The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-25
REPORTS TABLED.
The Telephone Dues
ton Hung Up By
the Aldermen,
FULL BOARD WILL CONSIDER.
An Order Adopted for a
Public Meeting of
Citizens.

Telephone company leave to withdraw
is laid on the table.
Members of the board came near
making a record for themselves in the
way of early closing, but recess, to
allow a star chamber session discussion
of the telephone question, in which all
members, with the exception of the
chairman, took part, took up an addi-
tional hour and a half.
The routine business was put through
in short order, but when the report OF
the committee was reached, Informal
discussion started from chair TO chair
until, finally, Alderman Barrett asked
that a recess be declared. 1t was then
that the interesting part Of the session
developed.
The lobby of the aldermanic chamber
was selected as a rendezvous and an
inter@ ting debate followed the nature
of which is left for the public to guess.
1t developed after adjournment that
Alderman O'Conrtll had prepared a
minority report which was to have been
submitted but for the fact that Alder
man Kendall, his colleague in the
minority, declined to sign it. Alderman
O'Connell prepared another report,
however, to which Mr.. Kendall affixed
keep company with the report of the
majority.
The report of a majority of the COM
mittee, signed by Aldermen Brannon,
Back and Vaughan follows: 1.-THE
special committee of the board of all
dermen appointed under an order of
July II, 1899, to investigate the petition
of the Worcester Telephone company,
for authority to lay and maintain I'M
Il q nd n
various streets of the city, and to whom
was referred, by vote of the board of
aldermen, July II, 1899, all papers per-
tanning to said petition, having consi-
dered the same, most respectfully re-
port recommending that the petitioners
have leave to withdraw"
Alderman OConnelPs minority report
was this: 1.-THE undersigned members
of the special committee to investigate
the petition OF the Worcester Telephone
company respectfully report that they
dissent from the report Of the majority
of said committee, and ask that they
may have further time to investigate
said petition and that they may have an
opportunity OF preparing a report upon
said petition
The document was signed by Alder
men O'Connell and Kendall.
In presenting his report. Alderman
O'Connel explained the position of
himself and his colleague, and asked
that the report be admitted at that time
by general consent. Considerable dis
cussion and a variety of motions fol-
lowed.
Alderman Barrett asked for more in
formation on the stand taken by the
New England company further than
that gained from newspapers, but the
information was not Forthcoming. AL
derman Huot moved that both reports
be laid on the table, but the motion was
amended by Alderman Barrett, to in
clude the majority report only. Alder
man OConnell made motion grant
ing the minority members more time
to investigate the matter and prepare a
report, but the chairman declined to
entertain the motion, on the ground
that the majority report was on the
table, and he considered that a sub
stitute report might be prepared and
brought in at any time by vote of the
board.
Alderman Carberry objected to fur
Their consideration of the question by
the committee. He considered the mat
Ter belongs to the whole board He did
not think the old company has treated
the city fairly. The mere fact that the
company has opposed every effort for
state supervision of it's business. is
enough to convince him that opposition
is good thing in any city.
Alderman O'Connell finally made a
motlon to lay the minority report on
the table which was carried
The city solicitor submitted the fol
lowing opinion relative to the excen-
tions taken by officials Of the Worces-
Ter consolidated Street Railway Co. to
certain clauses in their franchise pro-
wang for turnouts in Southbridpe
street The opinion in part follows:
You have referred to the CITY soH-
cltor With request to report at This
meeting the petition Of the Worcester
Consolidated Street Railway ca that
you amend the decree adopted Oct .
1888, locating to it turnouts in South
bridge street by striking out the third
clause thereof for the reason that said
clause is not in the other DEGREES grant
ed to said company on the same day ann
1t believes the same is inconsistent with
the provision of chapter SIS of the acts
or 1898. do not think it can be said that
the clause objected to is so clearly in
consistent with the provisions of the
act Of 1898 as to be illegal and incapable
or enforcement when accepted by the
company, although it may seem not tc
be in entire harmony with other parts
of the act
1t becomes, therefore, a question OF
expediency rather than law. whether
the prayer of the petitioner should be
granted, which is entirely for your hon
orable board to pass upon"
Action on the petition was deferred
until the next meeting.
These sewer assessments were or
dered: Endicott street, Olive e. Allen
and Frances A. Houghton, $2.41; James
Shannon, $1403; Anna NJ. Barry, S14.0O.
Olive E. Allen and Frances A. Hough-
ton, $10S.0S; Emmanuel church, SIG. so.
Crompton associates. $11144
Brussels street, Crompton associates
S22S.0O; Worcester Carpet Co, s9l 20
worcester Carpet Co., S11400; Matthew
J. Whittall, $l34.29; Matthew j. Whit
tai, s46o.4T; Worcester Carpet Co,
$337.34
An invitation was read and accepted
From Addison w. Barr asking members
% the board to be present at a public
&aeeting of the social democrat party
70 be held in horticultural hall, Oct. 90.
The appointments of Fred Forehand
as inspector and Edward NJ Dodge as
deputy inspector both in ward 8, pre-
cinct l. and Hugh O'Rourke as inspec-
tor, and Thomas E. Dowd as deputy in
spector, both in ward 5. precinct 8, were
confirmed
The special committee appointed to
arrange for a public meeting of voters
reported recommending the adoption Of
the following order, which SO far as the
form of the order is concerned carries
the oldest inhabitant back to the day
when Worcester was town. The re-
port was accepted and the following or
der adopted:
"Oreradv that there be a general meet
ing Of the qualified voters Of The city
of Worcester called at Mechanics hall
at half-pagt seven o'clock on Wcdnes-
day, the first day of November in the
year eighteen hundred and ninety mine;
and, be it further
Ordered, that the city clerk cause