The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-29
WAITING FOR Mr.. COCHRAN
NOTHING CAN BE LEARNED OF
RANDOLPH STREET BONUS
Until That Gentleman Returns From,
the East--AttOrney Mum, of the
Street Car Company, Explains
Their Interest in the Matter
They Had Made an Agreement
Which Had Not Been Carried Out.

L.
The petition from property owners
and residents Of the Fifth and Elev-
enth wards, requesting the council to
take steps which would result In the
Randolph street car line being operat-
ed, came before the aldermanic COM
mittee on streets yesterday afternoon.
The petition stated that the property
owners had paid q bonus of $4,000 to
the street railway company for the
construction and operation Of the lire.
in addition to the bonus paid, heavy
assessments had been settled for in or
der to place the street in condition for
the line. Since March 1st the line had
been operated only as far as Hamline
avenue, and the intention Of the COM
pany was to discontinue the line from
Seventh street to the present end.
The petition having been read, Aid.
San'born asked M. d. Mum to state
the position of the street railway COM
pany. Mr.. Mum said the company
had little interest in the matter. There
had been no bonus paid to the COM
pany. Thomas Cochran and Arch
bishop Ireland had secured the fran
chise, and the company had construct
ed and operated the line, the gentle
men agreeing to pay the company
specified sum. The agreement had not
been carried out. The company had
never had anything to do with the bo-
nus. Archbishop Ireland had request
ed him to ask that the considerable Of
the matter be put over until the re-
turn Of Mr. Cochran from New York.
Mr.. Mum said he was going East
Monday on private business, and, while
the company had little interest in the
matter, he would ask if the committee
was to adjourn or postpone action it
be until some date when he could be
present.
Aid. Kenny inquired how much of
the bonus the street railway company
secured. To this question Mr.. Mum
reiterated his former statements that
the company was to get a specified sum
from MesSrs. Cochran and Ireland for
the construction and operation Of the
line for a period of years. This had
not been done.
8. L. Howell, who appeared for the
property owners, questioned If it made
but little difference to the company
why Mr.. Mum should appear before
the committee. It might be, he said
that Mr. Mum represented Cochran
and Ireland
This Mr.. Mum denied.
Continuing, MIR. Howell said the peo-
pie had paid a bonus for the construc-
ton and operation OF the line, and
were entitled to something for their
money. The property owners and resi-
dents along the line were walking now.
and had been for some time. He would
not object so much to the postpone
ment Of the matter, IL the company
would assure the people that the line
would not be discontinued during the
postponement.
Mr.. Mum said the line west Of Ham,
hod ~
der that it would be impossible to OPP
crate cars on it. AS to whether that
part of the line from Seventh street
to Hsrnline avenue would continue in
operation, Mr.. Mum refrained from
stating.
Aid Sanborn was Of the opinion that
IT. was a question between the city and
Messrs. Cochran and Ireland. To these
gentlemen the franchise had been
granted, and it was no more than
right that they be given a chance to
be heard by the committee before any
action was taken. He favored the
matter going over two weeks.
Aid. Kenny thought the committee
would be in the same position two
weeks from now as before. He sug-
gested that city attorney be asked for
an opinion as to the rights Of the city
in the matter and as to whether the
street railway assumed any RESPONSE
bility by the operation of the line. He
also deemed it advisable that the city
engineer be requested to inform the
committee how much it would cost to
have the line repaired so as to make
it possible to operate cars on it from
Seventh street to the end Of the line at
the river.
In the shape Of motion the sugges-
lions Of Aid. Kenny were passed. and
the matter was laid over for two weeks.
NV. NM, tot hot
the corporation attorney any Informal
ton at his command in order that the
matter might be properly presented to
the committee.
Attorney Howell asked if Mr. Mum
would also give him such information
as he might ask for, and particularly
as to the contract between the street
railway company and Messrs. Coch-
ran and Ireland for the construction
and operation Of the line which had
been mentioned. Mr.. Howell said that
he was anxious to see this document.
as President Lowry had told the bonus
payers at the time one of the payments
was made that the line would be OPP
Grated the same as other parts of the
system, and 1t would be under the di-
rection and control of the council.
To this Mr.. Mum made TO reply fur
Their than to say that he would allow
Mr. Howell to look over the contract.
The ordinance fixing the market
hours from a. m. to noon was refer
red back to the aldermen without rec
ommendation. The ordinance will be
discussed at the meeting Tuesday nj ght,
at which time those favoring and op-
posed to it will be heard.
The application of the Chicago
Great Western Railway company for
permission to build waiting station OF
the levee at the foot of Jackson street
was referred to Aid. Shepard and
Kenny to investigate and report. The
committee were in favor of allowing the
company lease for the station for a
term of years at a nominal rent
The ordinance increasing the pay Of
the driver of the Black Maria to $1C0
per month, introduced by Aid. Bantz,
was recommended not to pass Aid.
Kenny said there were more applicants
for the job now than there were hairs
on dog, and there was no sense in rails
ing the salary. The other members ap-
peared to agree with the Third ward
alderman.
The ordinance directing that $1.5O per
day be paid to the men who sweep the
asphalt paved streets was recommended
not to pass by vote Of four to three,
those voting for the passage being
Messrs. Bell, Bloomquist and Murphy,
and against, Messrs. Shepard, Reeves,
Sanborn and Kenny. The argument
used was that the men had contracted
with the city to do the work for a fix
ed sum, and it would be Illegal to paw
them mere.
The resolution directing the removal
of a bill board on University avenue,
between Avon and Grotto streets, was
recommended not to pass. Aid. BantZ
insisted that the board or fence was
IL i