The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-06-16
COUNCIL IN THREE
ACT DRAMA
Continued from Page -

motion on the contrary urging the
reading of It and found himself in con-
f1ict with the rules of order because
the council officially took no cogniz-
ance of the franchise until it was sign
ed by the board, a requirement which
had not yet been complied with. Uncle
DICK got in some more of the giddau
work and the reading OF the volurnin-
Gus document furnished a splendid sec
ond act. 1t was topped off by an orr
torical flourish by Councilman New
man who said he discovered in the
franchise clever wording through
which the company would escape lay
ing its tracks in concrete. When
Councilman Newman laid his cigar on
the table before him, pulled his head
down between his shoulders. and rivit-
ed his eye on the first one on whom
they might alight, he meant business
and that's the way he stood in the
council chamber last evening.
In the meantime Peter Davis must
not be forgotten. He carried his part
well and lost no opportunity in any act
to tell the council that he "as a mem
Der of the board" was ready then and
there to sign the franchise after the
city fathers had voiced their senti-
ments and amendments.
In the Third Act.
The third act opened with the board
members acting in unison and reach
ing IN their upper vest pockets for
their fountain pens to sign the dread
ful thing, In order that it might go to
Its first reading. The sixty-piece or
chestra was missing but the noise that
follows would easily supplant 1t. The
Councilment debated the advisability
of making the amendments Immediate
ly or after the first reading, questions
as to whether the franchise could go
to Its first reading at call in such
shape or in that particular session,
Peter Davis "as a member of the
board" wanted to hear more sugges-
tons, and finally the grand finale in
which the board discovers that the
franchise canont be signed because the
board is not in executive session. and
the the tableau. in which everybody
stands in a pose. waiting expectantly
for the thing that are to come next,
when, with a crash and a bang, the
city clerk closes the minutes book
The city fathers meant well, and
they did the best thing under the cir
cumstances, but there is no need of
getting so excited about it. Mr..
Schroeder insisted from the very start
that Hoffman street should either be
used or left untouched in order that 1t
may not block any other line which
may want to come in in the future
Practical Business Men ut Meeting,
President Ijams of the company and
c. w. Hotchkiss president of the In
diana Harbor Belt who is also inter-
ested in the traction company, were
both present and addressed the council
in a few words. telling that body that
they hoped they would come here to
stay and that the interests of Ham
mond would be as much theirs as the
councils. and that consequently no
sharp practices can enter into the deal
from the start.
A special meeting will in all prob
ability be called next Tuesday even
ing at which time the franchise will
go to its first reading Whatever
changes were proposed last evening
will be readily made by the company,
or rather will be couched in clearer
words.
The Hammond Business Mems asso-
citation had a representative delegation
at the meeting last evening to watch
the progress of the franchise. Among
those present were, W. G. Paxton, pres
ident; E. F. Johnson, secretary; J. z.
Fitzgerald. F. S Betz. Leo Wolf, Otto
Klemperer, and a number of north side
business men and residents.
Previous to the franchise matter the
council passed two resolutions, one
providing for the sale of the cottage
between the old and new fire stations,
and the second an order on the city
controller to pay $15 into the NUM-
cipal League fund as membership fee