The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-06-15
ROADS GET
THEIR PLUMS

at that late day. He chided the
Third ward statesman for not be-
ing more regular in his attendance
at the meetings and for not having
brought up this proposition at the
right time. In voting mo" on the
compensation clause, Shaefer got
laud applause from the railroad
forces. In his talk, Shaefer said
the council, indirectly, had been &C
cused of being bought, and that it
was hard to please all.
The proposition to make the rail-
roads contribute to the city was
sprung Unexpectedly and for time
it was thought it might stampede
the city council. But the previous
program had been too well re-
hearsed and the effort failed by the
following vote: For compensating
the city-Schiller, Nelson, Mohr.
Against it-Lambert, Dalke, Cart
wright, Shaefer, Gray, Funk and
Belshaw.
In order to give the citizens a
chance to invoke the referendum,
Schiller offered an amendment that
the time for the taking effect of
the ordinance be made 60 days
instead of 80 days. No one second
ed the amendment, not even Mel
son, who previously introduced a
resolution to have an election.
EXPLAINS VOTES.
In the final vote on the North
Coast franchise, several of the
councilmen explained their votes.
Schiller protested on the ground
that the city's interests We're not
guarded, that the franchise should
be submitted to the people for their
approval and that the city should
be compensated for the grant. His
negative vote was the only one
cast against the franchise.
Nelson explains that it was a
good franchise, that he did not
vote for the 60 days delay because
I'VE need the money! meaning the
Improvement to business that it
was anticipated will follow the pas
sage of the franchise. He COM
mended the assistance of City En-
gineer Mccartney and Corporation
Counsel Morrill, and said that Nc
Cartney was the guiding star" in
working out the plans.
"FINE FRANCHISE"
Funk said that it was the best
railroad franchise in the state of
Washington. In the beginning he
had hung out for terminal rates
until the people of his ward said
that they wanted no more delay
and that the franchises should pass.
When the people did not want to
insist on terminal rates as COM
pensation for the franchises he
thought it useless for the council
to demand a money compensation.
The final vote on the franchise
stood: Aye-Lambert, Dalke, Gray,
Shaefer, Funk, Cartwright, Mohr,
Nelson and Belshaw. No-Schiller.
Schiller interposed all of the
amendments that were rejected in
the North Coast franchise against
the one for the Milwaukee and the
union depot, but they met the
same fate. However, he Slipped
one over" on the Milwaukee when
he offered an amendment that the
railroads be compelled to pay for
the vacation of Bernard street, if
ordered hereafter, and all other
street or alley vacations that may
be demanded. Lawrence Hamblen,
attorney for the North Coast, pro-
tested, but the question came un-
and rather than have
the matter come to a show down
the proposition was adopted with
out a roll call.
This was the only concession
given to the people in the final con-
sideration of the franchise. All
three franchises become effective in
80 days, on signature by the mayor.