The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-01
|APOLICEMAN KHLED|DOUBLE KNOCKOUT
For Alderman Powers Three-Cent
Car Fare Ordinance.
BETTER SERVICE IS PROMISED
Two Minutes Between Cars ON the
Old Intcrurban Morning and
Evening.

The Powers three-cent rare ordinance
was effectually smothered by the council
last night, The special commit tee APP
pointed to discuss its merits met in the
afternoon and by the vote of to decided
to recommend it's indefinite postponement.
The council in turn voted to postpone in
definitely the committees report. No coun-
ever known to revive after
such an effective knockout, and presum-
ably the three-cent fare movement for
those who have to stand on street cars
is dead Alderman Powers, at least so
takes it, as later in the eveningFhe came
to the front with another relief measure,
resolution directing the street railway
company to operate on and after March 1,
on all it's lines in the city, between $50
and $3.50 a. m. and and p. m. double
the number of cars now in use. This
resolution went to another special COM
mittee of one alderman from each ward,
with Powers again as chairman.
The three cent measure was not only
summarily killed last night, but Alderman
Powers was not allowed to speak It's obit
uaryssO to get himself and others on
record. He was all primed to submit a
minority report and force vote on it,
but was skilfully Unanswered out of po-
sition by Alderman Dwyer, who on the
presentation Of the majority report
jumped in with motion to postpone the
report The motion prevailed by the vote
q
the measure on principle, believing that
1t was not the right method to get re-
forms in the street car service. Others
of legal cast Of mind believed it was
not a valid ordinance and could not be
enforced. City Attorney Healy took this
view of the case.
Has a Better Chance.
Alderman Powers new proposition to
compel the company to double the number
Of cars now in service is looked upon as
a more reasonable measure and if the al
dermen continue in their present frame
| of mind toward the company and the stu
| alton the chances are that it will 20
| through. The council has full power under
| the charter to regulate street car service,
and 1t is the sole judge of the necessities
of the case. But it is contended by the
legal experts that the council has no
power to compel reduction of fare.
Mr.. Goodrich Under Fire.
Vice President Goodrich of the company
| was present at the afternoon session o.
the committee and was sharply cross
examined by several aldermen, who TOLD
| narrowing stories Of their experiences OF
street cars in the last few months, anG
wanted definite understanding of wha
| the company proposed to do to Improve
| the service and when 1t was to be done
| Mr.. Goodrich explained the situation
frankly. The service was very mad
! equate, he admitted, and no one appre
ciated that fact better than the compan!
| did. The diminished receipts told tn,
| story eloquently.. But the company wa
| doing the best it could under the circum
| stances. There were cars enough of on
| kind or another, but there was not sufh
| cient power to operate them, and no i'm
provement in this regard was possible TO-
at least thirty days, when the new stor
age batteries ordered would be in place
He assured the committee that then Their
would be thorough revision Of the SEIZED
ule and a service equal to the necessi
ties.
Several aldermen tried hard to pin MI
Goodrich down to definite promise Q
what the service would be on certain line
after thirty days, but after Alderma
Chatfeld got from him a promise Of
two-minute schedule on the, old interur
ban line he evaded committing himse]
any farther. ...- 49,
In view of the company's desperat
straits, the committee decided that it wa
wise to not force things pending develop
| ments, and voted to postpone the meaSur
Indefinitely. Alderman Powers still in
sisted. however, that his ordinance,
passed, would have the effect of hasten
ing the day Of reform, and stood by it t
the last. Four others of the committe
|
Mumm, N. J. Nelson and Peter. Nelson
Alderman N. j. Nelson would go one ste
farther. He thought free fares for thos
who stand about the proper thing, an
presented an amendment to that effec
But only two others stood with him.
Lanes Resolution Killed.
"A resolution, fathered by Alderma
Lane requiring that all heads Of depart
! mentS report in advance to the cOunc
all prospective purchases>in their depart
; ments and that the matter be then re
ferred to the proper committee, cause
some guessing among the aldermen las
night before It's meaning was seized.
Alderman Lane refused to explain, de
claring that the others could draw the1
own differences. Presumably the resolu
| OF ioH1z OF hood b