Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-12
Interurban Ordinance Will Be
Amended and Election Petit
ton Passed Upon
HANDS OF MEMBERS ARE SHOWN
Councilman Henry Seeks to Delay
Matters, But Motion Fails to Secure
a second-shops and Power House
Located Here-Aotion of First Reg
uIar Meeting.

The amended franchise ordinance o.
the Marshailtown Electric, ;treet &
| Interurban Railway Company came be,
fore the council Monday night, pre-
scented by Mr.. Abbott, OF the Second
and action was postponed until Wed
nesday evening. upon the suggestio.
of City Solicitor Van Law, who desires
| to alter the phraseology of the intro
to have ii conflict with the action al
ready taken by the voters, when fran
chise was granted. The ordinance as
amended broadens the local scope OF
! the company. and calls for the main
itenance In Marshalltown of not only
the Headquarters" as originally stated
but the location of the shops, principa!
or central power house. car barn and
other adjuncts, in this city.
The portion that Mr. Van Law wishes
to alter is that which deals with the
time limitation of the amendment. The
original ordinance fixed the life of the
franchise at twenty-five years, ami
dated from July 13. 1903. The amend
ment, as prepared, specified twenty
five years. but said nothing thas indi-
Gated that the date vas to commence
from last July. If the amended ordi-
rance had been adopted without that
change, the city solicitor feared the
council might be oyerstepping its pow :
er. In granting something that only the
people, by vote. had the right to do.
General Manager Il. A. F'errin, of the
company, was called upon by the eoun
ell to make a statement of the work.
as ii had SO far progressed, and also
make plain the necessity of immediate
action. Mr.. Ferrin said that j. G..
White & Co, the eastern financing
contractors who had expressed a will
#ingness TO foster the Marshalltown
proposition. We're anxious TO begin their
work, and had already assigned a
corps of engineers to work in the To-
cal field. Final action this week wouiI
allow the registry board to be in SEES
sion and the election could be held
IN two weeks. White & Co. have stated
that il the Marshalltown end were
satisfactorily cared for within the pres
ent month. the engineers could COM
plete the survey in time to begin The
work OF construction this season. Tia
other towns and communities on the
proposed line are ready to vote their
tax and are only waiting the closing
up of the Marshalltown end. Mr.. Fer
rim also explained that the use of the
ambiguous word "headquarters" had
been made in the best of faith. and that
The company had not, at any time, had
any thought of making any other town
than Marshalltown the principal seat
of the road, and maintaining its power
house, shops and barns here. He said
the company was as anxious as the
public that the ordinance should be
amended in order that there should be
no question raised
Shows His Hand.
Councilman Harry showed his hand
Immediately after Mr. Ferrin had con-
cluded his talk urging this necessity for
immediate action. Mr.. Henrys action
would indicate that he was bound and
determined TO do everything in his
POWER to delay matters. Mr. Psenicka,
it Isl considered, moved to
postpone further consideration of the
ordinance one week. or until the 18th.
Mr.. Webster asked the city solicitor
how long it would take to make the
change he had suggested, and If it
could be done by Wednesday. Mr.. Van
Law replied that the two days would
be sufficient time.
Following Mr.. Psenicka's motion Mr..
Henry jumped to his feet and moved
that when the council adjourned 1t
would adjourn until Monday night,
Arr 1Jn no,
Webster moved that when the council
adjourned it would adjourn until We'd
Desday evening at S o'clock This was
carried, each member voting aye with
the exception Of Mr.. Henry. Mr. Web
ster followed his motion with another,
moving that the ordinance be referred
to the judiciary committee and city So
licitor. This was also carried.
Later Mr.. Inglsdue presented the Pc
tdtion of the company, signed by resi-
dent free holders, asking that the coun-
Gil call a special election. The petition
contains the signatures of 999
resident free hold tax payers.
100 or more than the number need
ed for a majority. Accompanying the
petition was list of all the resident
free holders, compiled from the books
of the treasurer and assessor, In order
that the work of comparison might be
facilitated. Mr. Ingledue accompanied
the presentation of the petition with a
as follows:
''Be it resolved by the city council
of Marshalitown, Iowa. that the petition
filed by the Marshalltown Electric,
Street and Interurban Railway Com
pany, asking that the question of aiding
the construction of an interurban rail-
way by said company by means of a |
tax levy, be submitted to the voters of |
the city of MarshalltoWn, be and Is
hereby referred to the Judiciary COM
mittee of this council for investigation I
as to the qualification of the signatures |
thereto attached and that such commit |
tee shall report their findings with ref |
IN adjourned meeting on Wednesday |
evening, April Is, 1904, at s O'clock"
Mr.. Kreutzer had an amendment to I
he effect that instead of referring to /
he Judiciary committee the petition be
'efewed TO the committee of the whole. |
Mr. Henry seconded the amendment,
which was killed, only the maker of the
t.
MIR. Henry also had an amendment |
when the ordinance was first present
"a by Mr.. Abbott. 1t was to the effect |
hat if the company ceased to maintain
IS headquarters and shops In Mar !