The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-16
A STRAIGHT CASH FARE
COUNCIL COMMITTEES CHANGES IN
INTERURBAN FRANCHISE.
A Change Also Decided Upon i'm Sec
tion Concerning Transfers
Municipal Affairs.

The Council committee on contracts and
franchises met at the city clerks Office last
night to consider the ratification of the
franchise to be given the interurban lines
entering Indianapolis. Mr.. Keller was the
only member of the committee not present.
Mr.. Bernauer remained but a few minutes
and was not present when the committee
decided on the report that Chairman Evans
should prepare.
The committee unanimously consented to
amend the contract made by the Board of
Works in three very important sections.
The question of the fare the interurban
lines shall be permitted TO charge was one
of the main points considered by the COM
mittee, and after much discussion II was
decided to amend the contract so that the
interurban lines shall be permitted to
charge straight scent cash fare for local
passengers. This fare will compel the COM
pany TO carry passengers from the city
limits TO any point in the city where the
line may run. The former contract pro-
vided for the interurban companies to col
lect Indianapolis Street-railway Company
tickets in payment of fares for Indianap-
oils passengers who did not ride farther
than the city limits. The amendment is
considered quite a concession to the inter-
urban companies.
TRANSFER QUESTION.
The transfer question was then consid-
cred by the committee. Chairman Evans
had prepared report which covered an
amendment on the transfer section, but 1t
did not meet with the approval of the en-
tire committee. The members OF the COM
mittee were all in favor of protecting the
interests Of the interurban companies in
regard to issuing transfers, but also con-
sidered the rights of the citizens of this
city In making an amendment to the con-
tract. 1t was finally agreed that the report
Of the committee would compel the inter-
urban companies TO issue transfers to In
dianapolis people who board the cars
within the city limits and pay cash fare
to the Indianapolis Street-railway Com
panys lines, but not TO the other inter-
urban lines. The companies will not be
compelled to accept transfers on outgoing
trips Mr.. Billingsley, who suggested this
amendment, said IL would protect the inter-
urban lines from being crowded their
outgoing trips. Cars coming into Indian
apoiis would give transfers, but then the
interurban passengers would already have
their seats and would not be crowded to
any great extent. 1t was suggested that
the indianapolis Street-railway Company
might object to receiving the transfers
from the interurban lines. but the men,
| DerS or the committee believed that the
concession made in allowing the interurban
companies to charge cash fares and not
| accept or sell tickets would be sufficient to
| Offset any objections regarding the trans
| fers.
TAX ON CARS.
The section pertaining to the tax on in
| terurban cars was also amended The orig
| inal contract provided for tax of SIS a
| car per annum. At the recent meeting OF
| the committee when representatives of the
| companies were heard ii was shown that
| this manner of taxing the companies for
| the use of the Indianapolis streets was
| very unjust, as one line might use three
cars and another twelve cars, making the
| latter pay four times as great tax. and
both companies would only maintain an
| hourly schedule. The committee amended
\ this section by fixing the tax at cents a
| round trip for each car for the first ten
years of the contract and cents after ten
| years, the tax to become effective after
| Jan. /, 1902. 1t was figured that this will
| also bring a little more revenue to the city.
| The section regarding the establishment
| OF freight depot by the interurban COM
panies was not amended. The representa-
tives of the various lines asked that this
section be changed, but the committee
argued that within few years there would
/ be enough interurban lines entering In
dianapolis to make the cost of union
| depot very light on each company.
| Chairman Evans, of the committee. was
| the amendments mentioned and TO return
| the contract to the Board of Works to be
/ amended before taken to the Council for
| ratification.