rail-
road through the city council and acquire
thereby a nearly so years franchise to run
electric cars IN this city, and to procure ad-
ditional tracks University avenue over
which to run an express line to Minneapolis
and for such new franchises and privileges
the company does not expect to give com
pcnsation to the city; this hurried movement
by the company is made to head off what
ever restrictions may be placed by the franz
paul
ter commission-upon public franchises to be
hereafter given by the city, and
Whereas, It is necessary to wake up the pub
lie to the dangerous encroachment of the St.
Paul City Railway company and other semi
public corporations operating In this city.
Therefore, be It,
Resolved, The chairman of this meeting
appoint committee to organize mass meet
Ing in this city at early date to give the
people OF all classes an opportunity to ex-
press their views on this momGntous subject;
that said committee cooperate with the
Central Labor Union ard Trades and Labor
assemblies and other organizations for the
purpose OF holding such mass meeting at the
earliest possible date. That such committee
adopt such other resolutions as may be ap-
proprlate on the subject.
Resolved, further, That said committee Is
requested to watch the council until the
mass meeting is held, and oppose before said
council the granting of new franchise meas
ures until the mass meeting is held and give
expression to the views of the citizens Of
st. Paul, and until the new charter is adopt
ed
The resolution was adopted and tho chair
appointed the following committee Morltz
Helm. c. w. Chase, William Wyman. Alex
ander Adams. Louis Nash. The chairman OF
the meeting, Charles w. Hail. was made eX-
offcio chairman and a member Of tho COM
mittee.
Just before this resolution was adopt
ed Mr.. Mum again took the floor and
said: II want to protest against the
passing Of that resolution, because the
preamble Of it is absolutely false.
protest against publishing what Is not
true. There is no reason why you
should not hold a mass meeting to con-
slider this subject. but don't preface
your resolution with misstatements."
Moritz Helm then addressed the
meeting. He declined to change tho
preface of the resolution. He said
every word of it was true and he could
prove 1t, that the railway company
was using all influence and power with
in its reach to force the council to pass
the secret ordinance, as claimed in
the G o b the other day. The reso-
luton, as stated. was passed.
The meeting adjourned subject to the
call CT the chairman