The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-23
STREET CAR SITUATION
THE QUESTION TAKEN UP AT A
MEETING OF COMMERCIAL CLUB.
Committee Appointed to Represent
the City on la suggestion of
c. f. Smith.

A-
At the Commercial Club last night there
was one Of the most largely attended meet
ings of the club that has been held for
some time. It was held in response to a
call for a discussion of the street car situa-
ton. Evans Woollen, secretary of the club.
read the various propositions that have
been made by the proposed new company,
using newspaper articles for his authority.
Mr.. Wooilen did not have before him and
did not use a copy of the bill that is to be
introduced, as it has not yet been submitted
by the subcommittee of the joint com
mittee of affairs of the city of Indianapolis,
which is preparing the new bill. In the
absence of Capt. w. E. English, newly
elected president of the club, Vice President
Albert Metzger presided. There were con-
! siderable discussions of the street car situa-
ton, but no effort of any sort was made to
obtain the sentiment of the meeting as rep
resenting the club on the question. 1t is
usual and customary for some sort of a
resolution to be presented as expressing the
sense of the membership of the club in
favor or against any public proposition, but
this was not done last night. Indeed, those
who We're present to speak in favor of the
proposition of the new street car company
NGI6S Alul jill HUH uGOdlG ny an unexpected
adjournment of the meeting. James r..
Layman, who had many arguments to make
in favor of the new company's proposition,
was only recognized after it had been an
nounced that refreshments were waiting in
another room, and what he had to say was
lost in the confusion that followed the an
nouncement that an adjournment to the
dining room was in order, Notwithstanding
that Chairman Metzger vainly attempted
to secure a hearing for Mr.. Layman.
Charles f. Smith, who, it will be remem-
bered, in the last city campaign led a
minority reform party, seemed to be the
Dominating spirit at the meeting last night.
AT the beginning of his remarks he pro-
posed that a cOmmittee of fifty to represent
the city of indianapolis in the present
street-car situation should be appointed. Mr..
Smith read the names of the committee
that he thought should consider the subject.
A question as to whether the committee
should be accepted on Mr.. Smiths sugges-
ton before the subject was discussed at all
was decided by a small affirmative vote. 1t
IS customary on such questions of public
Importance for members OF the club who
think that public interests are to be SUBJ
served TO suggest that a large committee
shall be appointed either by the chairman
of the club or by some standing committee
that has the SubJect under consideration in
charge. This custom was ignored last night
mlttee that he had himself named was
adopted. A number Of those that Mr.. Smith
| ildlleQ on MS committee were not present.,
ana the club is not automatically informed
as to whether they will serve, but it is pre-
suned that Mr.. Smith communicated with
the various gentlemen he suggested before
naming them. Following are the names Of
Mr.. Smiths Commercial Club committee:
D.. M. Parry, John H.. Holiday, Ii. H.
Hanna, Albert Metzger, Charles F.. Smith,
John f. White, G.. G.. Tanner, A. A. Barnes,
p. H. Fitzgerald, Frank Il. Gavin, Louis H.
Ketcham, ]. K. Lilly, Nicholas McCarty,
J. G. Adams. w. c. Bobbs, Chester Brad
ford, Henry Coburn, Thomas c.. Day, John
Der, G. S. Denny, Horace Mckay, A. l..
Mason, +. A. Maus, Winfield Miller. H. j.
MilligNSn' A Rtc Fl Potts, W; J. Richards
II. c. Dewenter, Charles E. Coffin, W.. P.
Fishback. Frank stalnaker. l. n. Walker,
j. r, Allen, w. Z. lockwood, John Spann,
Major Taylor, Charles T. Whitsett, Frank
Burk, Alonzo G. Smith.
MASS MEETING OF CITIZENS.
On a motion hnTriedly made and put
without discussion this committee was au-
thorized to issue q call for a mass meeting
of citizens to consider the street-car situa-
ton at Tomllnson Hall. No date was fixed,
but the understanding is that the meeting
will be held soon.
Charles f. Smith was the first speaker to
discuss the situation, and he spoke at con-
siderable length, reading from a typewriter
manuscript. He spoke of the fact that the
proposed new street-railroad company has
presented certain claims in asking for legis-
iation, and asked, first, Has the public any
need to compromise with the street-railroad
people?'' and, second, is their proposition
fair?' Mr.. Smith asserted that the city
has no need to accept this proposed con-
tract. Under the decision of the United
States Supreme Court the rights of the old
company Will expire in 1901. Under the de-
every one knows from the recent action Of
our Supreme Court will be affirmed, the
franchise Of the City Company is ended.
TWO years will see an end to all their claims,
and we are on the eve of the day when the
city can, without consulting any company,
let a new franchise for the best offer. This
Is why the two old companies have tried SO
hard to get together, The proposition is not
fair. The term is too long. 1t will run until
the end of that time, and the fare they
propose to charge during all these years is
practically the old f~ve-cent fare inaugurated
a half century ago."
Mr.. Smith argued that six tickets for rs
cents or twenty-five tickets for 81 is practi-
cally a 5-cent fare. Three cents Is as fair
a street-car toll to-day said he, 'as S
cents was twenty years ago." He said that
w v;Gbf the company offered $50 coo for the
that the city ought not to sell the right to
any concern to charge the public unfair
prices" He denied that this would reduce
taxes, saying that such a sum paid into the
city treasury will be followed by unneces-
sary, e~Xtravagant, and, perhaps. corrupt
appropriations and expenditures. The ques-
ton the public Is interested in, and which
we should, therefore, keep in mind, is that
of fares, and nothing but a Scent fare
D. B. Shideler spoke in favor of the Legis-
lature acting now, saying that what might
be done by the Legislature would not in
any way bind the city, but would simply
permit it to enter into a contract with the
new company if it so desired. The passage
of a law by the present Legislature, he said,
does not carry with it the idea that the city
must grant a. new franchise.
Charles L. Barrett insisted that any cor
p~oration which is given a franchise should
be incorporated under the laws of Indiana.
Those who are acquainted with the cir
cuTnstances consider this rather beside the
question, as it is known that no other idea
is entertained by the new owners than to
incorporate in Indiana.
WANTS REDUCED FARES.
Louis H. Gibson was the next speaker. He
was in favor of reducing fares materially
rather than of receiving a contribution to
the general fund of the city. whatever
may be the direct contribution to the treas
ury," said he, "or for the sake of argument,
whatever may be the reduction in taxation,
there is a vast majority of productive citi-
zens who would not be appreciably bene-
flied by reduced taxes. : = = 1t is in
iquitous that the citizens of indianapolis
and especially those least able to bear the
burden should have a tax in the shane of
relatively high rates of transportation i'm
valuation which bears no definite relation TO
the cost of actual service"
AlonZo G.. Smith doubted whether il was
necessary TO ask the General Assembly 10
confer any more power relative to the grant
ing OF franchises than now vests in munici-