The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-12
is READY TO YIELD
VERNON COMPANY WILL GIVE ONE
POINT FOR ANOTHER
AFTER SOLE FRANCHISES
DOESN'T WANT OTHER COMPANIES
TO USE IT'S TRACK.

BIuG Toll Gate-COmmtttee of the
whole of Council Considered the
Question of Franchises-Messrs.
Lester, oliver, Collins and Iexan-
der Appeared Before It-A1atter
Lett With n Committee for n Re-
port.
The City Council deliberated again yes
terday afternoon over the long-pending
street franchises for electric railways,
and made some progress. 1t was an
nounced after the meeting, which was in
Committee of the Whole, that two more
meetings win probably bring the con-
clusion of the whole matter. This is
what the petitioners have long desired,
and they would like to see the matter
settled one way or another.
The Mayor presided over the meeting.
which was attended by others than the
members of the Council. Mr.. d. B. Les
ter representing the petitioning Vernon
Shell Road Company, Mr. F. NJ. Oliver,
attorney for the petitioners, Mr.. ]. S.
Collins who also has a petition and Mr..
A. L. Alexander were present, and all
made speeches, endeavoring to show the
Council why their contentious should be
recognized.
Mr.. Lester and Mr.. oliver were there to
show that certain conditions imposed by
the ordinance put upon it's first reading
some weeks ago are onerous and not to
be submitted to by the petitioners. Mr..
Collins mission was to impress upon
Council that he was anxious to improve
Collinsvilie, and that section by the OPP
Grafton of the old Savannah and Isle of
Hope Railroad that he has purchased,
and for the extension of which he needs
certain street franchises. Mr.. Alexan-
der was there to represent certain prop
erty owners on Price street who insist
that they do not want street railway
line on that street.
A committee was appointed consisting
of Aldermen Dixon. Watson, Colding,
Frank and Jones, to consider the ordi-
nance and the arguments submitted and
report to an early meeting of the Com
mittee of the Whole. 1t is probable this
meeting will be held this week, when
the ordinance, amended or in its present
shape, win be reported. The next regular
meeting of Council is not until tomorrow
week, but a recess meeting may be held
to take up the consideration of the ordi-
nance, and put it upon its second reading
if the Committee of the Whole is ready
to report in time. Council is disposed to
accede to the wishes of the petitioners
and give an early answer by ordinance.
1t is difficult to predict just what will
be done labout the ordinance, though a
belief is gaining ground that some little
alteration in one of the provisions may
be made. This provision is that embraced
in The section demanding that any other
street railway company may be gran ed
the right to operate cars on the line op-
Grated by the Vernon Shell Road Com
pany. the damage to the Vernon Shell
Road Company to be fixed by arbitration.
This provision has the chief objection of
Mr. Lester and Mr.. Oliver, and they say
that those they represent cannot pos
elbly accept franchise that bears such
a condition.
Mr. Oliver contended that It would be
suicidal Ito its own interests for a COM
pany to accept such condition. By al
lowing the use of it's track by any other
company that might be granted a fran
chise by the city, 1t would leave itself
liable to rate-cutting that would be ruin
Gus He showed that a rival company,
using the same track, might start a car
just ahead of one of the cars of the com
pany originally petitonng. and another
just behind it. The original company
ear would thus be blanketed, and It would
be absolutely cut out of competition if
the new company. being stronger, should
attempt to get business by cutting rates
If the new company should drop the fare
to one cent, while the old one maintained
a five-cent fare, no one would ride on the
Old comDany's car.
The Vernon Shell Road Company, Mr..
Oliver insists wants to be on the same
footing with the Savannah, Thunderbolt
and Isle of Hope Railway. 1t desires to
be accorded similar rights and privileges.
1t is willing to have the use of the streets
it petitions for granted to any new COM
ranies, but does object to having such
companies given the right to condemn and
use it's track 1t is ready to accept the
route that is contemplated in the ordi-
nance and it is also disposed to yield
to the city's demand for the removal
southwark one mile of the White Bluff
toll gate, provided the Objectionable fea-
ture as to condemnation rights of subse-
quent companies is withdrawn.
Mr.. Collins said that he thought Coun-
Gil was not showing him just considera-
tion in his petition, which has been de-
layed longer than that of the Vernon
Shell Road Company in that it has not
Yet been reported upon by ordinance. He
wants some of the streets for which Mr..
Lester representing the Vernon Shell
Road Company, has petitioned.
Mr.. Oliver questioned the intention of
the rival petitioner to build line. de-
claring that he is a large holder of the
securities OF the Savannah, Thunderbolt
and Isle of Hope Railway Company, and
that it would be prejudical to his interest
in that line for him to seek to establish
and operate a new line in opposition. The
interests of the city, Mr.. Oliver main
tains, demands such competition, and the
granted petition of the Vernon Shell Road
Company would result in il being afford
ed.
More than an hour and half was con-
sumed by the eloquence of those who add
dressed the Committee, and 1t was too
late when they concluded for further con-
sideration of the question. The new MEM
bers of the board. however, got their de-
sired insight into the situation, and IT will
be interesting to note the result In the
old board of aldermen, before which the
ordinance was put upon ITS second read
ing it would have passed, as there were
only three or four members opposed to 1t
as too inimical to the interests of the
Vernon Shell Road Company. All those
opposing the ordinance went out with the
old board. however. and It Is not believed
that there are any on the new board who
are opposed as strongly If at all.
-S-e-s
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