The age-herald., 1901-05-24
Flght Before the Board of H. dsfmen is Brought to
 Sudden End
WARM DEBATE IN COUNCIL
Alderman Gray's Resolution, Which Allows All Companies Wanting Franchises To Bid for the Same
 Before June 5, Was Adopted.
Rx Alderman Cray

By Alderman Gray
 Be it Resolved, By the Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham, That the
 city treasurer be authorized to receive
 sealed bids for the franchise asked for
 by Eugene Ensien and associates up
 to noon of June 5, 1901. With each and every bid there must be accom-.
 panied a certified check for the sum ot
 $25oo as guarantee of good faith. The fight between the new Metropolitan Street Railway and Rapid Transit Com pany and the Birmingham Railway.
 Light and Power Company over the granting by the Board of Aldermen a
 franchise for a new system of street
 railway to the former was brought to a
 sudden end last night at the meeting of the Aldermen by the introduction of the above resolution.
 At the time of the introduction of the
 resolution the fight was more complicated than at any time since it's beginning. This complication was brought about by an offer from President Jemison of the Bir-
 mingham Railroad, Light and Power Company to pay the city s250O in cash for the right to build the approaches
 asked for In the franchise applied for by
 the Metropolitan Company, and also to pay s10O per block for all blocks called foc in tae franchise not heretofore grant ed him.
 Several resolutions and counter reso- | lutions had been introduced at the time of the relief of the situation by Alder man Gray, or were in the course of pre- paration. Three different Aldermen were i on the floor when Alderman Gray arose, but the first words of his resolution body.
 Question Brought Up. The question of the franchise was first brought up by the introduction of the re- port of the committees on judiciary and street railway matters. This report was favorable to the granting of the fran | chise, and was accompanied by the fol- | lowing resolution:
 | Resolved, That 1t Is the sense of the | joint meeting of the judiciary and street 1 railway committees that the franchise asked for by Eugene Enslen and asso- l ciates should be granted. and the ques- ton of blockade be submitted to the Board of Aldermen for decis1oh. Jones Start Racket. 1 Immediaely after the reading of the resolution of the committees by Alderman l Kerr. Alderman Jones arose to the floor and began to talk against the submission l of the blockage to the aldermen. He said some time ago he introduced a resolution I requiring that all street railway com panies pay the city s1oe per block for franchises, and this new resolution was disregarding his altogether.
 'Every member of this body thoroughly
 understands my resolution. It was not against this new company nor against the old company, but was for the good of the city and the taxpayers. l am told there are some people who are willing to pay | more than s100 per block for franchise covering the seventy-eight blocks asked for but, whether or not, such a report is l true we should not grant this without
 such payment The old company has paid the amount for extensions and the new should do so too"
 Jemison's Offer.
 President Je1nison asked to be allowed to speak on the question of the grant He stated he had appeared before the com mittees at the afternoon meeting and had | told why he and his associates objected
 to the granting of the franchise to the new company He stated that the Bir- mingham company was prepared to make the same extensions of it's present sys- tenn as the new company wishes to make. and that it would be doing the citizens an injustice not to give the privilege to his old and established system which could afford the best of accommodations and transfers to all parts of Birming- ham.
 '-Gentiemen. I reefer you to the national banks of this city and many citizens and
 firms" continued MT. Jemison, 'in order that my statement to follow may be veri- fed We now have in our hands the sum of $775, ,0o0 with which to make exten-
 sions and changes fin our present system of street railway and electric lights. The advantages we offer the city are such that the new company cannot offer in the way of transfers and connections with all parts of Birmingham. Many real estate dealers and owners have asked me to come here and urge that you grant this franchise to our company rather than the new company. We stand
 ready to work for the citys interests and will do so. Why, have never drawn one
 nickel from our company as dividend
 on the money I have invested in stock Yet I have given years to the work. l love 1t, and I propose with the assistance