The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-19
A SHORT SESSION.
The First Meeting, Called at =
O'Clock, Was, Brief.

The First Meeting, Called at .
O'Clock, Was Brief.
The proceedings of the first meeting
moved as smooth as clock work. All the
members were in their seats save John IL
Grail of the Third ward, who was out OF
town Some days ago he had made arrange
ments to go to Memphis, Tenn, and could
not well postpone the trip, although he
would have done so if he had not been as
sured the telephone franchise would nave
sufficient votes without his Mr.. Grail was
one Of the original ten who stood out for
the ordinance all the way through the fight,
1t was little after 8 o'clock when Presi-
dent Mahoney pounded his gavel for order
City Clerk Stuckmeyer read the presidents
call for the meeting. The Board of Works
sent a communication with the amended
contract. Both were referred to the COM
mittee on contracts and franchises. Mr.. Nc
Grew introduced resolution requiring this
committee to make a report at the next
meeting (the midnight meeting.) Mr.. Golfer,
chairman of the committee, said that the
resolution was unnecessary. He said that for
one he had not even seen the amended ordl-
nance He supposed the committee would
report without being required to do So
"You will have plenty of time before the
President Mahoney blandly. Il suppose 1t
is with the Council to decide whether the
committee shall be required to report"
He put the question and declared the reso-
luton passed. The friends of the franchise
were anxious to leave no loop hole for de-
feat to creep in. After one or two new ordi-
nanceS were introduced and the regular
order of business finished President Ma
honey said that motion to adjourn would
be in order.
isn't there some other business before us
before that motion is putt" asked Mr.. Cos
tello.
to remain seated after it is put for a mo-
ment," said the chairman The meeting
stood adjourned when the president handed
the call for f9I the midnight meeting signed by
Grew and Moffett to city Clerk Stuck
meyer, who read it. AS the members of the
committee on contracts and franchises pre-
pared to withdraw into the room
of the city clerk to consider the
amended ordinance, Bailiff Kurtz went
that there was to be a meeting at midnight.
That was in order to have the records show
each member had been notified, as the
rules require the clerk to cause notice of
special meetings TO be served upon each
member either in person or by notice left
at his last place Of residence" A Journal
reporter suggested to Deputy Clerk Tamm
that special messenger ought to be sent
to Mr.. CralPs house to leave a notice for
nm nm a me suggestion was acted upon to
There was less interest manifested in the
meeting last night than that of Monday, but
Few spectators being present. Messrs.
Sheer1n. Gates Gray and other representa-
tlves OF the company were there, but no one
recognized as representative or the Central
Union Telephone Company was on hand
That corporation had decided that further
interference was useless after Monday
night, when the opposition to the New Com
pany failed to develop enough strength to
defeat or delay the franchise much longer.
After 1t came so perilously near defeat the
mayor and other influential authorities of
the administration bestirred themselves
realizing that there would be public
clamor II the movement for cheap tele-
phones was strangled. Some of the men who
We're conscientious in their stand Monday
night discovered the next day how their
action was looked on. One councilman said
that a number of people had asked him
How puch did you get for lighting for the
Central Union Telephone Company? He
had honestly believed that II was to the
citys interests to have restrictions laid on
the New Company that would preclude its
sellng out TO some other corporation. He
could not get ii into his head that II the
Central Union wanted TO buy 1t on bond of
$4,000 or $loO 600, in addition TO the cash de-
poslt or Szo,OOO, would not stand IN It's road.
If you made the bond $4,000 was sug-
gested TO him, you might keep the com
pany from selling out--not with bond for
much less than that
There mas been a good deal OF gossip
among the councilmen over tne attitude or
George r. Golfer of the Ninth ward, chair
man or the committee He wanted the fran
chlse amended so as to give the council
power 70 reduce rates after ten years II IL
uesned II necessary. He also favored otner