The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-13
INTERURBAN REPORT
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS CHANGES
IN THE FRANCHISE.
A Report Agreed Upon After a Long
Session That Was Attended
by Business Men,.
TICKETS ON INCOMING CARS
FARES TO BE COLLECTED
ON OUTBOUND CARS.
Increase i'm the Tax or Cars Recon-
mended-Messrs. Wasson, Mes
senger and Kahn Talk.

franchises were present at the meeting last
night. but Knight and Bernauer, the DEM
ocratic members, were absent. After hear
ing speeches by members Of the Merchants
Association or the interurban franchise
question. the committee went into executive
session and decided on a report to be made
10 the Council at the meeting next Mon
day night. The report of the committee
will recommend that the interurban fran
chise be sent back TO the Board of Works
TO be amended as follows:
Interurban conductors shall accept the
Indianapolis Street-railway Company's tick
cts on incoming cars and charge straight
scent fares 10 local passengers on outbound
cars.
Interurban companies will not be COM
PEELED 10 issue or accept transfers either
from the Indianapolis company or from
other i~nterurban cars.
Section 6, pertaining TO the right of inter-
urban cars TO haul live stock, was stricken
out and an amendment substituted which
will permit the interurban companies TO
transport hunting dogs and chickens, but
no other live stock
Section IL, regarding tax of interurban
cars. was amended as follows: There shall
- -
city for the first seven years. dating from
Jan. /. 1901: Scent tax for next ten years,
and a l5-cent tax on each car for the ball
ance of the term Of the franchise. which
will be in effect till April Z. 1888"
MR.. WATSON EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS.
Al the meeting last night II. p. WATSON,
Henry Kahn, W.. H Messenger and John
r. Saulter, of the Merchants Association.
rare pra1apt 70 axnra-c fhair xiauc 70 the
committee regarding the interurban fran
chise. Mr.. WATSON was the principal
speaker, and he talked for some time on
the business the interurban cars brought
to this city.
IF the interurban roads were not here
already" said Mr.. WATSON. I'VE would do
everything in our power, even to giving
a bonus, to get them to enter the city.
They are a source of great revenue to the
business interests of the city, and all
brancheS of business are materially helped
by them. The Merchants Association Of
fers a rebate by r%efunding railroad fare to
all persons in a radius of forty miles who
purchase $5 worth of merchandise from
members of the association in this city.
and the members of the association are
well able to judge the amount of business
that is brought to this city on the inter-
urban cars.
The pushes men nave been trying to
bring people from surrounding cities TO
1iuldudpOiS % 90 their IIdQlnS o years,
and when we have a chance TO increase
our business by giving to the interurban
companies a good franchise. and one that
will protect the people from surrounding
towns that will travel on the interurban
cars. the Council and Board of Works
should not bubble over immateTial points
in the franchise. This interurban question
appeals strongly to the business men OF
this city, and we come here 10 appeal to
you as members of the committee who will
report on the interurban franchise. When
nna hro nnh Of rafnA - afAad ~ = -
terurban cars all classes of business will
be helped. and the interurban companies
bring people TO Indianapolis who buy all
sorts OF merchandise. 1t is of great value
TO the business interests of the city TO have
the interurban roads bringing 1000 people
to indianapolis every month to do their
purchasing.
Our interests are for the city, and not
for any railroad company. We want the
people to come here TO do their buying, but
in order to attract them here their com
fort must be cared for, and If the fran
chise will compel the interurban companies
to accept tickets the people travelling on
the cars who reside outside the city will
be inconvenienced. You must protect the
out-Of-town people to benefit the trade in
indianapolis, and do not let a matter of
three-quarters of a cent. which would be
saved by allowing local passengers 10 ride
on tickets on interurban cars. influence you
in your report. If the people of Indian
apolis want 10 ride on the interurban cars
let them pay five-cent fares and offer pro-
lection and comfort TO the interurban traf-
hc. We should encourage the interurban
roads and offer them inducements TO enter
the city. for they help the pushes of In
d~ianapolis."
MIR. MESSENGER TALKS.
w. II. Messenger. in discussing the ques-
ton. said: Every merchant in the city is
deriving benefit from the interurban roads.
and if the franchise question is not settled
soon we will be deprived of our fall trade
from tho Nnf-OftOu-n ,o,Dln IT. 4..o~..-
ban roads are now bringing crowds into
Indianapolis. and there should be no re-
Taxation in the influx of buyers TO Indian
apolis. If there is any obstacle thrown in
the way Of interurban passengers the mer-
chants in the other cities will secure their
trade. and the indianapolis men will be
the losers.
cinnau the question of giving the Cincin-
natl Southern road a bonus 10 enter the
city was taken w by the business men.
was decided TO increase the taxes in order
10 offer the Cincinnati Southern a bonus.
The business men of that city said they
were well satisfied with the results. and
In a short time had received benefits 10
more than cover the expense of securing
the road. That city is progressive, and In
dianapOlis should follow its example by
Offering inducements 10 the interurban
companies"
Mr.. Kahn said the Merchants Associa-
ton is composed OF thirty-hve leading
business men. and all of them nave de-
rived benefit from the interurban roads.
Councilman Billingsley said the commit
tee had looked upon the interurban fran
chise question as a serious proposition and
one not 10 be considered hurriedly. He
said the contract Will give the companies
a thirty-three-year franchise, and for this
reason the committee had thought best
TO hear all sides OF the question before ar
irving at any decision on the matter. Mr..
WATSON agreed with Nh. Billingsley and
other members OF the in taking
due time 10 consider the proposition. and
hoped when they arrived at a decision they
would be satisfied with it and it would be
fnal.
VARIOUS STEPS IN THE MATTER.
The Board Of Works first sent the inter
urban franchise 10 the Council providing
that the interurban companies sell and ac-
cept the Indianapolis Street-railway Com
pany's tickets as fares from local passen-
gers and that transfer should be given be-
tween intcrurban cars. The tax was fixed
at SIS a car for the first ten years and SIS
a car for the remainder OF the term of the
franchise.
on Nov. 10. 1900. the Council committee
recommended TO the Council that the fran
chise be sent back 10 the Board OF Works
Will recommendations that the interurban
companies be allowed 20 charge scent fares
in Indianapolis and transfers 10 be given
on incoming cars 20 the Indianapolis
Street-railway Company's cars. The tax
was mmen 10 be , CENTS a car FOR