The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-03
Local Shippers and City Off,
ClaIS Do Not Understand the
Action of the T. H. |. & 6.
Officials.
DEUKER'S POSITION
MATTER OF COMMENT.
Had Copy of Traction Lines
Franchise Containing the
Free Street Clause in His
Pocket.

Local shippers and city officials are
quite wrathful at the action of the
officials of the Terre Haute. Indiana
polls & Eastern tratcion company in
insisting on the insertion of an objec-
tionable clause in the franchise agree
ment after they had signed the agree
ment. The clause referred to. and
which the board of public works posi-
lively refuses to consider. provides
that the company shall have the right
to operate its passenger cars over
Main street and all other streets in
the city not now occupied by lines of
the company.
City officials are also considerably
mystified over the action of Council
man Henry w. Deuker. who has
played an active part in the effort
made by local shippers To have the
traction company and the city reach
satisfactory agreement.
Peculiar Action.
Monday evening. few minutes af-
ter Mr. Deuker had communicated to
the board OF public works and the II.
p. A. and Commercial Club that he
had just been informed over the long
distance telephone that the officers of
the traction company would insist on
the insertion in the franchise of the
Objectionable clause referred to, he
produced copy of a franchise con-
tanning this clause. City Attorney
Study Immediately asked Mr.. Deuker
where he obtained this copy. Mr..
Deuker replied that the traction COM
pany had sent 1t to him several days
ago. but he made no explanation why
he had never shown ii to the board
or to the T. p. A. and Commercial
Club committees.
If the franchise copy held by Mr..
Deuker was one prepared by the trac-
ton company containing provisions
acceptable to ii, the city officials and
the shippers can not understand why
the company signed a franchise agree
ment prepared by the city which did
not contain the clause providing for
the operation of traction cars over
Main street and other streets in the
city not now occupied by car lines.
Study's Opinion.
Mr.. Study is of the opinion that
the traction company had more than
one reason for demanding that the
city make the company a present of
it's streets. The Dayton and Western
branch of the Ohio syndicate has
lease from the Terre Haute. Indian
polls & Eastern to operate cars over
its Main street lines. The Dayton &
Western took this lease because IL
had no franchise rights on Main
street. Now the city contends that
the T. H., |. & L. has under it's pres
ent franchise no right to operate trac-
tion cars over Main street and this
point is now in litigation in the Indian
apolis Federal court.
Under the terms Of the lease the
Dayton & Western holds with the T.
H.. & E. 1t pays to the latter COM
pany one cent for each passenger
hauled in and out of the city and a
certain amount for each ton of freight
hauled in and out of the city.
Should the city give the T. H., I.
& E. franchise which gave them
the right TO operate passenger trac-
/ ton cars on Main street and every
other street in the city, and freight
cars on North E street, the com
pany. in the opinion of Mr.. Study.
could raise the amount of tribute"
the D. & w. pays for hauling pass
/ engers and freight in and out OF the
| city If the d. & w baked on this
holdup the T. H., I. & 4. would be in
a position to say, We control all OF
| the streets and can keep out OF the
city any traction line which wants TO
enter Richmond. We will keep you
out unless you cough up"