The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-06
An Effort to Abate the Smoke Nuisance
in This CIty-Other Munich
pal Affairs.


ton of the instrument stood Councilmen
Bilingsley. Cooper. Grail, Expert, Holli
day. Negley. Rhodes. sourbier. wynne,
Wysong. Wheeler and President Haldeman.
Against ii were enrolled Councilmen Berry,
Kelly, Meyer. Moriarity. Shea, Wahl, War
veg and Wolsiffer The road which led to
victory for the Republicans and the fran
chise was beset with dangers and pitfalls,
and success came after contest in which
strong expressions were used.
Previous to the meeting the air was tinged
with the electricity of approaching COM
bat. The Council committee on contracts
and franchises was meeting in the clerks
office, and occasionally one of the members
would hurry out for a consultation with a
party associate. The Democratic members
of Council caucused and conferred with
Charles Mcguire, of the Board of Works.
The Republicans talked in little knots and
waited anxiously for the committee and
the Democrats to end their respective meet
ings.
MAJORITY REPORT.
Chairman Negley, of the committee,
Immediately on the opening of the meeting
presented the report of the Republican ma
jority. 1t was short and to the point, set
adoption of the contract and recommending
it for passage. He had hardly taken his
seat when Councilman Wahl, one of the two
Democratic members Of the committee on
contracts and franchises, sprang to his
feet and presented the dissenting report Of
the minority. The report stated that In the
opinion of the minority the period of time
which the franchise covered was too long;
that the interurban railway business is in
info a,ra1 lrv.sN ~l11F
pIlcauons or questions may arise within
the next ten years. The minority report
favored limiting the franchise to ten years,
with privilege OF renewal at the expiration
of that time If the then existing conditions
justified the step. Mr.. VAIL stated that
the compensation of the city should be
small. he said and for the ten years con-
templated by the minority 10 cents for each
round trip should be charged. The third
clause in the minority report referred TO
the question Of fares. Mr.. Wahls report
was against the scent fares. The minority
asked the Council TO require the interurban
company to charge the same fares in force
on the cars of the local street-railway
company. Mr.. VAIL moved the adoption
of the minority report as a substitute for
the report presented by Mr.. Negley.
The vote the motion inaugurated Wig
Orous opposition to the franchise on the
part of the Democratic members of the
body. They voted solidly Tor 1t and sound
ed their ayes like pistol shots. The Repub-
leans voted as Soldly aKrinst it, and the
motion went TO the COU -I- graveyard. Mr.
Moriarity hoisted Tire hlibusters' ensign
by moving 10 adjourn. The motion was
defeated, but narrowly, two Republicans,
Holiday and Expert voting with the DEM
Ocrats. When the total had been an
nOunced the Republicans, and Mr.. McCul-
loch. who was present, breathed easier
the fight was half won. Councilmen Ep-
pert and Holiday explained their votes by
saying that they desired adjournment for
the purpose of reading the contract, as
they were not familiar with its provisions
USED FOOTBALL TACTICS.
Mr.. Negley moved the adoption of the
Majority report and the motion carried
all the Republicans, with the exception of
Mr.. Expert, voting for it. Mr. Negley then
began straight line bucking tactics, which
finally placed the franchise ball squarely
between the Democratic goal posts for a
touchdown. He asked for the second read
ing of the contract. Mr.. VAIL objected
saying that the instrument had never been
read the first time. His attention was
called TO the fact that il is necessary only
To read the title when first brought up. An
other strict party vote brought the contract
TO its second reading.
The Democrats insisted that the long
document which had been gone over for
weeks, and was supposed to be familiar
to everyone as the alphabet be read in its
entirety, and for the sake of showing them
every consideration the demand was grant
ed. Clerk Elliott, with the assistance of
several glasses of water, struggled through
the bulky document to its conclusion. Mr.
Moriarity dispelled the drowsiness which
had crept over the chamber by demanding
| that section of the minority report be
submitted for a section of the contract as
read. During the laugh following he was
ruled out of order and subsidized tempo
rarily. Mr.. Negley asked that the contract
be read the third time, by title engrossed
and placed upon its passage. and another
party vote obtained the point.
Inc calling OF the roll was interrupted
/ by number of long explanations by sew
eral gentlemen who desired to inform the
Council why they voted so and so. Mr..
Billingsley wanted il understood that while
he originally stood out for a reduced fare
on all cars. yet the refusal of Mr.. Nc
GOwan TO redeem interurban tickets left
him no alternative i'm the matter Mr.
Meyer. the other Democratic member of the
committee on contracts and franchises eX-
planned his vote and took occasion to saw
that the minority of the committee had
I cen very badly treated by the Republic
ans, that their presence had not been
sought. that their wishes had been sighted
and that they had been used unfairly
MORIARITY AGAIN.
Mr. Moriarity appeared for the last time
during the evening in a short monologue
directed against President Haldeman. He
said that Mr.. Haldeman had resorted to
bulldozlng tactics and that the treatment
OF his party associates had been an out
rage. He declared that the time of the
Democrats was coming and intimated that
Mr. Haldeman would be chosen as par
ticular victim when that time came
Mr.. McCulloch. at the conclusion OF the
meeting. thanked the Council for passing
the franchise ordinance He invited the
lody TO take a trip over his line soon
as a convenient time can be arranged. He
said last night that he is greatly pleased
at the prompt action Of the Council, and
that il viii benefit not only his company,
but the city. More people will come here
he said, II they can come straight TO the
center of the city and do not have TO wait
in the SUBURBS this cold weather for a
car. He said that by Jan. l. 1902 his com
pany Will have fifty cars day making
round trips TO and from indianapolis, and.
although the compensation eNacted by the
city Il high. he considers IL good horse
sense TO meet the demand.
Nothing further has been heard from the
interuroan officials who refused 10 sign the
contract. The members OF the Board Of
Works say they Will sign IL; the members
or the Council committee on contracts and
franchises declare they will have to sign
as the committee will never grant terms
more favorable; and the general opinion