The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-07-17
Common Council Refused to
GrantMore Time toRaiIroad.
Councilman Cooke Makes Strong Plea
for Extension, but is Voted Down
"a to IS.

, like to hear from the city solicitor before
| taking n vote on tile question.
| Councilman Cushing then moved that
| the committee on railroads be discharged
| from the further consideration of the
| question.
| Councilman Parsons presented the fol-
| lowing: Resolved, That the time under
/ city council resolution No. ~. approved
| March 3. 1900, for the removal OF the
| spur tracks from India street be and
| the same is hereby extended for a period
not exceeding six months from Sept. 3.
l 1900, or until a decision is rendered in
the case now pending between the city OF
Providence and certain railroad COM
panies relative to the use OF South Water
street and other highways by said COM
| panies.
SOLICITOR COLWELL EXPLAINS.
City Solicitor Colwell. at the request OF
the common council, said that I'm order
TO give the members of the common
council a clear idea OF the circumstances
OF the case, he would go hack TO the time
Immediately following the train shed
agitation I'm 1888.
He then reviewed all the facts In the
controversy I'm relation TO the rails on
Canal street. South Water and India
streets. and brought IL up to the present
day, paying special attention to the legal
steps that were and are being taken.
The last petition of the merchants was
referred TO and the subsequent meetings.
At the first meeting the committee met
and decided to take no action. There were
two or three persons present and IL was
the judgment of. the committee that IL
would not hear any of the parties at all.
Mr.. Colweli said he advised the commit
tee to give the petitioners hearing and
at the meeting on July he was present.
He was asked then how it would affect
the litigation pending between the city of
Providence and the New York. New
Haven & Hartford Railroad Company
providing the prayer OF the petitioners
was granted, and he said then, as he
would say now. II cannot see how II
would affect the litigation.
1--WE have asserted our rights and we
do not give zap anything by the proposed
postponement." He suggested that the
time should be limited until the case
pending was completed and that IL should
not exceed six months. The resolution
was drawn up, talked about and DOCTOR
ed so TO speak.
Mr.. Colwell again urged that he had
nothing to do with advising the city
council what action II ought to take
I with reference to any matters pending.
| His function was to instruct II upon the
legal effect of any action IL might take.
and he could not conceive of any right
that would be waived OF any prejudice
that would come to the city's case I'm
granting the prayer OF the petitioners.
Councilman Sheahan wanted to know
whether the Union Railroad Company
| could not take charge OF the running OF
cars on India street on September 4, IL
| the original resolution of the city coun-
ell was carried out providing for taking
up the Consolidated road on September 3.
olNx g,is he's H.
Union Railroad company could do so.
MIR. COLwELL NOT AFRAID.
After some further questions. Council
man Sheahan said TO Mr. Colwell. Are
you afraid OF the Consolidated road?"
II look as II was. don't II" replied
Mr.. Colwer.
committee on railroads was then dis
charged from the further consideration OF
the question.
The resolution introduced by Council
man Parsons was then placed before the
council.
Councilman Sphinx said that he believed
that IL was the province OF the city So
licitor to advise the common council
whether they should or should not pass
the resolution.
Mr.. Colwell replied that IL was not his
province to advise the common council
upon matters on policy. lie had advised
the passage of the original resolution, but
II now remained with the members of
the common council to determine wheth-
er they would or would not grant further
time to those who asked that the time
for removing the rails be extended.
Councilman Sheahan spoke warmly
| against any modification OF the original
resolution. and said that no extension of
the time should be granted.
VIGOROUSLY WORTHLESS.
Councilman Cushing said that the city
had corporation to deal with whose
word Is notoriously worthless. and nc
was therefore opposed to any extension
of time. III an extension OF six months
was granted, as asked. the city would be
In the same position as IL Is now.
lie further said Now, Mr.. Chairman,
l am not desirous OF injuring the inter-
ests OF anybody. But we should remem-
ber that We are the directors of a great
corporation and that we must keep In
| tact the interests OF the people OF Provi-
dence. ft has been repeated I'm this cham
ber that the interests OF the few must
stand aside for the interests of the many.
1T goes without the saying that II the
tracks are removed from India street
the great interests OF the Merchants and
Miners and Mr.. White and the other
merchants would be interfered with for
only short time. Means would soon be-
found for moving their freight
For myself ! mean to remember that
ann one OF the directors OF this corpor-
alton of Providence and TO administer It's
affairs just as carefully az I would my
own. Put Yourself In the place OF the cit
izcns Of Providence. gentlemen"
FAvoRs RESOLUTION.
Counctlmsr Cooke said that BY passing
the .rssclution tntfoducedssy Councilman