The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-08-08
BOARD STANDS
PAT REFUSING
ROAD SUBSIDY.
County Commissioners Re-
ject Petition for Election
on Purtelle Line Because
of Small Benefit.

of Small Benefit.
The board of county commissioners
today officially declined to call an
election on a $4,000 subsidy for the
promotion of the decentralization
Traction company. AS result, man.
damus proceedings are limited at by
the traction promoters.
Eugene B. Purtelle made another
proposition today. He pledges him.
self, or the company. to deliver to
Wayne township 100000 worth of
stock and to Boston township $4,000
worth Of stock in the company when
the money is turned into the COM
pany's treasury.
On the grounds that the traction
line is not a public utility and that
the township would not derive benefit
equaling the subsidy asked for, the
commissioners, through the county at
torney. G. H. Hoelscher notified Pur-
telle of their action.
Purtelle then made a persuasive
speech in which he argued that the
freeholders who asked for the elect
ion have specifically set forth that it
is a public utility.
Promises to Give Stock.
And if the township is not willing
to buy this stock, who would be will
ling to buy it," Purtelle asked.
Purtelle filed promise to turn into
the township an issue of 100000 six
per cent cumulative perferred stock to
be distributed pro rata among the tax
payers. The method of distribution
among the tax payers was not made
clear but he spoke of the people
hny, yv,rv t@r to- nod
Ing in tax receipts equalling 500 in
return for one share of the stock.
The traction promoter then directed
the attention of the commissioners to
the fact that the petitioners can force
the election by mandamus which is a
writ of court commanding that some
specified thing be done
Board Stands Firm.
The commissioners refused to be
moved by Purtelle's expressive ges-
lures or expressive cadence but listen
ed silently to what he had to say.
Purtelle said an organization of
wealthy tax payers is bringing an in
fluence to bear upon the commission
ers which practically demands of
them that they set aside the laws of
ton has been left out in the cold"
aAC lACSC HACA any UCIlCl IudA IAC
man who comes to you with handfuls
of money? If the devil himself came
before you and asked for certain
things, he should receive all that the
law allows him." Purtelle said
The county attorney acted as
spokesman for the board. He admit
ted that the petitions and other in
struments were in due form and that
the election is mandatory but said the
commissioners are acting on their own
discretion in what they believe is the
expression of the people and for the
best interest of the public.
Cost From Subsidy.
In regard to the payment for the
election, Mr.. Hoelscher said the pre-
liminary expenses are borne by the
petitioners and the actual election ex-
penses are borne by the township. In
petitioners are successful at election,
the cost of the election could be de-
Quoted from the amount of the SUBJ
sidy.
Purtelle said his money and the
money of the directors of the COM
pany is now being used in making the
survey and will be used to build the
line. In the survey which has been
made, it is estimated that the line
from here to Boston would cost almost
a quarter of a million dollars.
This. he said, is what has caused
other promoters to back out of the
proposition He said residents along
the probable route of the line have
asked him since last November to
take the matter up and that it is con-
ceded fair that the people furnish
forty per cent of the capital.
Board Doubts Success.
Adolph Blickwedel accompanied Mr..
Purtelle Mr. Blickwedel is the chief
petitioner. After the refusal of the
commissioners had been announced he
remarked on the fact that the south
side tax payers, all of whom are con-
sentative in spending money on i'm
provements, see the traction line in
the light of a successful and much
needed addition to the township.
The commissioners will hold to
their decision until the petitioners
make another move. They took into
consideration before making an an
nouncement, the fact that the election
under certain circumstances is man
datory but held that such an improve
ment Is Of such indeterminate char
acter until after it has been shown
successful in actual operation, that
they could not conscientiously permit
such subsidy to be voted to the com
pany.