The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-26
Republicans Pose as Friends of the
People.
THREE In STAR ROLES
CALLISTER, BUCKLE AND ROB
ERTSON TAKE THE PARTS.
Franchise Debate Causes the Firing
of the First Gun In the Next City
Campaign-Strong Effort Made to
Appear As Corporation Enemies
Weiler's Dry Humor.

AS truly as coming events cast their
shadows before, just so truly was the
first gun in the yet far distant city
campaign fired in last nights adjourned
council meeting The lanyard was pulled
on the Republican side, but the shot
was of the boomerang order. 1t all
came up over the discussion of the
| franchise granting the Salt Lake City
| street railway the use of u street from
| Third to Brigham, Thirteenth East
from Brigham to the city limits, and
Seventh East from Ninth South to the
limits.
Robertson, Buckle and Callister COM
posed the trio that started the ball
a-rolling. Singularly enough, although
! every one of them is a member of the
party of trusts and monopolies, all
made frantic attempts TO pose as
| friends of the people and as undying
enemies of corporations. Robertson
couldn't remain consistent throughout
the meeting. although his colleagues
did. After fighting for and securing
the insertion of clause providing for
a fifteen-minute service on Thirteenth
East from First South to Fourth South
streets, he voted in favor of propo-
sition to reduce the company's license
tax from sS5 to s25.
| Debate Was Interesting.
! The debate throughout was interest
/ ing. Robertson was in a pugnaciouS
mood from start to finish. He became
/ involved in a heated controversy with
President Barnes, and failed to show to
good advantage. Allen was forced to
call him down for one statement. and
all around the oratory was lively
enough to suit anybody.
At the outset Robertson talked for
! fifteen minutes in favor of fifteen
minute service for the residents of his
| locality Incidentally he attitudinized
as a champion of his constituents and
of the masses.
Siddoway said that the insertion of
the fifteen minute clause was altogeth-
er unnecessary. because the council
could demand such service if citizens
along the line requested ii.
Callister, in a brief speech, in which
he whooped it up for 'the people" Of
fered the clause Robertson desired.
Robertson took the floor again; he was
still championing his bit.
Il am surprised he foamed, in an
swer to Siddoway, that some council
men are willing to give away our
streets and get nothing in return for
them
Called Down by Allen.
You should be more specific in your
allegations" Allen interjected. You
are casting reflection on every men,
Der of this council, and l don't like it,"
| Robertson very promptly eXonerated
Allen. but declared that he would give
the names if a majority of the council
demanded them. Nobody seemed to
think the matter of sufficient import
ance to pursue it further. so it was
dropped. Next, Robertson bumped into
| no chai Ha nd iod
share of the meeting. and when Presi-
dent Barnes mildly suggested that
thereafter councilmen would not be al
lowed to speak but once on the same
subject, Robertson became furiously
angry.
I'll speak whenever have the priv
ilege of the floor he pouted. Il was
speaking last on the amendment, if
you please, Mr.. Barnes"
Mr.. Robertson nor anybody else will
be recognized but once on any ques-
ton returned the chair.
Now that you have sat on me, may
L ask you question:" was Robert
sons reply.
President Barnes disclaimed any in
tention of sitting on the recalcitrant
member, and answered Robertson's
question as 10 whether or not he could
speak once on every subject. by saying
he had merely made his opening re-
mark as a suggestion. He insinuated
that if everybody talked as much as
Robertson, the meeting would never be
| finished.
Weller Makes a Hit.
| At this point Weller made the hit of
the evening by saying, in that dry way
he has: Il am not here pulling for a
second election to this council, and
shall vote as l think on the franchise
nnaStiOn - The shot Of
delight around the council chamber.
The Callister- Robertson amendment
was inserted.
! Next, Bishop Morris offered motion
to reduce the license from sS5 to s25.
Here Buckle came out strong as the
friend of the people. He made grand
stand play by Offering a substitute fix
! ing. the license at $50. His motion to
adopt it wasn't put Bishop Morris
motion failed, the vote being a tie, as
follows:
Ayes-Morris, Patrick. Robertson,
Romney, Siddoway. Weller and Barnes
| Noes-Allen, Buckle, Callister, Diehl,
Fernstrom, Howe and Wallace.
| Margetts was absent.
Callister offered an amendment fix
ing the life of the franchise at twenty
FIVE years, instead of forty-five. as con-
| templated. The motion was lost. the
only alternatives being Buckle, Calls
ter. Diehl, Robertson and Barnes.
When the question came to a vote
on the final adoption of the resolution
granting the franchise practically as
published in The Herald some weeks
ago. it was adopted, IL to 3. Callister.
Siddoway and Barnes were the mega
tives. Siddoway made no explanation,
but Callister and Barnes said it was
against their principles to grant a fran
chise of more than twenty-five years
dr.,