Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-12-22
CHAMPIONS CAUSE
OF C., 0. AGAINST
MOTOR BUS LINES
LAST NIGHT AT COUNCIL MEET.
ING SAW FOR FIRST TIME IN
MANY YEARS INTERURBAN
PUBLICLY DEFENDED BY CITY
OFFICIAL.

1t has been many years since any
member of an Ottawa administration
championed the cause of the Chicago,
Ottawa & Peoria railway company.
But last night at the meeting of the
council one of those infrequent oc.
cdsions was recorded when Commits
sioner Edward Dougherty termed an
attempt to secure permission for
Marseilles-O Ottawa bus line as "plan
to drive the interurban out of bust
ness"
Commissioner Doughertys attack
came when Thomas F. Kennedy, one
OF the promoters, pressed the coun-
Gil for action on his petition of last
week, in which he sought consent OF
the administration to operate his
cars over streets of center Ottawa,
before going to the Illinois Commerce
Commission for cial sanction Of
that body.
Deferred Once Before.
At the previous meeting the coun-
Gil decided to defer the matter pend
ing decision from Attorney II. l.
Nicholson as to whether or not the
city was delegated with the author
ity to issue, or deny, a franchise of
this sort, After looking up the or
dinances Mr.. Nicholson reported that
there were no laws pro or con on the
subject, Mayor Weeks informed bis
colleagues Of the attorneys tindings
and recommended that a letter be
drawn up and given Mr., Kennedy Tor
presentation to the l. G. G.
Coming to bat for the electric line
Mr. Dougnerty launched his attack
in no uncertain terms.
"Drive Out of Business"
There is no question in my mind
that If the council grants the re-
quest of Mr. Kennedy the interurban
viii he driven out Of business.
want to serve notice right mere that
! will never vote to give & FRANCHISE
fer these busses. | know til inter
urban to be a good thing and if we
let these busses run they will take
business away from concern which
for great many years has brought
more business into Ottawa ,han any
other three mediums" sail Mr..
DouGnerty.
"Thc day will come when the IN
terurhan will have to abandon its
lines What assurances haze we
that this bus line will continue in
business over any great length CT
time With them, if busine8s goes
bad all that they have to do is drive
tnel' machines away to some other
field The c., o. & p. has large sums
invested ir rights of way, t.ackagp,
poles and equipment, but they can
rot pull UP al any time and move
CT when the field becomes unpro!t-
able. | know from personal aXpcri.
ences the advantages to be derived
from the interurban. There is no
guess work with me on this matter.
have seen it work out from actual
experiences"
Cites ConVenences.
He then cited many convenience
accruing to the working man by his
being able to go to Marseillcs, Strea-
tor or La Sale at decent hours
where before the advent of the in
terurban days and nights were con-
Sulneu BellllB u anu lIOll tHeii ld-
Dor. and in some cases men were
forced into a weeks separation from
their families.
Closing his remarks, Mr.. Dougher-
ty said
81 want to serve notice right now
| will never, as long as am a men,
ber of this council, vote to permit
this or any other bus line to operate
between ottawa and Marseilles, re-
gardless of the fact that the interur-
ban don't always play fair with us"
A motion to defer action was made
by Commissioner Dougherty. This
occationed brief discussion, but
the Dougherty point carried. Com
missioner Dougherty then moved
that a letter be given Mr.. Kennedy
for presentation to the commerce
commission showing that body Otta-
wa had no regularity ordinance cover
ing applications of this kind. That