The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-24
MAY OPEN
 LEE STREET Proposition IS Submitted
 to Council.
 ~ CULVER MAKES STATEMENT Resolution Containing Railroads Demands Considered. Traction Company Matters Occupy Much Time And Cause Consider able Debate Among City
 Fathers Last Night.

Lee street. Montgomery's closest en- trance to the Union Passenger Station, which has been blocked for years by the Louisville and Nashville freight depot, may be opened up by the Louis- . vile and Nashville Railroad Company. It will be done by the railroad com- pany, provided certain rights are granted them on Moulton street.
 President Gaston Gunter. of the City Council, made the statement that Lee Street would be opened up at the meet ing of the City Council last evening In response to a resolution which he submitted to the council. He said he had good authority for making the statement.
 The resolution introduced by Presi- dent Gunter was for the city to grant to Frank Stollenwerck and the Louis ville and Nashville Railroad Company 100 more feet on Moultoh Street. which Is already closed with the consent of she abutting property owners.
 President Gunter stated that if the city granted the railroad company this extra 100 feet on Moulton Street, it would mean the tearing down or re- moval of the present warehouse at the foot of Lee Street and straight thoroughfare from the Bell building to the depot.
 The resolution introduced by Presi- dent Gunter was referred to the Com mittee on Streets and the Mayor. This proposition will be. given the most careful consideration by the city coun- ell and will no doubt be granted. as 1t means great thing for the city.
 The question of the re-opening of Lee Street has been agitated for the past six years or more, but the rail- road company, by their franchise, had things their own way. MT. 'Gunter's fr. nfVfo 1f councilmen means that a compromise has been effected.
 The Introduction of the resolution occupied, important as 1t is, only a short time of the lengthy session of the City CouAcil last evening which adjourned shortly after midnight. Be- sides the reading of many petitions. ordinances and resolutions. with the granting and adopting of some. the council spent most of its time on the discussion of an ordinance granting a certain franchise to the Montgomery Traction Company.
 Discuss Franchise.
 The ordinance was a substitute for the original ordinance by which the Montgomery Traction Company would pay s2,O00 instead of s1.000, as called for in the first ordinance. The ordi- nance granted the company a franchise sor the establishment of the Stone street line on Holt and Day Street to Hill in connection with their Highland Park line and for a line on West Jeff Davis Avenue from Oak to Holt Streets.
 An amendment to the ordinance was then introduced by Alderman Virgin. 1t stated that if the franchise was granted, that the Traction company transport free all children under five years of age if seated in the laps of the parents or guardians. After a lengthy discussion the amendment was lost.
 Even after the amendment was lost another long discussion followed. Ora tory flowed thick for over an hour and . half on this question. Everything , relative to granting the Traction Com pany certain privileges without re- ceiving anything in return aroused the indignation of several members of the Council. The question was discussed pro and con. Spirited speeches were made and some sarcasm and wit was lik ewise injected.
 Alderman Johnson stated that if the company didn't charge for children young men, who almost had boards and girls, almost old enough to wear Mary Jane kimonas," could ride free Alderman Jones took the same view and also said that it was all right to make a distinction and permit children under five years of age to ride free provided the conductor could ascertain their ages. He thought 1t. all right for the company to charge. as he said women, no matter how old their chil. dren were, would say the child was un- der five, when they got on a street car
 President Gunter took the other side of the question and stated that children under five formerly rode for nothing and that the company should not be allowed to charge for them now. He also said that if the Council granted franchises to the Traction Company the city and the Council and the people ought to get something in return.
 Alderman Parrish also took this side of the question. He said that anyone