The Lake County times., 1907-01-30
Street Car Co. Balks on Ex-
change of Transfers With
South Bend Line.
SCHROEDER REPORTS
Members of Committee Appointed to
See Cameron for Standard Steel
Extension-States Terms.

The street car company has ex-
pressed its willingness to enter into
a unique agreement with the city of
Hammond. regarding the extension of it's
line on Conkey avenue in order to
give transportation to the employees
of the Standard Steel Sar company.
The company is willing to promise"
that they will honor transfers of the
Chicago, Lake Shore & South Bend
Railway company Ito a certain extent"
but they are not willing to embody this
promise in their franchise with the
city.
Moreover the company exacts the
same rights and privileges from the
city as those 1t already holds in it's
fifty year franchise which would
mean that the franchise for the ex-
tension would expire simultaneously
with its other franchise,
Jacob Schroeder brought out these
facts at the meeting of the city coun-
ell last night when he presented the
report of the committee appointed by
the council to wait upon the officials
of the Hammond. Whiting & East Chi
cago Street Car company with a view
to securing the desired extension OF the
company's lines. Alderman Schroeder
was inclined to be willing to accept
this promise" in the absence of any
thing more binding.
The meeting last night was sort
of feeler for Mayor Becker in order
to get the consensus of opinion of the
council members on the question. Opin-
ions were given, some readily and some
more reluctantly. The leaning of the
council is toward granting the fran
chise. This, however, does not include
John Kane. Mr.. Kane is decidedly
against any move that will give the
street car company any further privil-
eges in Hammond, especially under the
franchise that it now holds. The es-
sence of his talk last night was u
for one am going to stand by the tax
/ payers and I don't think that it is
right for this council to give way to
a company which is treating the peo-
! pie of Hammond as it does We were
elected on a platform that did not
harmonize with that of the old coun-
Gil, and 1 don't think it is right for us
to do the exact thing that it did"
When the mayor asked for other
opinions on the subject John Becker
advised a little more time for consid-
GRAFTON. Jacob Schroeder thought if
there is nothing else to be done the
council should grant the franchise, and
get at least a promise that the Gamer
on lines would accept transfers from
crossing lines. Council Eastwood said
that he is inclined to hesitate before
giving away any more of the rights
of way. Mayor Becker then spoke and
tried to show in figures and arguments
that while the stand that Mr. Kane has
taken was the theoretical and ideal
one that It was not the practical one
Mayor Becker is for granting the
franchise and anticipating the howl OF
"grafters" from the chronic kicker
the mayor has stolen the latter's
thounder by admitting he expected it
Mayor Becker said in part; This
council can't afford to be a knocke1
or a blocker. You know that the
Standard Steel Car company must have
transportation and must have 1t i'm.
mediately. l gave my word of honor
to Mr.. Hansen at New York last fall
and promised him transportation. OF
course at the time I thought that We
could get 1t for a twenty year fran.
chise. There is a big difference he.
tween giving away franchise on :
side street for a few blocks and givine
away the best streets of a city and ex.
cluding every other company" Her.
Councilman Schaaf chimed in and said
Mayor ven you haf promised vo1
shtick to your wordt. Go ahead. r.,
alright. The street car company don,
get much fon uns anyway"
Messrs Pascaly and Swanton though
that the benefit to the city would h.
greater than its loss by giving III,
franchise.
Before the street car question wa,
taken up Councilman Pasealy register
ed a kick" against the rotten gas
as he put it. that is now being furn
ished by gas company. Others in ri.
/, council intimated that the company /,
not furnishing the required two thous
: and candle power light and that II
/ fact 1t is unable to do so with II,
! present equipment. Some were in fa
vor of making a test, but 1t was noin+
ed out TO them that this could NOT h,
t done under much less than 81 600 an,
: that the expense at this time bardI,
| warranted 1t.
When Councilman Eastwood arosa +,
+ ask what this council could do n nra
vent railroad engines from whistlins
: while passing through Hammond. h,
was answered by Mayor Becker, VIII,
SAID that there is an ordinance pro
hiolting the whistling. but that it wa
up 70 governor Hanly's police depart
ment to enforce the ordinance. and tha
not too much can be expected from tn
department as it is kept busy to Sc
sthat all saloons are closed after J.