Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-21
Minority Report on Bond Issue Is
Smothered by Adjourn
ment.
MARTIN IN HIS USUAL MOOD
Evening Failed 10 Pass without His
Customary Showing of III Temper
Telephone License Considered.

ne majority members OF the COun-
Gil as IL body, Councilman Black indi-
vidually. and Recorder Moreton clor-
ically, were guilty of despicable work
last night In the matter of resolution
sought to be introduced by members
of the minority The sequel showed
that the men who are in favor of the
100000 bond issue We're afraid to let
the other side be heard In protest for
the document presented for consider
ation was strongly antagonistiC to the
propoSitin to further increase the
city's Indebtedness at this time in the
manner indicated
1t was Black who was indirectly re-
sponsible for motion to adjourn at a
time when to do so was not only an
act of discourtesy, but manlfestly I'M
just as well, though the motion was
made by Stewart. Just before the
time came for presentation of resolu-
tons, Black reached over to the desk
of a newspaper man and took paper
that proved to be "A copy of the reso-
lutions prepared by the minority He
refused to return it until he had close
ly perused its contents. He then
moved quickly among his colleagues
and hurried whisperings were heard.
When the recorder called for reSolu-
tions, Councilman Fernstrom arose.
q resolution that he desired to pre-
sent, and having recognition of the
chair he laid the paper before the re-
cordcr and asked him to read 1t. Re-
turning to his chair, Mr.. Fernstrom
stood awaiting the reading. Stewart
whispered something in the recorders
ear, and the latter took up other reso-
lutions and had read one or two brief
ones when Mr.. Fernstrom asked that
his resolution be considered, Stewart
arose at once and moved for an adj
iournment, which motion was carried
over protest of the six minority MEM
bers.
HURRY IN MAJORITY.
Fifteen minutes would have finished
the business of the evening in proper
order, among the matters yet to be
considered being the weekly approprl-
atoms. So eager were the majority
members to adjourn that they paid no
heed to a request from the recorder to
take a recess until Thursday evening,
that the needed measures might be
considered before the week was out.
Black was called down" in strong
language by the newspaper man from
whom he had filched the resolution. He
was told that he had no more right to
with the papers Of reporter
than the latter had to rummage
through the desk of the bury council
man from the Fifth. and he was told
that he must never attempt such u
thing again.
Prior to the bond resolution episode
and scarcely less exciting when being
was the debate on the
franchises and amended franchises of
the Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone
and the independent Tele-
phone company, respectively. When
the former proposition was reached,
Mr.. Stewart moved TO strike out the
enacting clause and in this stand he
was supported by Mr.. o'Donnell.
OPPOSED TO MOTION.
Mr. Fermstrom opposed the motion
and gave a lucid explanation of the
subject under discussion. He said that
while some contend that the Bell COM
pany has no franchise in Salt Lake
City, the company insists that they
have a perpetual franchise, and tho
latter view is shared by some of the
best legal lights of the city, including
three former attorneys for the NUM- |
cipality. Present council for the city |
Is rather In doubt on the subject. In
The franchise prepared by the NUM- |
ripal laws committee now sought to DO |
passed, Mr. Fernstrom said provision |
was made TO end any franchise claimed |
by the Bell company at the expiration
VI luSlI COlDOlilS nv, Ia 1900. luIS
was agreed to by the company and IL |
was the first time that such a con-
cession could be obtained by the city |
in that direction. and he therefore
considered it victory for the NUM- |
cipality. Furthermore, the company |
had never paid any license or tax 9TH |
ar than giving the free use of num- |
Der of telephones. Now II had been |
that the Bell company should |
not only continue giving the city free |
use of upwards of 40 telephones, but |
Il was to pay tax or one per cent |
)n its gross earnings. He considered |
the city had done well in the matter |
and should let we'll enough alone. If |
the company was forced to pay so cents |
license on each telephone, they would |
raise the price to patrons, and the |
council could not prevent them do |
ng so.
MIR HALLS VIEW.
Mr.. Hall opposed consideration OF |