Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-12-23
Company
May Have
Big Fine
Mas Been Operating Cars
for Ten Months in Viola
tion Of City Ordinance
Requiring Air Brakes

When the members OF the city coun-
oil assemble tonight, they will be con-
srorted with recommendation from
chief of Police Hamilton to the effect
tbat they either repeal or amend the
ordinance requiring the Portland Eu-
oone g. Eastern railway Co. to install
orbrakes on all of its cars operated in
tbe city, or proceed to prosecute the
oomnany for failure to comply with
tbe law for the past few months.
Mayor Lachmund introduced the Or
dinance regulating the operation Of
cors nv air brakes two years ago, and
Il was regularly passed, Certain pro-
vlsions we're included in the ordinance
ovemptng for a few weeks only sew
oral cars from being equipped with
mir but the time for every car in the
city to be air-controlled has been
long passed, according to Chief Ham
iton. and the company is now subject
N a fine for every piece Of rolling
stock operated without air brakes at
tached.
The question which Chief Hamilton
,yil, take before the council tonight
carries with it much more than the
mere fact that the Portland, Eugene q
Eastern company has been violating a
citv ordinance for months. In the
event the council votes to support the
ordinance, and refuses to amend II III
anv way, the franchise Of the company
will be subject to revocation for 'he
reason that the contract entered INTO
by the original owners, and which ID
still in effect, SO far as the present
owners are concerned, provides tha
cars must be operated every ~ MIN
utes and should the chief of pollce OF
der the company to either insIall a.
brakes on every car in Salem, or sui
fer fine for every car moved not ,
eouipped, the provisions in the iran
chise will undoubtedly be violated
the corporation will be required 10 p'
nm several thousand dollars IN llh'
for moving the cars at intervals hece @
sarv to abide by the city laws -
usnal fine assessed by the city masl
trate for the violation of a CITY oI'
nance is IS. Therefore conslue'"
that the street car company moves
cars several hundred times dally' a.
that II will be subjected to a flue
done so without the car being equ'
ped with air brakes, and tha' !,
uuires sevral hours to ship cars l''
Portland properly equipped 10 H
the provisions in the ordinance 1t
pends largely upon the various in'
bers of the council as to wheVhei
not the franchise now held by the
e. G. E. shall be revoked or tle "
pany be placed at an enormous
pense in operating its cars un'n D
time as they can be lawfully mO
under the present ordinance
According to the chief of police,
time for completion Of the work ol
stalIing air brakes on every car y
ated within the city limits OIL %"
expired at least ten months ago.
owing to an oversight, he faileu ~
tect the violation. Of the ordinance
til recently. The chief declares
called upon the manager OF inc
pany, but found that gentleman
and has not been able-to converse
him concerning the violation as y
When Mayor Lachmund introo
the bill for the ordinance, consider
discussion arose, but the mayo'
ceeded in securing an over" n1l
vote in favor of his bill. just "n'
ton the members Of the city pOuy
take upon Chief of Police Hallii'
recommendation remains 10 pe
hut inasmuch as each individual
ber has been working diligenu
ward enforcing every city iaw'
thing exciting is promised 'ni'
ing.
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