The daily Gate City., 1912-02-08

Although Mayor j. r. Elder packed
down to the extent of destroying the
sallesed absolute control OF the Bur-
,;sr,on' by offering an insert to
speclal Ordinance No. 3Ss, following
conference with railroad officials
here today in a star chamber session
4 the Keokuk Union depot, it was de-
uied this afternoon that the petition
= ia granted any relief by the pro-
nosed change. The time for accept
Inc the ordinance was extended to
March s. owing to the sickness OF
Manager F. E. Ward of the Burling
ton. who was unable to be present
because OF sickness.
The provision follows: Provided,
that nothing in this ordinance shall
in any way abridge the right of the
wabash railroad, the T. P. & w. rail
road or any future railroad Tenant
Of the Keokuk and Hamilton Bridge
company Of having full access to the
Keokuk union depot tracks, free of
charge other than its share of the
expense of maintenance Of the tracks
used Jointly with the C. B. & @. r. r.
and said railroad. including future
railroad tenants of the bridge, shall
enjoy equal rights with the G. B. &
o. on and over that portion of the
tracks In question used in common for
entrance to the union depot tracks"
At the conference with railroad Off
cias, Mayor Elder asked tnat the
ordinance be modified by writing in
the above. Neither the Burlington nor
the Wabash representatives objected,
it's undrstood, bat the Burlington has
nearly month before accepting the
ordinance. f.
In brief the action means that May
or Elder has stood pat against de-
mands Of H. W., Green, general man
ager Of the j. G. Hubinger Bros. Co.,
for fixed switching charge, but that
the popular demands are met and the
public's bone OF contention removed,
by providing for future entrance of
railroads to the city.
The Gate City's contention has been
that provision for future entrance to
the city shocld be provided for in
black and white and that is just what
Mayor Elder has done, although up
to this time he has held out that such
provision was not necessary.
The Burlington is satisfied, the Wa
bash has no objection to make, but
the petitioner holds out, contendine
that the relief desired is not given.
The meeting of Burlington ant
Wabash representatives and Mayor
Elder was held in one of the private
cars this morning and lasted nearly
two hours. Following the meeting
the first one approached was e. A
Howard, real estate agent Of the Bur
lington. At first he was not inclined
to answer questions and it was lik'
pulling teeth to get anything out o
him. Finally Mr.. Howard admitted
that the Burlington had no obiec
tons to the insert offered by Mayo
Elder.
Mayor Elder considered the matte
as practically settled when inter
viewed over the phone at his res
dence. He spoke Of the proviso, an
said 1t was agreeable to the railroads
lntimating that no other chang
would be made.
After much difficulty the reporter
reached the private car of Mr.. Mile
oi the Wabash. anticipating that
there was any objections to the ord
nance 1t would be found there. O
Tue contrary, he was very much for i
ana did not think that the provisio
onered by Mayor Elder changer it !
any particular. When pinned dow
ior a direct answer, however, he di
state that the first draft of the ord
nance did not have down in black an
wnite anything that would provide fc
new railroads running into the cit,
Mhen asked if the Burlington an
'ne present roads with their sid
ssreement would not control absolut
y the local field. he answered in
eompromise by saying that the ord
nance could be repealed at any tim
me Mayor has simply backe
uown'' said John Fl. Cole. CONNIE
e,al agent Of the Wabash, when tol
" the meeting OF this morning. 9
.ue provision is what you say, WI
mat is all the Wabash asks, a
sure."
n, W Green, OF ] G. Hubing,
nros., was home sick today and cou
NV leave his bed to answer the tel
pnone' His attorney was sought, wi