The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-31
New Commission To Wrestle
With Grade Crossings.
ORDER is ADOPTED.
Alderman Barrett's Scheme For New Lob
of Commissioners Goes Through With
Rush---No Fight After All.

conference lasted for nsarIy an noun
the crowd waiting impatiently IN thA
meantime.
Then the joint convention met. AL.
derman Kendall at once moved that a
recess OF 20 minutes be taken. 1t wai
voted. and the recess taken. During
the recess each board met and adopted
the order for the appointment Of the
new commission, There was nothing
left for the joint convention to do but
adjourn.
When the board Of aldermen first
met, nothing was said or done on the
grade crossing question. That was not
preached until the joint convention
Just as soon as Chairman Brannon
called the joint convention TO order,
Alderman Kendall Jumped up and
moved the convention adjourn for 20
minutes.
Alderman Barrett said a word OF ex-
PLANTATION was due. "A conference has
just been held" said he, land in the
event Of an order being adopted there
viii be no occasion for a hearing"
Councilman George c. Hunt added
that the order spoken Of provided for
the appointment OF q commission by
the mayor, and IL the new commission
approves the report Of the present COM
mission. its report will be adopted with
practical unanimity. The recess was
then ordered.
The board Of aldermen went to its
chamber at once. Alderman Barrett
read his order, which is printed above.
He said
In offering that order, I desire TO
say just a word. To my mind, the
people OF Worcester are of two minds
on the grade crossing question, wheth-
er TO solve 1t by elevating or depress-
ing the tracks. There are a great
many people dissatisfied with the re-
port OF the present commission. They
believe and we all believe that the
commission did not devote time.
thought and consideration to the ques-
ton OF depressing the tracks that the
people desired to have them. 1 be-
leVe that the plan which has been sub
United by the present commission is the
pest that has ever been submitted. But
q great number of people who protest
pelieVe that the best plan is to de-
press the tracks l hope engineers Of
Standing In whom we have the fullest
confidence. will inquire into and satisfy
themselves II II Is possible to depress
the tracks. IL they report such a plan
is not possible with the element of cost
eliminated placing marked emphasis
on this sentence), then L will have to
a &C the elevated tracks plan
as the best"
Alderman O'Connell said Alderman,
Barrett expressed the opinion of MANY
outside the city government They he.
lieNe In the depression OF the tracks. 10
that is feasible. II it can't be done
eneI OF course there is nothing to saw
against the plan of the present COM
mission. believe the present plan IL
INFINITELY superior to the plan az 70
ported BY the Allen-Locke counIsaion
ne SAID he has no criticism to make
On tne present commission. bit desired
70 nave the matter investigated fully,
and did not want to see thescitv co,,n
oil forced TO accept any plan riebt
away. AASns
The rules were suspended to admir-
the order for action
Alderman Kendall wanted to know
why the order contained the CLAUSE
that the appointments OF the rnavor
aldermen On
Alderman O'Connell replied that n
waS IN the order at the request OF
mayor Dodge. Alderman Barrett add
go tnat 1t would explain the standing
VI the appointments to the people.
Alderman Kendall asked IL there wac
: nlaJorley and minority report: IL the
members would agree to abide by the
decision Of the majority.
alderman Barrett replied that he had
NOT anticipated any such question or
tne necessity'for such promise. He
dsheu Alderman Kendall IL he was sus-
pIclous. The latter replied that h.
asked In good faith. He added that
unless such an agreement was made,
the city council win not be any better
on than at present when the report In
made. Alderman Kendall walked over
70 alderman Barretts chair and con-
Versed quietly for a few moments n
sort OF go-as-you-please arrangement
with an entire disregard to the fact
that a meeting was in session. His at
tention was called TO that fact by
PRESIDENT Brannon, and he apologized
by saying he did not think
IL was suggested that every member
OF the board express himself as TO
whether he would agree TO the report
OF the majority. Alderman Back at
once said he would. President Bran
non said he would. Alderman Wall
said: "A few moments ago / said
would not sustain any such action.
| didn't want another commission of
experts. The city has paid $l7 900 for
such commission. But in viewing the
matter ] came TO the conclusion that
the people have not had time to look
into 1t and ! decided in favor Of IT, +
will stand bv the report"
Alderman Barrett said: I'm so far as
am individually concerned, / VIII
stand by the report"
Alderman O'Connell wouldn't corr
init himself. He said he hadn't given
the matter Sufiicient consideration, and
IL involved too many questions IL The
report is one that appeals 20 a reason-
able man he would agree to II, but II
it does not appeal TO a reasonable man
he did not think they should agree 10
II.
He would not favor such a report as
the Allen-Locke report which gave no
reasons.
Alderman Carberry explained that,
as = member OF the grade eroeslnK