The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-11-18
Measure Still Incomplete and
win Be Disposed Of at q
Special Session Monday.
CHARGE AGAINST Hickman
Said the City Surveyor Has Used Dis
honest Methods Charges TO Be In
vestlgaied BY the coBhcii.

Las, nights meeting OF the common
council was one OF more than ordinary
interest Street railway franchises, poll.
ties and charges OF dishonesty we're flying
promiscuously about. and aldermen be-
came agitated In the heated discussions
which followed. AL the members were
present. Mayor Bergman's smiling face
looking down from the chair upon the
municipal guardians
Interest oon,ered In the matter OF the
petition Of +. d. Keuttner for a 75-year
blanket street railway franchise. Sew
erai communications touching upon Chis
important measure were. by common con-
sent. laid over until tho ordnance was
taken up. After trlnsactlng considerable
business OF a routine nature the council
went into committee OF the whole for
the purpose Of discussing the franchise
n eaSure.
Tho committee on streets and public
ways. to which the measure was referred
at a previous meeting. had failed TO
arrive at an understanding on the dif-
forent privileges embodied In the
measure. Tho committee is composed Of
two democrats (the only two in the coun-
clD and one republican The democrats
refused to agree to granting Mr.. Keuttner
tho swecplng privileges provided in the
ordinance, and. as tney controlled the
committee, matters wero at standstlll.
Mr.. Robb opposed Mr. McGregor's mo-
tlon to 80 into committee OF the whole.
stating that he would prefer seeing the
ordinance 10 over until the next meeting.
that the eouncilmen might be given an
opportunity 20 thoroughly consider its
features. He moved an amendment to |
McGroGor's motion to that effect. After |
considerable discussion Mr.. Robb with
drew his amendment, and the council |
went into Informal session. Mr. Nc |
Gregor being called to the chair by Mayor
Bergman.
Tho democratic members OF the street |
committee made a majority report |
against granting lhc franchise. for the
reason that Il was too sweeping in effect;
they opposed granting franchises on all
the streets for such period OF 20 years.
Thev also objected to the proposed scent
rate OF fare. They characterized as det-
rlmental the plan proposed to give the
city l per cent OF the earnings OF the
company as such action would have the
effect Of granting the company a mon
opoly
A communication from f. J. Taylor was
read Mr.. Taylor set forth that, as a |
large property owner. he was unalter-
ably opposed to the granting OF the blan-
ket franchise, as the company holding it |
could so construct It's tracks as to shut
out other companies which might want to |
become interested here, He protested |
against giving Mr.. Keuttner, or anyone
else n monopoly franchise.
The street committee proposed the fol-
lowing amendments to the original ordin-
ance;
That. II after the expiration of 10
years, the company had not determined
upon what streets It would build, the
measure be declared null and void; that
nos moro than one block Of any street be
obstructed for moro than 10 days without
the consent of the council is first OBJ
tanned; that the provision for the scent
rate be amended so as to provide for a
fare of not more than cents one way
over the line; that the company be COM
poled to bear the expense of any eXca-
vatng, removal of plankng, or paving,
or the tearing up of any water pipes, or
other city property; that an express un-
derstandlng be entered into that the new
company acquire the present street rail-
way, and run cars every 20 minutes, as
provided in the franchise Of the company; |
and that the present system be extended |
one-half mile each way
Judge Taylor, who was present, was
called upon to give his views. He stated |
that he wanted an opportunity to care
fully examine the measure, as the street |
car company would be placed in q po-
sition by the passage of the ordinance
to greatly add to or decrease property
values. He said the large property own
CONTINUED on page three.)