The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-10
GRASP ON FRANCHISES
TO TIGHTEN TIL CFTY,S
GRIP
ONLY ONE SECTION REMAINS
Entire Chapter Relating TO Public
Franchises WINS Adopted Last
Night With the Exception of One
Section, Which May He Sc
Amended as to Exempt Fran
chises Now I'm Operation.

section, which May he SC
Amended as to Exempt Fran
chises Now I'm Operation.
Seven members of the charter commits
sion attended the tri-weekly session last
evening. and put in two and half hours
in discussing the sections relating to the
granting Of franchises by the council.
Five were attorneys, the "we are seven"
consisting of Messrs. F1andrau, Tighe,
O'BrIen. Childs, Albrecht, Zimmerman
and Doran.
The sections of the charter on fran
chises are given below. and have all been
passed upon, with the exception of sec
ton 20, which did not conform to the
ideas of Mr.. Tighe, and this was referred
to Messrs Albrecht and Tighe to redraft
AS reported it makes every corporation or
persons holding any franchise or privilege
pay a gross earnings tax, and from the
contention of Mr.. Tighe 1t was evident
that his idea was to have only future
franchises liable to the gross earnings
tax. The text of the franchise sections
are as follows:
Sec. 49, The common council shall have
power and authority by vote OF three
fourths ~ Of all the members elect OF
each body of said council, subject to ana
with the approval of the mayor 10 grant
rights, franchises and privileges IN, over
upon or under any street, highway. alley,
public grounds or leVeeS or SAID CITY,
for the purpose Of constructing or oper-
ating street railways. or for telePnohlihS'
or telegraphing, or transmitting electTlcl-
ty, or transporting by pneumatic tubes
or for furnishing to the city OF It's IN
habttants, or any portion thereon, water,
Cor n
purpose. but subject always to the l1mita-
lions and conditions in this charter pre-
scribed. - -,
ordinance. provide for regulating and
controlling the exercise by any person or
corporation of any public right franchise
and privilege in any of the streets ana
public places in said city, whether sueh
right. franchise or privilege has been
granted or may be by the said city, or
by or under the laws of the state OF Mih-
nesotas or any other aH F,drbise Or nrfv-
ilege as aforesaid shall ever be granted,
and no such franchise or privilege shaii
ever be granted for longer period OF
time than twenty-five years.
Sec. &c. No exclusive right. franchise
Or privilege shall ever be granted.
Sec q. No ordinance granting any IRAN
chise or privilege shall be passed by
either body of the common council until
at least thirty days after such ordinance
shall have been Introduced in such body
and framed by Sucn DOuy III lhe exact
form in which it shall be passed.
Sec % provides that every corporation
or person exercising any franchise in st.
Paul shall file annually on or before the
first Monday of February With the city
COMPTROLLER a sworn statement setting.
forth In detail. for the preceding calen-
dar wear the then actual cost or the
plant or business the actual incum-
brances, debts and obligations thereon.
if any; the names and residence Of the
stockholders, and the amount of stock
held by each, and the consideration paid
therefor to the corporation; an tte1niZed
statement Of the assets and LA bilitieS;
the gross earnings, the expenses and ma
ture thereof, and the net income for such
calendar year, and In case of an tndivld-
ual or copartnership of the business done
shall conform to forms prepared from
time to time by the comptroller. and every
such statement shall be preserved by
him in suitable manner for public inSpec-
tfon and shall be open to public inspec-
ton during the business hours of the
comptroller's office. Every such corpora
tion individual or copartnerShip shall also
and statements as may be required by the
common council relative to the rates
charged and received for public service,
the character and frequency of such
service and relative to the number of
persons using such service. The books,
records, bills and vouchers of every such
corporation. individual or copartnership
ton in the city of st. Paul by such Of
ficer of said city, person or persons as
the common council may direct. The pen
atty for failure to comply with the pro-
visions of this section Is 500 for each day
of such failure. to be recovered in a civil