The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-07
SpscisI Street Railway Committee
Agrees Upon a Report.
MINORITY REPORT ALSO PROBABLE
Majority Report WIN Favor a Settlement
Along Lines Proposed Three Weeks
Ago--opinions Expressed.

Provided the city council adopts the ma
jority report OF the special street railway |
committee at its session tomorrow after
noon. the long pending settlement between |
the city Of Houston and the Houston Flee |
trie company. operating the street railway |
system In this city. will be effected
AZ the council chamber yesterday after |
nocn the special committee OF the council. |
consisting Of Aldermen Street Keller, {
Jopes, KohlhauI aud Thompson. Mr.. Wall
being absent, met President Baldwin and
Manager Payne Of the street railway COM
pany. Mayor Holt and City Attorney Stone 4
were also present during the entire meet I
ina The session was not open TO the :
public.
The report which the committee will 1
recommend TO the council is now in course
OF preparation. 1t win he accompanied by !
a minority report submitted by Alderman Z
Thompson. While the committee was IN .
session there were several lively TITS auu ,
the report viii not 20 through the council /
without eneountering some strong opposi /
tiCn.
A city official IN close touch with the
members Of the council gives Il as bis /
opinion that settlement Is at hand aud (
ina. the friends Of the proposition nov be
rore the council have secured enough votes
to guarantee the adoption OF the najorit
report, which proposes q settlement uluus
the lines suggested by Alderman street
three weeks ago.
WHAT THE MAJORITY FAVOR.
The majority report Of the committee
viii Recommend O settlement OF the paving
suits pending in the courts upon the teguls
OF the present charter and estimates by
the city engineer.
An immediate adoption OF a transfer sys
TEN By the company.
The payment OF / per cent OF the gross
receipts Of the company to the city during
the remaining twenU-threc years Of tie
pp ss5s- contract and per eept during
Aha extension ~ the railway lines i've
nlleo within three years and the placing
o. vettIbuleS on the cars Tor prUtecu.4
OF mosormen.
The settlement 81 the paving suits Il Is
stated by Chairman Street viii net the city
over &5bOJ9 IN cash, will provide Tor q
prompt payment Oh the part OF the com
pany OF all future assessments for the pay
ing or streets where their lines run, such
payments "a be based upon any provisions
oi any future charter adopted by the city.
lhe compromise Of the cases now In the
courts Is also looked upon as cTccting a
saving OF valuable time and much money.
THE PERCENTAGE PLAN.
privilege tax which the company declares
1t is willing to pay Is regarded by the
majority Of the members OF the commit.
tee with favor It is upon this specific
provision that the principal disagreement
sprSng up yesterday afternoon. The com.
pSny guarantees that the amount paid
the city will not be less than $500 in any
one year.
Mr. Street estimates that the city would
receive 5000 the nrst year and upon Il
basis OF the company increasing; It's bust
meas per cent each year. the city would
receive In the period Of thirty three years
total Of oyer, $4,000. The company
agrees 10 give the city the percentage on
not only the receipts within the city, but
upon all interurhan liucs now in operation
such as tho Drummer and Houston Heights
unes, and Upon all lines that may be built
during the life OF their franchise The
per cent OF tho receipts on these lines to
he paid 70 the city is 20 be based upon
The report will stlpuatc that Immediate.
" upon the hHal 0cti 10 OF the C. uICll anl
the extension or the franchise IA a trans.
compan This is ono % ia, rcquir,in MT
upon e mnRnv { at 70 cltiz. MS nave
long insls ed upon.
The question OF the sxte sion Of the m.
pan, 3 lines within IN ctl limits viii bt
settled by quirement that two mills ni
addltional trnck be In operation within QUO
wear from the d, IL of gran ing the eyten
sion or ten years pnd three additional
mica e track to be IN operation wi hir
the next two 80, rs, making n total tiy,
miles OF new trnck In the period Of thrc,
years. This trek e. be put d wn wher,
most needed by residents OF the city Tn,
company wi make this Ntensl n wit on
any charge to property owners along thos,
routes
The petition Of thu mot,rmen tia. tn,
compap place ycsti' ulcs on It's cars Is I,
be complied with In case Of set lcment.
WHAT OFFICIALS SAY.
City Attorney Stone and Mayor Holt wer
non'eommittal gnrdiug their views upol
the possible action OF the council NOR
row.
One Of the committeeman said: II Zee
sure the que tion will be settled aud alon
the iine which is known TO be- satisfactor
20 the company and In accorl with tn
best Interests OF the city. But then, No
can't tell what the councils vote viii be
President G, j. BALDWIN ~ the sire,
railway company was apparently muc
pleased over the action Of the committee
he ssid; 81 am very hopefu e reachin
an immediate settlement ~ all questions a
issue between TIVE city and the company
The recent strike has demonstrated that "
are pubic necessity.
There Is no reason In the worI tyhy tn
city an the company s Guild rot hp IA,
momons. Once We got all dlnicntle
Gle red away, II vii me q a hett r Ser, ic
II VII moan that the city and q. mpa en-
work 10 their mutual bepeft ana that ~
taxR yers win resp large returns
The company stands ready 10 meet m
city more than half way in this matter q
settlement"
President BALDWIN departed from Hon,