The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-06
Senator Thompson Succeeds In Re-
storing to Original Bill Sections
Emasculated by the House.
RAILROAD ATTORNEYS ANGRY
THEY DECLARE THAT ALLEGED
AGREEMENT HAS BEEN VIOLATED.
City May Order Improvements IL No
Contract Can Be Made-Proba-
BILE House Action.

Senator Charles N. Thompson won q
sweeping victory for the city of Indianap-
oils yesterday afternoon. The Senate COM
pletely undid the work of the House COM
mittee on the affairs of the city OF Indian
apolis in emasculating the Muir track ele-
vation bill, and restored to the measure
those provisions which set out that the
city shall have power to order the railroads
to elevate or depress, as the case may be,
provided that no agreement can be reached
with them by the city. A second amend
ment provides that the Circuit Court may
determine the amount of cost which shall
be borne by the city and the railroads,
respectively. in making the improvements.
The amendments put the bill back to the
shape in which it was originally introduced.
The Senate wasted little time in backing
up Senator Thompson. The bill was called
up third reading. Senator Thompson
offered the amendments, they were adopted
with little opposition and the elevated track
bill was then passed by vote of 80 to l.
The action of the Senate has aroused the
bitter anger OF the representatives of the
railroad companies. John b. Cockrum said
last night that the amendments represented
an outrageous violation of the agreement
which, he said had. been reached by the
city and the railroads. He denounced in
unmeasured terms the attitude of the In
dianapolis legislators. Senator Thompson
had talk with Mr.. Cockrum after the bill
had been passed by the Senate To Senator
Thompson Mr.. Cockrum expressed his opin-
ion fatty.
THOMPSON AND COCKRUM.
Mr.. Cockrum," said Senator Thompson,
"the agreement Of which you speak know
nothing about. 1 entered into no arrange
ment with any one. had no knowledge
that the city and the railroads had agreed
to do this or that L was not satisfied with
the Muir bill as IL came to the Senate from
the House and / believe that the people of
Indianapolis want the city to have broader
powers than the emasculated. Muir bill
provided. For that reason l changed the
bill"
1t is believed that the House will concur
in the Senate amendments to the Muir bill.
Representative Morgan was very active
yesterday afternoon among the members
of the House. endeavoring to create senti-
ment against concurrence. REPRESENTATIVE
Bamberger, who is strongly In favor of the
bin % as cha changed zee bs,,s by Senator Thompson.
Morgan will be the only member of the
Marion county delegation against concur
That the railroads will make one last
fight is certain. Prominent railroad at
torneys were very busy around the hotel
lobbies last night talking earnestly to rep-
resentatives, apparently urging that thev
oppose concurrence in the Senate amend
ments. One member of the House said last
night:
..I think the best thing we can do is IN
get through with this matter at once
that is, 10 concur In the Senate amend
ments and send the bill to the Governor II
the Marion county senator's and the ma
jority of the Marion county representa-
tives are in favor of giving their city broad
powers. why 1 should say let them have
their will. 1t is a matter which the In
dianapolis people should settle largely for
themselves.
The amendments which Senator Thomp
son got through restore to the substitute
Muir bill the last clause of Section of
the original bill and the whole of Section
3 of the original bill. They restore those
features of the original bill which aroused
the opposition of the railroads The first
amendment sets out what shall be done In
case the contract be not approved by the
Council. II reads:
In case the Common Council OF such