Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-07-09

| AuNuoChu5 ANl6uOh anu OlS6ululu
were in doubt of the wisdom of
shortening the existence period Of
the franchise.
Frank Waters asserted the COM
pany would not be willing to accept
a franchise with less than S5-year
year period and vote was then fin
ally taken with the result that the
franchise was made to read for 35
instead Of 25 years, the railroad peo-
pie winning the first round.
Real Fight Begins.
The real fight began when the
council took up the compensation
feature of the franchise. The COM
mittee of the whole had fixed it at
$500 a year for each five-year per-
iod, together with a tax on the
gross earnings, but to this tax the
company objected.
AS substitute Tor 1t, the company
offered to pay $4OO a year for the
first period of five years, and to in
crease this $1OO for each fve-year
period until at the last period of the
35 years, the company would be pay
ing $1,000, making a total for the
period of $24,500, and Mr.. Waters de-
clared that this was as high as he
was authorized to go.
Councilman Jones leaped to his
feet with an amendment that the
compensation be fixed at $1,000 a
year for the first five years, and that
1t be increased $1,000 for each five
year period making a total for the
life of the franchise of $14O,OOO
Several Of the councilmen audibly
demurred and observing antagonism
to the move, Mayor Lachmund arose
and in an impassioned address de-
clared that they were surrendering
everything to the railroads and that
while they were free to proceed and
give them everything that he warned
them that they would have to do 1t
over his head.
Look after the city of Salem" he
declared, "the railroads will look af-
ter themselves. / am not solicitous
ior the welfare of the railroads for
they will get their share. believe
that the railroad should pay the
compensation outlined by Council
man Jones-do not believe in giving
them everything. The Southern Pa
cifc is not philanthropic institu-
tion-never was and never will be,
end 1t is up to the council to look af-
ter the interests Of the people.
I Just Sop, He Says.
4 81 am not going to object to the
35-year period of the franchise, but
am going to take stand on the
compensation. Every concession
made so far by the railroad COM
panies is just so much sop given
you. am not going to be a pilSer
in this fight and the councilmen
should not be- You may give every
thing If you want to, but you will
have to do 1t over my head.
Threatens Referendum.
Councilman Jones declared that
the people would never stand for the
action of the council. "Pass this
franchise in this condition and the
people will invoke the referendum on
1t" he shouted.
| Councilman Waring wanted to in
crease the compensation 80 per cent,
but his motion was lost for the want
of a second.
Without much further debate, the
council settled down and agreed
upon the terms suggested by the rail-
lhoh Nolnphhys
The Woman, Cow and the Kiss.
The question Of running freight
cars on certain streets was the sig
nal for more pyrotechnics.
Councilman Pennebaker declared
the company was using their resi-
dence streets Of the city for It's
freight lines and Jones declared that
the people generally wero opposed
to II, and there was no necessity for
lie.
Tired and weary and discouraged
Councilman Rigdon finally arose to
discuss the question
"The railroads had to enter the
city from some place, he declared,
and he did not know Just how they
were to accomplish II without enter
ing on street where there were
residences He had observed that
the fact that railroads run freight
trains on street had not deferred
people Of the city from building
handsome residences on them. The
objection to them with relation to
this matter always seemed to be be-
fore the coming Of the road and not
afterwards. He asserted that It was
for the council to say whether II
wanted railroad or not, and de-
olared that so far as he was con.