The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-18

Select Councilman w. q. OMalley,
OF the Twentieth ward, wants three
cent street railway fares. He at
tempted last night at a meeting Of
the railway committee of select coun-
Gil to have approved an amendment
to the Central Rapid Transit COM
pany's franchise ordinance providing
that a ,hiCe-cent fare be the highest
that the company shall charge The
other members wouldn't consider Mr.
O'Malley's amendment seriously and
he left the meeting. He will offer tho
amendment at tOnight's meeting IL the
ordinance comes up.
He expressed himself as being op-
posed to the granting OF the franchise,
not because he favored the present
company, but because he believed the
granting of the franchise would mean
the shutting out in the future of a
competing line which might offer some
Of the inducements which are now be-
ing offered in Philadelphia by A. L..
johnson, the "three- cent fare man"
He thought. however. that If the
franchise was granted it should con-
tain three cent fare provision.
Messrs. Clemons. Costello and Evans,
tn, other members of the committee
present. expressed themselves as op-
posed to Mr.. O'Malley's ideas, because
their adoption would mean the killing
of the ordinance. and the killing OF
the ordinance would be detrimental to
the best interests of the city. Mr..
O'Alalley accordingly picked up his
coat and hat and left the meeting.
NOT TO EXCEED FIVE.
The remaining members agreed up
on an amendment changing that sec
tion of the ordinance providing for 4
1've-cent fare to read: "a fare not TO
exceed five cents. instead OF "the fare
shall be five cents. This Will permit
the reduction of the rate of fare by
councils if il may be deemed neces-
sary.
An amendment was agreed upon
striking out section of the ordinance
which provides that the company shall
pay an annual tax Of 1 per cent. on it's
gross receipts In lieu of all other muni-
cipal taxation. In place OF this the
amendment provides for the ilAser-
tion of a clause reserving Tor the clty
the right to impose a tax upon the
gross receipts not to exceed ! per cent
This amendment was offered by Mi
Clemons. who said that in the mattel
of taxation all companies should be
treated alike. and who expressed him
self as heartily favoring the early IN
PRODUCTION and passage Of license tax
ordinance taxing the gross receipts OF
all street railway companies.
Another section Of the ordinance
covering which it was decided to offel
an amendment, is the section proVid'
ing that if at the end OF two years
the entire line is not constructed, any
franchise rights pertaining to any un.
finished line. loop or extension shai
be subject to forfeiture.
MUST BE FINISHED.
An amendment was prepared provid-
ing that the franchise for the entire
system shall lapse in case any line is
unfinished at the end of two years
unless councils at the time shall deem
it wise only to declare Il forfeiture o
those portions left unfinished.
The last section of the ordinance pro
! vides that 1T the expiration OF hftS
Years from the date of the final com
pletion of the road the city shall have
the right to purchase the plant from
the company at price to be agreed
upon by both parties. and providing
in case of a disagreement, for the ap
pnintmcnt of arbtrators.
M Clemons offered all amendment
striking out this section and insert
ing in lieu thereof Il clause providing
for the reversal Of the franchise tt
the city at the end of Il period of forty
year, and further providing that the
price To be paid for the franchise bt
determined firstly and finally by three
persons, and tn be chosen from thf
| city. one BY tho company, and one by
the judges of the court Of common
pleas,
The objection raised by Mr. Clamon;
TO the section in the original ordi
nance was that it didn't provide for /;
reverSiOn of the franchise. but merely
gave the city the right to buy If i
desired. He wanted all doubts as Il
the reversal Of the franchise to th'
city renewed, His amendment was
| approved.
The ordinance viii be reported IA
vorably tonight, with The amend
mcnts mentioned above.
WEATHER YESTERDAY.