The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-23
Demand That Obstruction to the
Cross Town Road Cease.
Exciting Meeting Of the Street Committee Of the
Supervisors Byington's Amendments Are
Unanimously Condemned

II W n hours yesterday afternoon,
= ~ y when at the session OF the
Street Committee of the
Board of Supervisors his mouthptece,
Supervisor Byington, was compelled to
listen 20 the indignation, appeals and
pronunciation Of merchants and citizens
who protest against the destruction OF
q public benefit in ORDER that Mayor
Pheian may make political capital out
Of an issue that has already been met
and won. The consideration OF Market
street franchises, particularly the
cruss-toNn privilege and the right to
operate an electric road TO within
twenty feet Of the county line, was the
order of the afternoon,
The privileges We're framed to meet
The views of all interests q week ago
yesterday. At the meeting Of the Street
committee held then the Mayer, mer-
chants. citizens and property-oWners
agreed and the railroad company &C
cuiesced in the resolutions as framed
and as they Were presented to the board
LAST Monday. There seemed to have
been no further need for discussion. All
apparent Objectionable features had
been eliminated and a conceded benefit
IF great public moment vas assured
The petitioners went away satlshed
that the fight had been won and that
The Board of Supervisors would adopt
its committees report.
But at the meeting on Monday Su-
pervisor Byington. speaking for Mayor
Phelau and in the interest Of his Hon
urs political boom, suggested three
amendments to the resolutions grant
ing franchises. The first amendment
provided for ornamental iron poles
wherever the overhead system is en-
ployed. This was accepted out OF hand
and Supervisor ByingtGn was at a loss
for another vehicle for delay. He found
il i'm TWO other amendments, one pro
.vidiu- that the Board of Supervisors
IL its discretion may at any time COM
bel a street railroad to operate either
by the overhead or underground sys-
TEN. and the other restricting all rails
to what is known as the fiat rail These
amendments were evidently introduced
tor purposes of obstruction. and the
whole matter was again referred to the
Street Committee.
ID
Conferences and agreements had been
t. no purpose Time was becoming an
element of primary Importance and the
Mayors jingoism was succeeding be
yond expectations. But the merchants
and property-oWners at the northeast
ern and southern parts of the city had
a vital interest at stake. They have
been crying for years to secure a cross
town road. and Mayor Phelan, in his
endeavor To make small capital out Of
a big issue, stood as the only obstacle
to success. So the merchants and the
property-owners trooped again yester
day TO the assembly room of the Street
Committee 10 fight their battle ever
again.
The Sixth Street Improvement Club
was represented with a new petition.
The North Central Improvement Club
came similarly armed. The Merchants
Association. represented by its presi-
dent. was there to beg that the fran
chise be granted as agreed upon, and
that the Instructions and idle techni-
calities Of politicians be stopped. The
enormous interests Of d. O. Mills and
Of the MacGonoUgh estate We're repre-
scented and Supervisor ByinGton and
those whom he represents were urged
10 stop their flibustering and permit a
great proposed benefit to become a
reality.
The meeting was therefore of very
grave interest, and Supervisor Bying-
ton sat through it all without ore rea-
son to offer in support Of his amend
ments nor one excuse to make in justi-
fication for his action in refusing to
listen to the pleadings cf the petition
ers. Mayor Phe}an was sent for, as the
petitioning property-oWners and mer-
chants wanted him to be present and
fasten him to some definite policy. But
the Mayor was conveniently absent
from the City Hall and his agent would
give no assurance that objections SINH
lar to those made last Monday will not
be made again next Monday
The merchants and property owners
who want the crosstown railroad are
still, therefore. al the mercy of the
Mayor. If he instigates objections and
amendments. as he did last Monday
he will kill the franchises. as they must
be passed to print next Monday or not
at all Even if action he taken then
the Supervisors will barely have time
in which to take final action and adj
vertise for bids. The Mayor has un-
questionaby the best of the situation
but in view of the indignant protest
voiced yesterday he will not carry his
policy Of obstruction too far There is
likely. therefore, to be no objection to
the franchises on Monday. as a single
objection will kill them. The Mayors
political ambition has carried the city
Ocean Water Tub Raths