The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-02
KNIGHT FRANCHISE
AGAIN CONSIDERED
CounCilmen Suggest Various
Methods to Force Payment
For Interurban Rights.
UNCLE JESSE is ANGERED
LEAVES COUNCIL CHAMBER AZ
TER EXPRESSING OPINION.

Without having accomplished anything
further than throwing new obstacles in
the way of the proposed Jesse Knight in
terurban line from Salt Lake to Provo,
the council last night, meeting as a COM
mittee Of the whole, disposed of the whole
matter by referring it to a committee of
five to be appointed by President W.
Mont Ferry, which will meet with City
Attorney H j. Dininny, Mr. Knight and
Jacob Evans, his attorney.
Many amendments and substitute mo-
tons were made last night by members
of the majority, believed to be clearly for
the purpose of blocking progress and to
antagonize the Knight interests. Coun-
Gilman j. b. MOretOn was chosen for the
work.
1t was the sense of the meeting last
night that the Knight company would be
asked to pay something for the fran
chise rights in Salt Lake and this an
gered the mining man.
I'VE won't pay anything for the fran
chise," he declared, heatedly, and left
the council chamber.
1t is now believed that the present
methods are being taken for the purpose
of placing such a heavy burden upon the
interurban line that 1t will refuse to &C
cept the franchise acceptable to the ma
E. o. Howard franchise, for the same
interurban system, will be put through
the council. Mr.. Howard was present last
night throughout the session.
Trying to Get Money.
Several new schedules for getting
money from the Knight road were sug-
gested last night, one of which came
from Moreton that the city receive one
per cent of the gross earnings each year
from the interurban line on the business
done within the city limits, also reserv-
ing the right to make special assessments
for license or car tax.
we cannot accept any such amend
ment," said Jacob Evans for Mr.. Knight
1T seems hardly fair to Us that you
should put any more burden upon this
new line than is placed upon the other
roads operating in the city. You have
given franchises to the street car COM
pany and to the railroads. but they are
paying nothing on their gross earnings.
The street car company merely pays a
tax upon their cars. We are willing you
should make reasonable charge against
this company for the cars run on the line,
but we do not think you should place the
heavy burden upon us"
Mr.. Evans then read a letter in regard
to the action of the Commercial club of
Salt Lake in petitiOning the city council
to pass the Knight franchise. The mo-
ton at the Commercial club was made by
John Dern and seconded by Governor
William Spry, pointing out the advan-
tageS to be received from the interurban
road and suggesting that the council give
this favorable attention as soon as pos
sible. The action of the Commercial club
was taken at a meeting yesterday
Councilman L. E. Hall suggested that
the city charge the interurban line 70
cents per trip into Salt Lake, half for
coming in and the other half for leaving
Jesse Knight Talks.
During the discussion, MIR. knight made
sincere address to the council, declar-
ing he really wanted to build the line and
that he felt that he and the council could
get together on ali the most important
points. At this point Councilman More
ton rose with printed statement, pur-
porting TO bear the signature of Jesse
Knight, which came out in the fight some
months ago at Provo, when the Salt Lake
Route was asking for a station site, At
that time Mr.. knight led losing fight
against the establishment of a depot
three blocks from the central part of
Provo. Mr.. MOretOn started to read this
when MI Knight walked across the cOun-
Gil chamber to look at the signature.
THAT isn't my signature, and I don't
know know VINO signed this paper" said Mr..
Knight heatedly.
He then explained that the only reason
he opposed the Salt Lake Route station
was because he felt it was too far from
the heart of the city of Provo
Then when more councilmen started Of
1erlng amendments and substitute mo-
tons regarding the amount of money to
be paid to Salt Lake for the franchise
Mr.. Knight stalked out of the rOOm de-
claring he would pay nothing for the
franchise.
No time was appointed for the meet
ing OF the special committee of five to
discuss the matter 1t will probably be
appointed today by President Ferry and
the time of meeting arranged. This com
mlttee VIII report back to the council.