El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-26
FRANCHISES
GRANTED
To the Citizens and the Old
Railway Company.
NO CASH BONDS WANTED.
ALI the Ground Gained In the Direction
Of Better Regulation Of Fran
chjses Has Been Lost By the Action
Of the City .COuncil.-After Ed.
Wales's Scalp

The council meeting last night was
one CT the most interesting sessions OF
that honor able body II al have been
held for months past. Heretofore har-
mony has prevailed to very tiresome
extent but last night the mayor and
councilmen were in a mood to devour
some body.
The discussion at the head and tail of
the meeting was on the same subject.
Before The mayor called the meeting
to order Alderman Clifford started to
complain about the street spriuklers
man Whitmore joined in the debate
and told Mr.. Clifford that he should
investigate matters farther then in
front of his store. Alderman Stewart
Joined in and wanted to know why it
would not be good idea to oil the
streets as they are doing in other
places. %,
Mr., Cliffori's sarcastic resort.
This debate was brought to a close
nv the mayor sounding the call to or
der. The clerk called the roll at $40
and it showed all the aldermen pres
ept.
The minutes of the last meeting were
read and adopted without objection.
The report from the police commit
tee was called for but they said they
had nothing to report.
Then came up the street railway
franchise. 1t will be rememb ered that
week ago all the councilmen
demanded that cash bond be required
but this very proper spirit faded away
like q faint mist at monday and with
few unimportant changes the street
railway franchise was granted, the
most important change being from oO
to 40 years. No forfeit or bond was
asked for. When the vote was called
for all OF the councilmen voted yes IN
til the name of Whitmore was called
and he emphatically said NO"
Judge Kemp brought out an ordi-
nance which had been accepted condl-
tionally April 6. 1t was ia regard to
changing the alley in block 2S3 in the
Pierce Finley addition. 1t was accept
ed.
The Hon. Leigh Clark then took
the floor on behalf of the Citizens
committee. He had a certified check
for So 900 in his fist, but the council
concluded that it was not necessary
and Mr.. Clark put 1t in his pocket. He
asked that they be given twenty in
stead of ten years in which TO put their
wires underground, and went on to say
that he did not know of any city con-
tanning less than 10000 inhabitants
where such requirement was asked.
He also asked that the city should not
be given an option on the plant until
the year 1910. After considerable dis |
cussion the changes were permitted, |
and then it WAS Alderman Clifford g |
turn. He said that the citizens should !
not be re quired to put up bond un ess
the street railway people did likewise, !
Alderman Badger, In convincing
speech, moved that the citizens be not |
required to put up bond and the |
motion carried with no objection ex-
cept Alderman Burton.
Geo Ogden argued that the street |
railway franchise option was OF only |
six months duration. and Alderm an |
Stewart pleasantly remarked that
only straw bond would be secured !
and Alderman WhitmOre Clipped in !
by saying that it could never be collect |
ed ut is something like the fair |
ground bond" he said, with a slight
tinge of sarcasm in his voice.
Judge Kemp then stated that if the |
council would take nothing but good !
bonds he would collect them. !.
After this was over the citizens
francht Sc passed and sigh of relief |
went up from all concerned. It was a
task that had been worrying them for
some sine past and they we're glad to
get rid of it.
The bill of Miss Matte BarlMo
S1.50 was allowed.
petition from M. S. Hawkins,
asking permission to remove small
frame house from the Southern Pacific
depot was read by City Clerk Catlin
and referred to the fire committee.
Mr.. Catlin read q petition which he
claimed was signed by Geo. Wallace
and others, asking that the Ell Paso
Dairy company he required to remove
he dairy from Leon Street. 1t was
,tated by several of the aldermen that
he dairy company was constructing