The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-04
IT'S UP TO MAYOR DORIAN
STREET RAILWAY CABLE ORDINANCE
PASSES THE. ASSEMBLY

Messrs. AIbrecht and ReardOn the
Only Two to Interpose Objections,
but Their Opposition Couldn't
Amend nor Delay It-JOhnsOn
Objects to Criticism.
The street railway ordinance chang
ing the cable to an electric line. as
amended and passed by the board Of
aldermen. was concurred in by the as
sembly last evening by a vote Of to 2.
All that is needed now to make the or
dinance operative is the signature of
Mayor Doran and its acceptance by
the company.
There is little possibility that the
mayor will veto the measure, as he
said to a reporter for The G | b after
the ordinance had been declared passed
that he seldom vetoed measures which
could be carried over his objections"
Supt. Smith, of the street railway
company, did not care to say whether
the ordinance would be accepted with
out hearing from the officials of the
company, but the general impression
among those members of the council
who are known to have been favorable
to street railway legislation was that
the company would be only too glad
to accept the measure.
Before the clerk had read the first
section of the ordinance, Mr. Albrecht
moved that the further reading be dis
pensed with.
Mr. Thompson objected, and insisted
that the ordinance be read. This was
done, and Mr.. Kirke then moved a sus-
pension Of the rules.
Mr. Albrecht objected to the rushing
Of the measure through at the present
meeting. 1t had been rumored that
there would be but two votes recorded
against the passage Of the ordinance.
3 HI
rance could be passed against the
wishes and without a hearing being
granted to q large number of citizens
WHO are ODDosed to some of it's pro-
visions IF the assembly had closed it's
mind to all arguments, so far as the
city railway company was concerned,
then good government had ceased The
ordinance should receive very careful
consideration in committee.
large element Of the citizens were
opposed TO the granting of fifty-year
franchises, on the ground that it was
legislating for future generations
There were well defined objections to
the ordinance, and he moved the meas
ure be referred to the committee on
streets. Mr.. ReardCn seconded the mo-
tor to refer.
Mr. .Tshnson said the provisions of
the ordinance had been discussed and
"cussed" over and over again. The
time had come when the council should
do something; pass it or kill it, but not
"dilly daily any longer. The people
were tired of the actions of the cOun-
ell in street railway legislation, and the
members would hear from them with
In a few months.
NJ Dix thought the rights of the city
had been given away by past councils.
and nothing was to be gained by post
pOnng action.
piI ba iUi
lege of the floor to express his views.
and said that there was a general
movement in all states by corporations
to bird future generations with fifty
year franchises. A fifty-year franchise
was worth to the street railway COM
pany in St. Paul millions of dollars
Those advocating the franchise as
proposed were, Mr.. Helm said, doing
the people of the city an injustice, and
If it was passed the inquiry would be
made how it was that the street rail
way company was given fftyyear
franchise for nothing. If the question
had been brought no at the last cleo
ton ret one of the present members
who voted for the franchise would
have been elected to give it away.
At this point Mr.. Johnson objected to
Mr.. Helm taking advantage OF the
privilege granted him to cast refiec-
tons on the members and indulge in
listen to arguments but that was all.
Mr. Albrecht's motion to refer was
voted down to >, Messrs. Albrecht and
Reardon alone favoring the reference.
On the suspension of the rules the vote
was the same.
The ordinance was read by it's title
and then Mr.. Reardon inquired if the
thing had not been all cut and dried
he would like to propose an amend
ment limiting the life of the franchise
to Sept 10, 1918, instead of Sept. 10,
1915 The people of st. Paul were OPP
wishes should be respected.
Mr.. Albrecht stated that he had
number of amendments in his pockets
which he had intended to present. He
realized, however, that his previous
statement about the number who
would vote for the ordinance had been
correct and he would not present them.
He would, however. second the motion
of Ny. Reardon limiting the length of
the franchise to twenty years.
Mr.. Kirke, with some warmth in his
tone, suggested that if the Broadway
loop was tackled on to the ordinance
Mr.. .Albrecht's opposition might be
overcome.
Mr. Albrecht denied this, and Mr..
Reardon said it was unjust to i'm
pugn the motives of any of the mem
bers.
Mr. Kirke, however, said he meant
just what he said.
Mr.. Reardon withdrew his motion to
amend with the statement that there
was no need to waste time, and the Or