Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-03-16
Some Opposition to Franchise Hut II.
Passage Seems Assured, Though
Slightly Modified.

The city Council met in special
session Monday night, Mayor Caskey
presiding, Councllmen Bert, Oliver
and Cumiskey were present and Coun-
cilmen Smith and Trammell We're alb
sent. City Attorney G. II. Williams
and City Engineer Hess, together
with City Recorder Letter. were also
present.
The object OF the meeting was to
consider the matter Of franchise for
IA street railroad Ia Martlnsburg, for
which Attorney Clarence Il. Martin
had filed an application with the City
Council at meeting on the Sth Of
February last. A number OF citizens
were present at the meeting Monday
might to hear the proposed franchise
read AID to take part, II so disposed,
in the discussion incident thereto
After the pros and cons OF the fran
lchise had been threshed over at con-
siderable length II was agreed that
the franchise should be regarded as
having passed It's first reading, and
on motion 1t was referred to council
as committee Of the whole for more
careful consideration and then to re-
port back at subsequent meeting of
council when decisive action with
respect to said franchise will likely
be taken.
Provisions Of Franchise.
Some OF the provisions OF the fran
chise are as follows:
The parties back OF the trolley
proposition have three months to &C.
cept the franchise from date of pas
sage to give them time to make neces
sary surveys and look after other pre-
urinary wark,
| To be granted year in which to
commence actual work on the line
ana three years from the time the
franchise is granted In which to build
the road in Martinsburg.
The trolley road to be of standard
gauge and properly equipped as re
CARDS track, cars, etc, and the cars
to be operated by electricity or other
motive power except steam.
Objections to Franchise.
! Among those attending the meet
ing of council were John J. Hetzel
and e. l.. Williams. both of whom OBJ
jected to certain provisions OF the
franchise, although both favoring a
trolley road for Martnsburg on gen.
eral business principles and as one
means for developing town OF
county.
After Mr.. Martin had finished read
Il ing the lengthy franchise Mr.. Hetzel
made a speech. Among other things
he said he thought council should re-
quire the trolley people to put up a
cash consid Eation instead OF a bond
to protect and indemnify the people
OF Martinshurg for all damages arts
ing from the construction, operation
and maintenance of the trolley road.
He said. furthermore, that by the pro-
visions of the franchise the trolley
company would have an exclusive
right to build line within the boun-
dardes Of Martlnsburg, which, sad
Mr. Hetzel, would prevent any other
trolley promoters from entering the
city, a proposition he thought imprac-
ticabIe and unbusinesslike. Mr.. Het-
eel also said an income tax from the
road that would accrue to the citi-
zens of Martinsburg ought to be pro-
vided for in the franchise. He said
that for the first ten years OF the life
Of the trolley fine he did not think
the company would be more than able
to pay the operating expenses OF the
road; but after that The company
should be required to pay over to the
city part OF the gross earnings OF
the read until the expiration OF the
time limit OF the franchise, namely,
fifty years.
In replying to the objections raised
by Mr. Hetzel to the franchise as
presented to council. Mr.. Martin said
that IL the provisions suggested by
Mr.. Hetzel were incorporated in the
franchise that they would simply kill
IL: that the capitalists whom he req
resented in this enterprise would not
consider them for moment--in fact,
he said, those objections had been an
ticipated by the trolley people who
are not going to embark in million
doilsr proposition thus handicapped
at the outstart. Mr. Martin spoke
strongly for a trolley road for Mar
tinsburg and for the ultimate passage
- 49, x~o,ntt1n rraooufod fhat lie