The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-12
He Says He Has Regulated No Con-
tracts and the Public Is Be-
ing MisinfOrmed.
INTERURBAN MEN UNFAIR
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED
sHABBILY, MIR. MCGOWAN SAYS.
South Side Citizens to Hold Meet
ing i'm Favor Of Interurban
Terminal Company.

Hugh j. MCGOWAN, president of the In
dianapolis Street-railway Company, may
appear before the Board of Public Works
to furnish that body with information con-
corning certain phases of the business
relations of his company and the several
interurban companies, which relations, he
thinks, the representatives of the traction
companies have neglected to make clear
to the board and to the general public.
Mr.. MCGOWAN said last night that he prob
ably will prepare a written statement to
the public which will explain frankly and
without ambiguity the course of the trans
actions between the Indianapolis Street
railway Company and the heads of the
interurban lines who intimate that they
have been shabbily treated.
Mr.. MCGOWAN has signed copies Of con-
tracts between his company and the lines
now entering the city and correspondence
which may prove extremely interesting. He
feels that the address made to the board
Monday by Charles Finley Smith was cal
culated to produce false views in the minds
of the citizens and to place the Indianapolis
Street-railway Company in a light exact
ly the reverse of the true one. Although
it has not been the policy of the manage
ment of the street-car company to pub
lish its business affairs broadcast, it is
stated that Mr.. MCGOWAN believes the
present occasion justifies departure from
ordinary business rules. The public has
been led instinctively to believe ii was his
company that delayed negotiations and
prevented a settlement of the interurban
question and Mr.. MCGOWAN desires to show
that the reverse was the case.
HAS REPUDIATED NO CONTRACTS.
The statement was made by an interur-
ban official that Mr.. MCGOWAN repudiated
the contracts which he offers as evidence
that his dealings with the companies have
been fair and in the interests of a speedy
settlement. Mr. MCGOWAN was asked last
night to give direct answer to the charge
and he replied: Il have repudiated no con-
tracts which l have made with the inter-
urban companies. The only lines now en-
terng the city are at the present time en-
joying the benefits of the contracts they de-
clare | have repudiated. Those contracts
call for a three-fifths division of the To-
cal cash fares collected in favor of my
company. As | have said the agreements
companies themselves. / have maintained
them and now they declare / have repudi-
ated my obligations. AS TO my attitude to-
ward future rates of compensation from
their companies TO my own / simply offer
as an answer the letter / wrote them no
longer ago than yesterday in which
agreed against my better judgment TO al
low a three-cent rate instead of a rate of
three and one-half cents, to which l still
fell that my company is entitled"
In the city offices yesterday the franchise
request made by Messrs. Smith, Chapman
Irwin and others in behalf of the Indian
apoIis Interurban Terminal Company
formed the chief subject of conversation
For the most part city officers refrained
from committing themselves upon the prop
osition although a member of the Board
of Public Works which must settle the
franchise petition, made a statement with
the request that his name be not used
personally" he said. Il doubt the sin
certify of this franchise request. | have
formed nv opinion, not so much through
the statements and letters published by
MIR. MCGOWAN, as through the opportunities
| have had of keeping an eye upon the
movements of the interurban men. | don't
see any provision made for compensation to
the city; that excites my suspicion"