The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-23

10 be charged, Dut QUESTION very hiurh
the city to a fixed fare OF cents for thirty.
three years. As business. proposition, !
do not think this portion OF tne resolnh,rna
years that the city VIII reduce the fare
10 3 cents. or possibly cert3 TOR each
ordinance in the nature of contract
providing for hxed fare Of cents, would
create arother series OF contentious Dc,
tween the street railway company aud
the city OF Houston, if, Mt any time, u
the wisdom OF the council, 1t should see
nt TO reduce the rate Of fare 70 DC charged
by the street railway company.
Z. Section 3 Of the resolution provides
that the company shall make TO the city
an annual payment. equal to ! per cent
after july ' iso2, for e passenger V Service
within the city limits to be apportioned
TO the total mileage operated within aud
without the city limits, which shall be IN
lieu OF all assessments, except ordinary
al ydlorem taxation. and tho cost of paw
ing and Improving the streets under the
! present city cnarter. Provided. however
! that the said payment shall never be less
/ than $500 per year; aud II the city shall
| hereafter levy, or be hereafter authorized
/ by the legislature. to levy any tax upon
I the compnnys gross receipts or any other
/ special tax OF any kind or require the
4 payment Of any greater portion Of costs Of
| paving or improving the streets, than that
! required by the present city charter, then
] the amount of such payment that may he
/ made TO the city Of Houston by the com.
pany, shall be deducted from any payments
\ herein stipulated for, out Of the gross re-
1 celpts,
This section of said resolution contains
some very broad aud sweeping provisions,
/ farreaching In their effects, and | con
slider the following objections or amend
ments. to cover the same to this section
. of said resolution entirely proper,
l. 1t will he seen that the offer Of /
per cent OF me gross receipts APPLIES only
the mileage within the city limits bears
/ to the full amount OF the mileage Of said
company, within and without the city
limits The company has considerable
ntenge without the city limits, and. / IN
derstnnd, contempates at al early day.
the extension Of its outside lines. Every
limits. therefore viii reduce the amount
e be received, If the city should accept
the l per cent of the gross receipts.
i for the examination Of The c6mpany's
books, to ascertain what the amount Of
the gross receipts are, or Will be, for any
/ current year. II the citT is to accept |
per cent of the gross receipts to that
extent 1t becomes partner In the opera
non OF sand concern aud provisions should
he made for the definite ascertainment.
I by the city officials OF the amount of
gross receipts of said company.
q Because said section provides that
C. gross receipts Of said company shall
/ operate an extingulshmcnt of every species
T. Of taNoton, or assessments. except ordi
I nary al talorem ta3ation and the cost
g Of paving and improving the streets, under
. the present city charter.
@ Tie adoption Of this section, MS written
i might have the effect of cHemptIng said
j. company from the payment of any fran
!. chise tax, or special tax Of any kind
herein. and It Is The purpose as / under
}. stand II now of the present administra
n lion, ut the next session of the legls!u
ture to have the charter so amended rs t,
g provide for the collection of franchise
~ taxes
n Section 3 of said resolution guarantees
D.. minimum OF 5000 per year. as the na
revenue 10 the city, nccrung from tn
r. a}meut of ! per cent of the gross re
~ ceipts of said street railway company. 4
ii the charter Is amended, as suggested above
Il and the valuation of the franchise Of tn,
40 street railway company should bee hXcd a
~ SlW"OOo, the present tax levied, boiu,
NJ per cent. II Will be seen that the ta'
M occrung from the franchise Tux non
VI would be 5000 per year 1t is within tn
" power of the legislature to authorize til
IN city to collect certain percentage Of tn
~ gross receipts of the railway company
,e without adopting the ordinance based upo
y the resolution, making the payment of
~ per cent OF the gross receipts cOutarct
lG which might emharrHss the city In en-
w forcing future charter amendments.
% Becnuse section g. of said RESOLUTION
provides that the payment of said tax o
~ ! per cent unon the gross receipts of sal
lc company, shall relieve said company Of al
ne assessments. or taxes. or special tax q
us any k'ud, except ordinary AZ vaorcg
ne taxes, and that said street railway con
ne PAM shall not be required to pay an
ne greater portion of the cost Of paving. q
Improving the streets than that require
~ 10y the present city charter.
te The adoption Of this section Of said rcst
"a luton as written. would have the enc,
ny Of making the city contract with the sire,
,e- railway company, not hereafter to amen
an the charter, SO as to Increase the amour
he OF paving To be paid for by said compan,
St ana would commit me, city, In the futuu
ce TO tho present provisions Of the cit
to charter
rs Members of the council are, doubles
aware Of the fact that the present lltlgi
npfWpnn hp apt -