Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-05-16
COUNCIL PASSES FRANCHISE AFTER
 LONG DISCUSSION Alderman Well Fights Vain ly to Prevent Adoption of
 Ordinance. CHANGES MAKE PURPOSE PLAIN Measure Specifically Provides for the Building of "Freight and Passenger Carrying" Road Between Pine Bluff and Navigable Waterway. 

The city council last night, by a vote of 6 to 2, finally adopted an ordinance granting to the Hot Springs, Pine Bluff and Mississippi railway the right to lay tracks and build terminals on certain streets of the city of Pine Bluff.
 The vote was as follows:
 For the ordinance-Aldermen Bah lau, Clement, Franey, Means, Me Gehee and Simpson.
 Against the ordinance-Aldermen McGibbony and Veil.
 In certain respects, it was an al- together new ordinance, in that it had been rewritten since the measure tending to the same purpose was adopted at the last previous meeting of the city council, but without a sufficient vote to make it legal. In only two significant features was it different, however, these being the insertion of clauses making definite and clear statement of the intent of the men back of the road to build and operate a railroad.
 There is no change in the routes will select it's final choice within six ulOntAo nC SOHlPdlly 10 SIVCIl CIlC privilege of selecting more than one route west of Cherry street, but it can use only one route east of Cherry street. The company also binds itself to build, within three years, freight and ,assenger carrying railway" be- tween Pine Bluff, over the free bridge, to a point on either the White river or the Mississippi river, where navig- able water can be reached. The com pany must give the city written notice of it's acceptance of the ordinance within 30 days.
 Alderman Veil again fought the measure, waxing even more excited than at any time since the measure was proposed. He cited from the Bible, he quoted from the government census reports, and said he had gone so far as to verify in the Encyclo- paedia Brittanica the figures he ob- tained from the census reports, to show that Indianapolis, the center of interurban lines, had grown enormous ly while other towns reached by those same lines had not made any head way.
 He begged, he implored, he prayed, the members of the council not to pass the ordinance last night. He said the Bible made it plain "a better man than any of us needed more than one day to make the world," and, therefore, he said, this important ordinance should not be passed in one night. In almost every motion he offered, MT. Veil was seconded by Mr. McGibbony, and the latter voted with MT. Veil when ever the roll was called except once only.
 At times there was heat displayed by MT. Veil, and once E. B. Bloom, secretary of the chamber of commerce, was on his feet to make reply, but nothing came of the contretemps. MT. Veil had accused members of the council of being "bullied" or "misled'' into supporting a measure (which is not what you think it is." After MT. Veil took his seat, Alderman Clement rose to make objection to such charge from any alderman, and to deny that he had been "bullied." Alderman Bah lau talked briefly along the same lines. Alderman Simpson said he never paid much attention to what "Benny Veil says"
 More than two hours was devoted to the measure, which went through it's three readings under suspension of the rules, and finally passed. Mr. Blanchard, the president of the road, offered to answer any questions put to him, and MT. Franey and MT. Wei were the only members to put any questions. The measure has been be- fore the council since early in March more than two months in all.