Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-10-11
FRANCHISE TO PASS
OPPOSITION COUNCILMEN Defer
TO WISHES OF CONSTITUENTS.
Four of the Six COunCi!men Who Oh.
posed Union Pacific Railway Fran
ChiSc Announce That They will
Obey Public Sentiment and Vote
for the Measure.

The franchise permitting the
Union Pacific and Milwaukee rail-
roads to pass through Aberdeen on
the route desired will pass the coun-
Gil next Wednesday night in it's
present form. Four of the six coun-
cilmen who opposed the measure, in
an effort to secure free foot paths
across the Chehalis river in return
for the valuable land the roads were
procuring, have announced that,
while they were acting for the best
interest of the city, in their judg-
ment, they were quite willing to de-
fer to the almost unanimous senti-
ment of their constituents and de-
cidedly unwilling to carry their OPP
position to an extent that would in
any manner injure the city, they
would vote to pass the franchise or
dinance at the meeting next Wednes-
day night. In statements made to the
Grays Harbor Post, three councilmen
made the following statements:
Councilman O'Hare: - Il desired
to gain for the city every cOnces-
sion we could get. I believed that
by making fight, we could get
more. Working for the interest of
the people, l felt it my duty to do
so. 1t was never my intention at
any time to place obstacles in the
way of the railroad entering the city.
After 1 find we can get no further
concessions, l cheerfully submit and
will vote for the franchise
Councilman Stalling: THE only
reason I had for holding out, was
to secure the best possible for the
city. l thought the city was entit-
led to some remuneration as mill
companies which sold forntage to
the railroad secured big prices. Pub
lie sentiment demands the bridge and
l will no longer hold against this
demand, irrespective of the merits Of
the case. I will now vote for the
franchise, believing we have done our
duty in holding out for the peoples s
interests
Councilman Bailey: - 81 realize
fully and have from the start, the
value of another railroad to this city
and harbor. l have no antagonism
towards corporations as l have been
associated with them for years. but
felt and now feel my first duty was
to the citizens of Aberdeen, and to
secure for them the best condition
possible in granting the franchise.
I will now vote for the franchise.
feeling that no further benefit will
come to the city by holding out
To the Tribune, Councilman Criv-
yea made similar declaration, as
follows:
cat the next meeting of the coun-
Gil I will vote for this franchise. I
have thought all along that the city
has not been getting any kind of a
return from the valuable franchise
which they are practically giving
away. | feel that, had not the pub
hands of the council, we could have
secured more. but l now realize two
things. One is that the public as a
body wants this railroad, and | in
tend to vote for what the public
wants. The other thing is that, as
it now stands, the road will prob
ably hold up operations in this city
for some time should we vote ad-
versly, and | don't want this to
happen. Under the circumstances
all that can be gained has been
gained and l will cast my vote for
what the public and myself want
this franchise"
The councilmen, and Aberdeen are
to be congratulated upon this ter
mination of what gave promise of be-
the councilmen particularly. Those
gentlemen, ,actuated by the best mo-
tives, made a gallant effort to Sc
cure Il valuable concession for the
city, and, carrying that effort to
what appeared to be the limit, sunk
their individual views when the in
terests of Aberdeen appeared to ap-
proach jeopardy.