The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-29
STREET CLEANING.

The new law governing street rail-
ways, which went into effect Oct, T.
furnished considerable food for con-
versation and speculation in municipal
and trolley circles yesterday. There
is a difference of opinion in the inter
probation of that part Of the law which
concerns the removal of snow from the
citys streets.
The Consolidated road officials con
tend that the new law was intended to
put the responsibility Of caring for the
streets and highways on the street de-
partment Of the city.
Heretofore the trolley companies have
divided the honOrs of removing the
snow from the streets with the city,
but now the new law imposes a special
tax upon street railways stipulating
that the income should be used by the
street department for repairs. The law
requires the railroad company TO re
move all snow from its streets.
But the Consolidated company says
that it does not think that it has to
do any more than that, and that the
city will be paid for all extra expense
incurred by the income from the tax
which the law provides that if that
income is not sufficient, at the end of
three years, the city may call upon the
railroad commissioners to increase that
tax, so that there will be a sufficient
sum to thoroughly cover the cost of
repairs, remove the snow and put the
streets into a desirable condition.
The Consolidated Railroad has an old
contract of several years standing
which the city officials seem to think is
still good, and that the new law does
not affect any of the contracts previ-
ouSly signed. In other words, the city
thought that the trolley company would
keep on the same old way and clean
off one-half the snow and at the same
time pay a special tax to assist the CITY
to do all the work
The city solicitor has had the matter
referred to him, and at present he has
it under advisement.
The city and the trolley officials held
consultation Sunday, and the trolley
company decided to go on as they have
done in days gone by and yesterday
they We're working side by side with
the citY's men.
President Dewey was seen last eve
ming by Spy representative. He
said:
l have been trying to see the proper
officials today about thar matter but
they We're not in when 1 called. I dc
not expect that there will be any law
suit over the affair. But there will be
a consultation held between our attor-
ney and the city solicitor. The question
is, Are we going to be asked TO cart
more snow than We have carried before
or not? We are obliged to pay a spec
ial tax to the city for the express pur-
pose of removing snow for the streets.
If the city does not get a sufficient
amount to cover the expenses, the law
furnishes a remedy.
Il think that a conference will bring
the city and the company together"
Street Commissioner Prior, in an in
terVieW, said:
THE affair stands like this in my
opinion. The company has an old con-
tract with the city, and I do not think
that the new law abrogates the old
agreement. l believe that the matter
will be adjusted in some way without
carrying II 70 the courts.
The trolley company and the city
are working on the old terms cleaning
away the big fall of snow, and there is
40 hard feeling on either side.
The trolley company think that they
are in the right and the city officials
believe that their Interpretation Of the
law IS a correct one"
City Solicitor Rugg said last evening
that he had not given an opinion upon
the matter 1t had been referred to
him by the street commission.
1t is probable that the city and the
trolley officials will hold a consultation
at once, and it is expected that matters
will be easily adjusted without going
to the courts