The San Francisco call., 1908-05-15
CALHOUN HIRELING
REFUSED FRANCHISE
Supervisors Decline to Give Per-
nit for Devisadero Line With
"JOkers" in Bill
Declare That Ordinance in Pres
ent Form Would Destroy
All Competition

The supervisors fwill not grant the
--~nchise for the proposed Devisadero
Mission crosstown line until
after the jokers in it are eliminated.
They are satisfied that the franchise
which was offered for sale by the
Doodle board and bid for by G. B. Will
cntt, secretary Of the United Railroads.
contains provisions that are intended
10 shut out competition. and that they
were placed in it for the express pur-
pose Of giving the corporation a val
uable right for practically no consid-
Grafton.
When the utilities committee, which
Is composed of .Gisnnini, Murphy and
McLeran, met yesterday afternoon to
consider the franchise, they were as
sisted in their deliberations by Muir
dock, Comte. Johnston, Payot. McAllis-
ter and Bancroft. At the conclusion OF
the hearing the members were unani-
nous in declaring that the franchise
would not be granted in itse present
form.
Murphy pointed out two Objectionable
clauses in the franchise. One of them
provides that another company may
operate over the lines for five blocks,
the distance. provided by the charter
II the terminal facilities of both COM
panies are the same This would pre-
vent an opposition line from tapping
the road at any point more than five
blocks distant from the terminals of
the Devisadero street road, which
privilege would be worthless. Murphy
also objected 10 granting the Willcutt
company a franchise over two blocks in
Valencia street, between Eighteenth
and Twentieth, as that section is also
intended to prevent a rival line from
traversing that street. II had been ad-
mitted by the United Railroads at a
previous meeting that it would build
the line If Willcutt secured the fran
chise. Murphy and his associates could
see no reason why the United Rail-
roads. which holds franchise for
Valencia street, should want the Will
cutt company to also get a right of way
over the same thorOughfare for the two
blocks If it were not for the purpose
Of shutting out possible competition,
Is the charter provides that only two
companies may use the same rails for
five blocks.
WANT CLAUSES LEFT
DR.. Smith. E. B. Carr and other repre-
sentatives of Improvement clubs that
advocate the granting of the franchise
10 Willeutt. said that If the two clauses
objected to were struck out the United
Railroads would not build the line, nor
would Willcutt bid for Ii.
Some one else WILL" replied Murphy.
Carr intimated that the supervisors
are being influenced against the fran
chise and was sharply ordered TO sit
down by Chairman Giannini.
we viii not tolerate any such talk
said Giannini. We are the representa-
tives OF the people and we viii protect
their rights"
IF the gentlemen who are here ad-
vocating the granting Of the franchise -
said Murphy. would use their influence
with the United Railroads and try to
have that corporation live up to the
charter something might be accom-
plished. ] do not question the honesty
or sincerity Of the gentlemen, but they
10 not see or understand the situation
as we do. These clauses in the fran
chise are nothing more than precau-
tions taken by the corporation to pre-
vent competition"
McLeran. Johnston and Murdock said
that while they recognized the need of
better car facilities in the sections
that would be benefited by the new
road. they would not vote to grant
franchise that was not in accordance
with the charter. The franchise under
discussion. they considered. had been
drawn in the hope OF evading the char
ter.
The supervisors present then unani-
mously agreed that the Objectionable
clauses in the franchises must be
stricken out before il is awarded to
Willcutt or any other bidder. They
promised TO reduce their objections to
writing in order that the improvement
clubs might. If they so desired, call
them to the attention of the United
Railroads, and IL possible secure the
desired changes
The matter Of granting the United
Railroads permission to operate its
trolley cars over the outer rails in
Market street from Sansome to the
ferry landing in consideration of the
corporation extending its line from the
Third and Townsend street terminal
TO the new Mail dock was next taken
up and quickly disposed of by the
opinion of the supervisors that no such
barter should be made with the cor
poration.
MAKE NO DICKER
I'VE viii grant them a franchise
from Third street to the Mail dock
without any consideration" said Muir
ply.
But the company won't extend its
line IL il is not given the Market street
permit" said McAllister. l"In a con-
versation with me a few days ago."
added McAllister. "Thornwell Mutually
said that the United Railroads didn't
care If IL got the franchise TO the Mail
dock. He said that it was getting the
nickels now without the expense Of
building the additional two and a half
blocks OF track.
There is no other line from the
dock said Mullally, and the people
have to walk 70 our cars If they want
TO ride. for there is no other road for
them to patronize.'
The supervisors. while deprecating
the attitude Of the United Railroads,
decided to recommend that a franchise
be granted 10 extend its lines from
Third street to the Mail dock.
IF il doesn't build" said Murphy,
I'VE may be able to find a way to COM
pei the extension.
The matter Of extending the permit
10 operate trolley cars over the outer
rails in Market street from Sansome
10 the ferries was not considered
President Boeckman of the Sutter
street company. which holds a fran
chlse to run horse cars over the rails,
was positive that neither his company,
which Murphy styled "a ghost corpora
ton nor the United Railroads would
pay the city anything for the trolley
permit. lie thought that the added