The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-10
Were Ably Represented by Burton
W. Potter and Some Lively
Tits Resulted Before the Hear
ing Was Over
SELECTMAN NEWTON
SHARPLY CRITICIZED
Accused of Having a Financial
Interest in Street Railway
Company That Asks Franchise
Rights on Seven Streets in the
Town of Auburn
Special to The Spy.

Worcester & Southbridge Street Rail
way Company for the location of a
street railway on Tinker Hill Street,
West Street, Leicester Street, Oxford
Street, Auburn Street, Main Street,
and a short distance on Oxford Street,
all in Auburn.
The hearing was before the select
men in Town Hall. The hall was well
filed with townspeople who followed
every word of the proceedings with
keen interest. The selectmen, Eugene
H. Newton, Dennis j. McQuade and
James Cunningham, were all present.
The petition and the call for the hear
ing were read by Chairman Newton.
When the reading of the petition
was concluded, Burton w. Potter took
the floor He said that clients of his
desired to lodge an objection to one
member of the board of selectmen, on
the ground that he was disqualified
from giving the petition an unpreju
diced hearing. The protest was a for
NAL document, and it was formally
filed with the board by Mr.. Potter, ito
show that my clients have waived
none of their rights in case this matter
goes to the courts"
Chairman Eugene H. Newton,
against whom the protest WAS directed
suspended the hearing. Mr. Potter was
called into consultation. The protest
declared that Mr.. Newton was CHASED
and partial and that he had "a finan-
cial interest" in the petitioning COM
pany.
Mr.. Cunningham said he thought the
board might lay the petition aside and
leave Mr. Potter's clients to such rem
edy as they might find in the courts.
Mr.. Newton made an emphatic de-
NAL He said: 81 denounce the state
ment that 1 am biased and partial to
this petition and that 1 have a finan-
cial interest in the Worcester & South
bridge road as an unqualified false
hood"
Charles M. Thayer opened for the
petitioners. He began by saying that
the petitioners were not there for their
health. The corporation he represented
expected to make money in an honor
able way by going across seven streets
of the town of Auburn. He had ap-
peared in favor of the Auburn belt
line on a previous occasion The city
of Worcester refused a franchise per-
hitting that company to enter Wor-
cester. The present plans avoided an
objection that formerly existed-that
the line would parallel the Worcester
& Webster line. The petitioners wished
only to cross the streets named in the
petition. The line would otherwise be
located on private land. The petition
ers would agree to cross West Street
in any way the town wished, either at
grade or by bridge. They would make
the same stipulation regarding Leices-
ter Street, which could be crossed at
grade or under or over. They would
cross Oxford Street, would go over
Main Street and Auburn Street to the
Worcester line.
Mr. Thayer was subjected to a sharp
fire of questions from various persons
among the 200 townspeople in the hall
Webster Thayer, who represented
himself asked some score of questions
and the passages at arms between
Webster Thayer and Charles NJ
provoked frequent laughter and
applause.
Former Selectman Andrew Thayer, a
brother Of Webster Thayer also asked
a number of questions.
The townspeople were apparently
divided in sentiment. Some of them
favored the petitioners and some of
them did not
Charles M. Thayer was criticised for
not producing a plan of the entire line
He responded that he had supposed a
plan of just what was wanted in the
lOWIl VI AuDQIII w DIS GllOuSu " SHOW.
Several citizens made inquiries about
what might be expected in the way of
building operations if the franchise
were granted.
John L. Bonzey asked: care these
roads owned by the same people?"
Charles M. Thayer replied that the
Worcester &, Webster road and the
Worcester & Southbridge road were
not owned by the same persons, and
s,,4a
T. ]. Sullivan asked if the selectmen
ought not to know the entire route,
that over private land as well as
across the streets.
zone selectman does know" said a
voice from the centre of the hall.
THAT insinuation ought not to be
made without proof" responded Mr..
Thayer.
S. P. Perry said the question is this:
IF you get your franchise, how long
can the Webster line continue to run
over those hills. Would not the Wor-
cester & Webster Street Railway be
compelled to discpntinue?"
Mr.. Thayer responded that he knew
of no electric railway being discon-
tinued in this state, but he had no~
doubt the town of Auburn would be
protected in its sacred railway
rights"
question of compensation. He wanted
to know what Auburn would receive
for a franchise worth thousands. He
wouldn't block the petitioner, but
would have the road go through where
it would do the town some good. What
was the matter with going through the
village of Rochdale?
Chairman Newton said the selectmen
had thought that if a franchise were
granted to another electric road. that
that road should abolish grade cross
ings if it became necessary. He asked
if the petitioners would be willing to
have such a provision incorporated in
their charter. Mr.. Thayer said the pc
titioners would have no objection to
such a clause in their franchise.
F. A Weatherhead wanted to know
if it wouldn't be wise to have the
crossings at grade on the Worcester &
Webster abolished at the same time.
There were 10 or II of these crossings.
Those in opposition were heard.
Burton w. Potter said he did not
mean to say in the protest he filed
that Mr.. Newton had a financial in
terest in the road to any greater ex-
tent than that he had an indirect in
terest. He objected that the proposed
line would cross seven streets at
grade.
1t was an objection to the road that
it would run over private land. through
woods and pastures, and not on the
streets, where the passengers could
see and be seen. These people can't
legally get a franchise to cross streets
until they have permission of the rail-
road commissioners to cross private
land. They have no right to go on