The San Francisco call., 1898-12-13

and the superb work of the Police De- partment, the City Hall was not sacked tonight nor were any Aldermen or owners of street railway shares hanged to lamp posts.
 The traction ordinance came up in the Common Council, a test vote was taken, which proved it's friends had not the strength to pass nor its enemies to kill it, and as a compromise it now re- poses in pigeonhole of the street rail way committee. to which it was re- ferred after being taken from the spe- cial committee, which has had 1t since introduction a week ago tonight.
 Both sides claim a victory. Neither will admit defeat. To layman the Councils action simply means the agonizing agitation will be continued another week at least. During the day the city was generally flooded with pos ter circulars in three-inch black type, calling on all good citizens to gather at the City Hall tonight to influence Aldermen to vote right. The traction people, when apprised, appealed to the police to stop the distribution of the incendiary handbill, and charged Mayor Harrison and friends with being AGSBpIlSAbAC 1OA AlC phOlANdllO1ls l llC distribution was stopped, but no ar rests of distributors were made, as the ordinance governing the dissemination of that class of matter was not violat- ed, the circular being very carefully wOrded.
 As the time for calling the Council to order drew near there were evidences of considerable feverishness in the downtown district, but. Chief of Police Ripley assured all who questioned him that there would be no trouble. All the reserves were massed within easy call ing distance of the City Hall, and fully a thousand plain clothes men were on duty within a radius of few blocks. Marching clubs were interdicted from escorting Aldermen to the Council chamber or approaching in a body any nearer than Twelfth street on the south and the river on the north and west Thousands of curious people at tempted to gather in the vicinity of the City Hall, but none were permitted to stand for a moment, and in that way dangerous congestions were avoided. No one was admitted to the City Hall without a pass, and even passes were disregarded when floor space and gal leries of the room in which the meet ing place was held were filled. Fur ther police precautions consisted in sta tioning guards in citizens clothes at various newspaper offices, at the homes of Aldermen recognized as leaders of both factions, and at the homes of street car directors.
 There were surprising developments at the Council meeting tonight, one of which was that the Mayor found he had thirty eight votes among the Aldermen he could count upon. The second was the taking of the fiftyyear franchise ordinance out of the hands of the special Council committee to which it was referred on Monday night last and it's reference to the Committee on Railroads of the Council. This com Jnittee, with the exception of one menl- Der, is favorable to the passage of any thing the street railway companies may ask. but the Mayor having found out that he is so strong does not care where the ordinance goes, as he will be able to prevent it's passage over his veto.
 It was not thought at first that any move in regard to the ordinance would be made tonight, and some surprise was OccaSlOned NncIl <AiOCA illdll W c'iSA made a motion to reconsider the vote of last Monday night when the ordi- nance was referred to joint commit tee. Alderman Cullerton, pronounced friend of the ordinance. moved to table tbe resolution, but was defeated by a vote of 27 ayes to 36 nays. to the great astonishment of the Council and peo- nIe in the galleries, and on motion Of Alderman Walsh it was carried by vote of 36 to 27.
 Alderman Walsh then came back with a motion to place the ordinance on file. which would have killed it ai- toeether. but Alderman Cullerton called attention to the rule which provided that ordinances of this description should go to the committee on rail- roads. .,,
 Cullerton was right, and that ne had made a mistake in allowing It to De sent 10 joint committee, and It was therefore referred to the committee on railroads in order to thoroughly test me temper of the Council Alderman NTa1tby. leader of the minority. offered the following resolution, and moved inc rules be suspended to permit of its passage: :, lon law. demanded by State and local organizations of all parties and de- creed by the people at the polls last November, any attempt to extend streetcar franchises in Chicago would be contrary to public policy and the fundamental principles of popular gov ernment."
 The vote on this was 38 ayes and 20 noes. but a two-thirds vote Icing nec- essary it was lost However, it was great victory for the Mayor, as it dem onstrated that thirty-six members of the Council would stand by him.
 The vote shows that the street rail- way companies are defeated beyond doubt and that there will De apsoiutey no legislation on the franchise ordi- nances by the Council until the Allen law is repealed. This victory was en- tirely unexpected by both the Mayor and Council majority, and the latter took it very hard indeed.
 In the course of the debate on the Naltby resolution Alderman Mclnerney of the Twenty ninth Ward. one or the