The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-13
Amendments to Protect the
City Are SmOthered.
KILLS FIVE CENT FARE
Company Has Regulation
Stricken From Franchise.
Only Three Councilman Voted
Against the Measure.


get. Every amendment offered to the
franchise was defeated, save one what
ever changes the Vinewood company
wanted made in the franchise were
made The franchise or ordinance was
passed by vote of to 3.
This is, In short. the action taken last
night by the city council on the Vine
wood park railway franchise.
The councflrnen who voted in favor of
granting the franchise were Blossom.
Gsriiey, Neil. Wolf, Weber, Nichols
Swendson and Tincher- Those who
voted against 1t were Snyder, CLANCY
and Howe Councilman Bergundtha1
was absent during the discussion ana
vote on the franchise.
There was q grim and unalterable de-
Termination on the part OF majority
Of the cOuncilmen TO pass the franchise
IN just the shape desired by the vine
wood company. 1t manifested itself IN
solid opposition to all amendments OF
Tered by members of the council Coun-
Gilman Swendson candidly admitted
that he was opposed to even discus
sing any proposed amendments.
However. the Vinewood corporation
attorneys had several amendments
which were offered and passed It was
q case of here. take all you want.
One Of these amendments changed
the ordinance formerly passed in such
q way that the scent fare clause was
thing it pleases for a ride to NlneWood
park This was the only remaining sec
Lion of the ordinance which the VINE
wood people did not like and as they
got rid Of that they feel thoroughly sat-
dsfied with the work done. They have
got the city of Topeka firmly by the
throat for twenty years. A stranger
might have thought the council was
representing the corporation instead OF
the city at large
Eight councilmen voted for the pas
sage Of the ordinance, but 1t is safe to
state that three-fOurths of that number
were bulldozed into so voting and would
have voted against the ordinance II they
had obeyed their conscientious incli-
nations
The first amendment to the ordinance
was proposed by Councilman Nichols,
and it was more in the nature Of cor
rectfon than amendment. At the former
meeting it was agreed that the company
should not be allowed double track OF
switches on the loop" When the or
dfnance got back to the council last
night the provision against switches on
the loop was missing
Councilman SwendsOn jumped up and
protested against the adoption Of the
amendment and he was assisted in his
fight by Councilman" DOrans who
holds Office by virtue Of his position as
attorney for the Vinewood company.
Swends0n said it would not do to allow
anybody to make amendments to the
ordinance for fear the franchise might
explain how it happened that the pro-
vision against switches on the loop had
been omitted from the ordinance as pre-
scented last night. But for once the
council voted to stand by the interests
of the city and passed Councilman
Nfch3lsi amendment. Ia the words OF
the baseball critic. that ended the run
getting for the city"
Next, by a vote of to 3. the Vine
wood company showed through its
amendment of section IS, allowing the
company to charge any amount of fare
1t pleases for the trip to WinewOod. Last
week the council voted that cents
should be the maximum. The great argu-
ment of the IabOring men that VineWood
is a place where laboring men can go
and spend Sunday for the small sum or
10 cents car fare is therefore exploded.
1t will cost the laboring men whatever
the company sees fit to charge.
Councilman Snyder tried to get an
amendment to sections 26, q and %,
making those sections concerning the
$1,000 forfeit more stringent, and reouir-
ing that the Vinewood company build
its own power house. The amendment
was defeated, of course.
Councilman Clancy offered a new sec
ton, and one of the best ones suggest
ed. 1t was as follows:
1.-THE franchise and rights hereby
granted are upon the express condition
that after the expiration of the first two
years of this franchise said company
shall pay into the city treasury each
wear the sum OF 8 per cent on us E4OSS
earnings after deducting legitimate OPP
Grating expenses, the same for the use
of the Streets alleys and other public
grounds in the city Of Topeka. At the
time Of such annual payments q sworn
statement shall be made by said COM
pany showing all receipts and disburse-
ments."
In speaking on his amendment
Councilman Clancy said:
II think we should have some rev.
enue from this franchise. We had a
similar provision to this IN the fran
chise granted to the Federal Light,
Heat and Power company, and 1t was
accepted by that concern. This is d
valuable franchise. I have been told
that certain parties we're ready to pay
more than $4,000 for the franchise
which we are giving away. The Metro
politan street railway in Kansas City
paid 100000 for 3 renewal of its fran
chise. This city is now getting to be
OF a size when we should demand a rev
onue from cur franchises
Councilman Swendson excitedly de-
claped that the amendment was intro
dueed to beat the ordinance. This
Councilman Clancy vigorously denied
Then Attorney Doran gave his uIti-
matum. and the council trembled
Il speak with authority" said Mr.
Dorans when I state that If this sec
ton is adopted, you viii lose the Vine
wood park road. 1t viii not come here
under that proposed condition"
At this statement the Vinewood park
Tooters, of whom the usual noisy dele
cation was present, applauded and
yelled vociferously.
When the final vote on the passage OF
the ordinance was taken. it was nearly
IL o'clock. When it was declared passed
there was more tumultuous applause.
The ordinance providing for a viaduci
was then introduced and passed with
out opposition. This was passed once
before. but to make it sure It was
passed again.
UNION LABOR RESOLUTIONS.
Resolutions in favor of the passage OF
the Vinewood park railway franchise il
some form were received from the fol
lowing union labor organizations
Brotherhood Of Painters, Decorator
ana RaperhangsEa. Topeka Typo