The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-06


fective in 1901, when 1t was alleged that the
Citizens Companys franchise expired.
At this point Mayor Taggart made the sug-
gestion that under the proposition of Mr..
Smith nothing could be done to better the
situation until 1901 and, in the meantime.
the people of the city would lose $4,000
which they might save in reduced fares
were the contract made with the Indanap-
oils Street-railway Company at once. He
pointed out that Mr.. McGowan's company
had offered to surrender absolutely TO the
city all franchises now claimed TO be held in
perpetuity by the Citizens Company, be-
sides reducing fares materially and paying
a sum OF money to the city for the franchise.
He expressed the opinion that if Mr.. War
rum, speaking for his clients, could offer to
surrender the franchise of the Citizens Com
pany and offer Scent fare, the board would
be glad to accept the proposition This
brought Mr.. Smith to his feet with the ex-
clamation: How can we surrender these
franchises to the city, when the other COM
pany has them in its pocket?"
THE MAYORS RETORT.
Mayor Taggart then hazarded the sugges-
ton that it might be impossible for the city
to secure possession of the streets for the
new company in two years if the PROPOSE
ton should be accepted. whereat Mr.. War
rum very forcibly said that it had occurred
TO him that the duration Of the Citizens
Company's rights to the streets OF the city
had been satisfactorily determined in the
courts. This brought the retort from the
mayor that there were several other good
lawyers in the city TO whom an entirely
different thought had occurred"
President Downing, OF the Board OF " oIAS'
then broke into the discussion with the suS-
gestion that nothing was beng accomplished
at the meeting except to thresh OUT the Same
things as had been gone over before the ue-
cision had been handed down by the court
This made Mr.. Smith somewhat angry ana
he mumbled something 10 the effect that II
the board had decided not tc grant MN anu
his associates a hearing, there Was nothlhS
more 10 saw Al this point fully seven inter-
ested parties were talking at once, ana II
was impossible TO pick out anything lntei.i-
gible from the jumkle OF voices. Mr.. smith
finally made himself heard with the renark,
III the surrender of existing franchises was
TO be the controlling feature OF any CONTRACT
To be made for new street railway com,
pany there was little more to be said, ana
he and his associates might just as Wen quit
on the spot. The others present seemed TO
share this opinion, but Mr.. smith was III
formed that his proposition would be hled
nv the hoard although President DOWNING
said that in view OF what Mr. smith mao saiu
he felt that there was nothing mere 10 uo
in the matter. 49, a..
AS soon as the Smith proposition was dis
posed of Assistant City Attorney Ben oesdn
TO read the proposition drafted py the oo"i"
THE NEW TERMS.
It's main features are similar to the one
submitted by the company. 1t provides.
however, for the payment OF sl,6OO,OC by the
company to the city instead of $1oO.OVo. Inc
payments are to be made on May OIL each
wear during the life of the franchise, as fol-
for W.
wears. and $4,000 each year durirs sc last
seven years. 1t is provided that IN G. ',-s
company fails to make these payments WITH
in thirty days of the time specified the whole
amount shall become due and payable. The
oounanv shall keep a bond Of SIS coo on file
with the city controller at all times, anu
shall renew the bond at any time the con-
troller requires IL to do SO. Inc lengtn n vi
the franchise shall be thirty-four years, ana
tie company shall surrender TO the city al
franchises now held by either the CltlZehs
or the City companies. Besides proVluihs
for the having between the tracks at the
company's expense, the proposition proVldes
that ali such paving shall be done wltn nun
twenty DAYS from the time the rest OF the
street has been paved, with the alternative
of the city doing the work ana assessing lnS
cost up TO the company. talrvlew fe e,r, Mn
not be accepted by the city, but the SneIoy-
street barns will be, on condition that tne
company puts them into condition for use
as either a subpolica station or market
the proposition also provides for the ex-
tension of the Shelby-street line TO GarheId
Park in order that another entrance 10 the
park may be provided with Street-car faeili-
ties Extensions TO BrookSide and RlVerslue
parks are also arranged Tor.
After Mr.. Bell finished reading the con-
tract President Downing asked Mr.; Me
GOwan what he proposed 10 do with the
proposition. Mr.. MCGOWAN replied IN d
STRAIGHTFORWARD way by saying that during
the entire time he had been in Indianapolis
he had been outspoken in his ideas concern-
his company in its contract with the city,
but that he now felt that the board was tax
ing an unfair advantage OF his generosity.
He said he did not feel that the city was
entitled TO a cent for the franchise. consid-
ering the service and transfers he offered
under the new regime and that when ne
cept for the company the payment OF SIJOVo
as a consideration for the granting of the
franchise he did it without the slightest
Thought that he would be asked 10 give
more. He Furthermore asserted that he had
been led 10 believe at that time that the
company would not have 10 pay any more
than $4,000. Mayor Taggart then facetiously
reminded him that the legislative committee
had specifically stated that the city could
not accept less than $4,000 but could in
sist on much more as IL was possible TO
get" Mr.. MCGOWAN then asked on what the
beard based Its request for A,l6o,cn Presl,
dent Downing replied that the members had
examined into the situation thoroughly and
had reached their conclusions by comparing
the running expenses with the earning ca
Well" replied Mr.. MCGOWAN. "I refuse
20 accept the proposition. IL is virtually a
raise OF half a million dollars over what my
associates expected 10 pay for the franchise,
and IL is too serious matter for Us TO decide
without consulting them"
Some one suggested that If he didn't want
the franchise there were others who did and
that. too on a 3-cent-fare basis. whereat Mr..
MCGOWAN replied: lit is possible for en-
barrassing propositions to he made which
would kill any bona fide proposition made
by our people. even when the parties making
them know they are impracticable and can
not be realized"
SITUATION GROWS PAINFUL.
The situation becoming painful as
both sides seemed TO be waiting for the other
70 say something. when Mayor Taggart.
with his ready wit. said: BE game. Nc
Gowan. and sign that contract and have il
over with" Mr.. McGowan smiled grimly,
but did not sign, and the mayor tried TO ex-
plain the situation by saying that the board
had tried 10 secure the best bargain possible
for the city without making the payment of
the bonus a hardship on the company. He
yentured the assertion that the company
would not find the payments a burden,
spread out, they were. over period COW
Ire - Of h. FRO.