The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-04-26
TWO VOTES IN NAY COLUMN.
Aldermen Schroeder and MahO-
valid Against Ordinance.
NJ. G. WILLARD FIGHTS TO END.
No Changes of Any Importance Made
ut Last Nights Session of
the City Fathers


From Saturdays Daily.
The street railway franchise ordinance
was passed by the council last night by
Il vote of four TO two. in practically
the same form as agreed upon at the
informal meeting Thursday night. All
of the amendments to the ordinance that
were agreed upon then were Incorporated
into the rewritten ordinance, just as
outlined by The Free Press in detail
yesterday. The ordinance as passed is
published officially in another part of
this issue, and the citizens can not only
read it in full, but can cut it out and
preserve it for reference. As amended
and passed, most of the objections that
have been raised are eliminated. The
question of the Use of the bridge was
the only one that caused division. and
this is matter of policy rather than
one of law. The street railway people,
the council and the Commercial club
committee all showed a disposition to be
fair, make concessions and get together.
| 1t is now up to the street railway peo
its share. and it I'D SITS with the promot-
ers and their eastern connections to say
whether Mankato shall have street
railway.
The lobby was crowded last night dur
inc the several hours that the council
was in session. Other business was got
ten out of the way first, and it was
past nine O'Clock before the franchise
ordinance was taken up. 1t was nearly
midnight when-=Ehe council got through.
The crowd was IN favor of the pas
sage of the ordinance. There could be
no doubt about that, from the manner
III which the different speakers were re-
ceived Hearty applause followed what
ever was said or done favorable to the
ordinance. while NJ. G. Willard, who
seemed to stand out alone i'll opposition
to the passage of the ordinance, was
corded demonstrations of displeasure
when he spoke that would have dis
couraged anyone less persistent. The au-
dience evidently thought that he was
raising objections rather for the pur-
pose of killing the ordinance than i'll
an earnest and disinterested effort TO
better it. Whether it was right OF
wrong, every suggestion that he made
was disregarded. In only one instance
that was one OF several made by DR..
f. L. Schmauss.
Ordinance Offered.
Aid Atchison offered the rewritten
street railway ordinance.
City Attorney Schmitt presented re-
port of the committee on ordinances III
amending the ordinance, and which was
fully reported by The Free Press yes
terday The bridge clause of the Man
kato & st. Peter railroad franchise had
been adopted, he said. The street rail-
way franchise was to run for twenty
years. The council is to determine upon
what terms interurban railroads are to
enter the city. subject to review by the
court. An electrolysis provision was
added Some people had favored having
Minnesota the place of the Incorporation,
brought in the state court instead of Ill
the federal court for one reason. Mr..
Schmltt said that there is no prohlpi-
ton upon the company assigning the
franchise to IA foreign company, so moth
ing would be gained by such pro-
vision.
Aid. Atchison moved that the report
be adopted. =
Remonstrance Read.
AID Schroeder requested the city re
corder to read the remonstrance of l40
residents of the north half of the city
against allowing the street railway com
pany to have the use of the bridge.
This was dated March 8, and was the
one presented to the old council.
The motion was adopted.
Aid. Atchison moved that the ordi-
nance be placed upon its first reading,
and this was done. {. W, Mcclure Of
Chicago, representative of the street
railway interests. read the ordinance at
the request of the city recorder.
Advised Caution.
Mavor Andrews said that no more i'm
portant matter had come before the
council in years and cautioned the al
dermen to give the matter their best
Judgment. He was glad that SO many