The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-07
White, Given Permission tn Address
the CounciI, Makes n Three
Cent-Fare Talk.
SUMMARY OF THE FRANCHISE
SIGNING OF THE CONTRACT BY
BOARD OF WORKS AT NOON.
Some Spicy Correspondence Passes
Between the Board OF Works
and &. 4. smith.

Yesterday was an eventful day in street.
railway history in indianapolis. At o'clock
this morning the Committee on franchises
of the Common Council was wrangling over
the contract which had been approved a
noon by the Board OF Works and signed up
by officers of the indianapolis Street-rail-
way Company, afterwards being trans
mitted 90 the Council, which held called
session at s o'clock in the evening. The
scenes about the Council chamber in the
evening were somewhat exciting, the
Smith-ParryWh White crowd of obstruction
lists having rallied for a final stand. The
contract. as IL reached the Council, con-
tanned all the essential features described
heretofore in the local press. with the ad-
ditional provision as to cash payment de-
manded by the Board OF Works at its meet
ing on Wednesday. After the franchise
ordinance was read five amendments were
offered, the two chief ones OF which gave
the Council power TO order an extension or
lines and prescribed the minimum wages
TO be paid employees Of the company. On
these amendments the franchise committee
could not agree, and as the hour ap-
preached midnight the Council adjourned,
with the committee still in session. There
was considerable talk OF Council meeting
after midnight in the event the committee
reached an agreement. but at O'Clock this
morning the committee was still closeted in
one of the anterooms al the police station.
with most of the members of the Council
| out of sight. The sentiment I'm favor OF
holding an carly morning meeting was
largely aroused by the report that the
Smith crowd would apply for another in
THE FIVE AMENDMENTS.
| For the first time in several sessions the
| Council chamber was well filled last night
when the ordinance ratfying the contract
with the Indianapolis Street-railroad Com
pany came up. Prominent among those
| present were: Admiral Brown, S. ~. Cham
| bers, Millard Cox, J. 4. White, Fred
Schrader, jeremiah Egan, Robert +. Scctt,
| Albert Sahm, John j. Rockford. Ferdinand
| Winter Edwin Il. Gould, Daniel NJ Rams
| dell, Mayor Taggart, Hugh MCGOWAN,
Hiram p. WATSON, William III. Schmidt.
| John Blue. Edgar a. Perkins, I. J. Mont
| gomery, w. T. Steele, J. Il. Curtis. Assistant
| City Attorney Bell. Roscoe Barnett. Every
| councilman was in his scat and ready for
business.
| The proceedings were very brief and to the
| point and nothing was submitted except the
street railway ordinance and several amend
| ments, although, as "A matter OF form. Presi-
dent Mahoney called the roll OF committees.
| After the reading of the ordinance five
| amendments were offered and referred 10 the
committee on contracts and franchises, as
| follows:
BY Mr. Lttle-''The rights and privileges here
by granted upon the further condition that the
| said Indian polls street-raiway Company shall
| not require. compel nor by any means whatever
coerce any person in its service or employ TO work
| for IL more than ten hours in any period
| Of twenty-four consecutive hours, nor shall said
| Indianapolis Street-railway Company discharge
| from its service or In any manner prejudice an
| employe who shall refuse 10 work longer than
ten hours in any period OF twentyfour consecutive
hours. nor shall said company hire or require any
| person 20 work for serve II In the capacity or
| motorman or conductor for less wages than -
| cents an hour. shall said company procure
or obtain the service work or labor of any person
in any capacity more than ten hours In any period
| OF twenty-four consecutive hours for less wages
| than - hour by under any contract
| between said company or any other persons or
| whenever said company instead OF hiring work.
men others TO perform any work or TO carry out
| any enterprise IL may undertake shall enter into
| a contract TO have such work done or enterprise
| executed by an independent contract. said COM
| pany shall insert I'm every such contract pr0vl-
| sion fixing hours q minimum number or
| hours any person employed by such tndependent
contract shall work under such contract In any
| cents an hour the minimum wages TO be paid
| for work done Hereunder.
| observe comply with and perform any OF the
| conditions and provisions OF this ordinance shall
work a forfeiture thereof: and upon such failure.
neglect refusal all rights and privileges by this
| ordinance created. granted conferred shall at
| once cease and terminate. And such company
| shall change the motive power by h used for the
! propulsion OF of OF its lines TO any irn-
| proved system or method which may hereafter
| be invented or In use whenever the city Council
! shall 10y ordinance direct. providing that such
| new system method Of propulsion has been in
| successful mechanical operation FOR a period OF
/ two Of
! ordinance other actual working line OF
| street railway in any city within the United
States having a population OF over 100000 shall
| he conclusive proof Of the mechanical prac-
ticability Of such improved system or method
And said company agrees that whatever woTds.
sentences or phrases occur In this any prior
legislative or municipal grant 20 said company or
their predecessors any general statute in any
| general ordinance relating 10 street railways.
which admit Of more than one construction or
u double meaning, such doubt shall b. re-
solved In favor OF the city and construction shall
be most strongly against the company and in
favor Of the public. and further that IL expects
the privileges herein granted In lieu of any other
rights In and TO the streets and In consideration
OF said franchise absolutely valves and releases
any all other rights which II may have boy virtue
Of any other legislative municipal authorities
whatever and agrees that for such consideration
u win not hereafter at any time assert claim
any rights other greater the time OF other
matter or provisions than those herein contained %
BY Mr.. Bowser-''The powers privileges ana
rights conferred and obligations Imposed by this
ordinance shall be deemed "A contract and con-
tinue 10 the said grantees. their associates sue
cessors and assigns FOR the period twenty years
from and after the date OF is adoption The
right is hereby reserved by the Common Council
| Of the city or indianapolis 10 make by Ordinance
| such reasonable rules as may from time 10 time
be deemed necessary 20 protect the interests
safety welfare and accommodation and running
OF for the public In relation % said rallways
Cars going IN the same direction shall not an
proach within forty feet OF each other except IN
case OF accident or at terminals when IN traina.
or Tor the purpose Of connecting the same To-
| gether."
BY Mr.. Bernauer-',Cars 20 be or the most
approved designs Tor service aud comfort and A. Z