The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-21
Say They Cannot Conduct Peace Ne
eOtiatiOns and Fight at the
Same Time.
MAYOR MAKES A STATEMENT
SAYS RAILROADS HAVE AN EXCUSE,
NOT REASON.
Compromise Measure to Authorize
Agreement Only May BE Proposed
-Grade.Crossing Commission.

The grade-crossing question has reached
a crisis. In forty-eight hours the rail-
roads may be in open hostility to the city
on the question of legislation. The bill
sent to the House on Thursday by Mayor
Bookwalter and introduced by Representa-
tive Muir is the cause of the crisis.
1t is understood that the conference be-
tween the city and the railroads yesterday
afternoon practically severed the relations
between them. The city was represented
by Messrs. Megrew, Logsdon and Mcguire,
of the Board Of Public Works. Mayor
Bookwalter was not present.
The railroads, it is understood, offered
several suggestions along the line of legis-
lation. which the board said it would not
entertain and indicated that it would stand
on the Muir bill The railroads then an
nounced that their bill was not ready to
submit as, while they had agreed in gen.
eral they were not committed to the par
ticular measure reported by the subcommit-
tee and would not be ready to submit
it until Monday.
The city officials received this as a no.
tice that the railroads wanted to further
consider the subject before entering on
war against the Muir bill. The city off,
Gals regard the breach as practically sew
erng relations.
Mayor Bookwalter said last night that
the railroads were exaggerating the situa-
ton. II had meeting with the roads
a week ago Thursday he said, land
worthy gentlemen representing them told
me they would go to work a bill repre-
senting their theory of legislation When
had not even seen the bill spoken of
and when / realized that it was becom-
ing a question of hours instead of days
to secure the passage of any law / made
up my mind to introduce the measure
which Mr.. Hay prepared and secure its
advance so that when the railroads were
ready they could have the opportunity
before the committee of securing such
amendments were reasonable. knew
il / waited for them to report their bill
Friday at a conference IL meant Monday
before it could be introduced. / do not
feel that they have been treated in bad
faith at all. If they insist on that why
| can only accept their statements as an
excuse. not reason.
SEEKING POLICE POWER.
"A bill introduced Monday could not have
got through the houses without a suspen-
sion of the rules. So l figured that there
was not a moment TO lose and that my duty
required me to send the bill over for intro
duction. / am committed TO nothing that
will stand in the way of a settlement of
this question. The roads have the opportu-
nifty to secure hearing before the commit
tee and have all that they are rightfully
entitled to inserted. But they must remem-
ber that track elevation is not a thing that
rests wholly on the shoulders of the people
The people are simply seeking the authority
to exercise their police power. We are not
going into a court of equity. but are merely
asking the power to require elevation in a
practicable manner. In view of all the CIR
cumstances / feel that the railroads have
been too quick to charge bad faith | sin.
cerely trust they will examine the bill Intro
duced closely. If Ii Is wrong or unjust In
any way let them say where. and if il Is
wrong or unjust no one will be more
pleased to correct IL than /. believe the
railroads will yet see the city's attitude In
the right light
After the conference between the road,
and the Board of Public Works, which wa.
AZ the Office Of Receiver Malott, Of the Van
dalia road John T. Dye. general counse
for the Big Four said. ..The city I'm intro
6ucing the bill took a step that seems hos
tie to the railroads. Negotiations between