A Packed Council Chamber, a Railroad Franchise, and a Fight Over Public Streets

Meetings of the city council are beginning to be as attractive to the citizens at large as a show. The meeting of last Tuesday night drew a crowd of about 50 people and the standing room only sign was hung out in the foyer at an early hour. The audience was treated to an exciting session and were well repaid for their attendance. It is certain that if the council plays a return date with the same company and list of attractions they will have another crowded house.

The session opened promptly with all the members present. There was one vacant chair in the aldermanic row, but as the mayor has not appointed a successor to Councilman Eckerson, all of the legal members of the council were there.

The clerk read the minutes of the last regular meeting. The mayor stated before the council had acted upon the reading that he had a communication to read concerning the minutes. He then read an opinion from the general counsel of the Idaho Washington Northern, stating that the third reading of the ordinance granting that company a franchise at the last regular meeting was illegal, as 30 days must elapse between the introduction and final passage of any ordinance granting a franchise for any railroad or like corporation.

One of the councilmen thereupon moved that all reference to the reading of the ordinance at the meeting be expunged from the records. The motion prevailed and the minutes were then approved. The reading of the minutes of the adjourned meeting were also approved.

A petition from Weinkauff & Koch, asking for a license to conduct a saloon at their present stand, was then read. The sureties on the bond made affidavit that they were residents of Newport, instead of Spokane. As this was simply a clerical error on the part of the notary filling out the acknowledgment, the defect can be remedied while the petition is in the hands of the committee to whom it was referred.

The committee on streets and alleys then made a verbal report on the Idaho Washington Northern's petition for the closing of certain streets and alleys in various portions of the city along their right-of-way. Chairman Caldwell stated that he was in favor of granting the petition as far as it referred to the alleys, but was opposed to closing the streets. Councilman Hynes was of the same opinion.

J. C. H. Reynolds, representing the railroad, then addressed the council, and stated the position of the railroad. He said that it was absolutely necessary to the economical conduct of their business that the streets near the freight house be closed. That the open streets in that locality would seriously interfere with their yard work. That they would have six tracks in the yard near their freight house, and that if streets were cut through they could not serve the public properly. The streets that they asked to be vacated were not in use at the present time. They probably would never be used by the public, as street crossings were not feasible at those points. The level of the ground was about six feet higher than the tracks. In addition the company he represented owned nearly all of the abutting and adjoining property, and the balance of the property owners, with one exception, did not object to closing.

He said that it was necessary for the road to have long stretches of unbroken yard space, and cited the case of the Great Northern in this city, which has but one street crossing through their yards for the use of residents of the south side, while the Blackwell road would leave three crossings by which people could reach Old Town side, and that his company were compelled by the original franchise to maintain all street crossings. He stated that the company stood ready to enter into an agreement with the council to open any of the streets over their right-of-way at any time that the council thought it best for the best interests of the city. They would also open up any street leading to the south side at any time that the Great Northern would do the same.

M. M. Sammons then asked and was granted permission to address the council regarding the franchise. He said that he represented several objectors, but did not mention their names. He took the broad ground that, as a citizen, he represented the interests of all citizens, and that the streets had been dedicated to the public use. He did not believe in granting the Blackwell interests any more rights or privileges unless those interests gave the city something in return. He said that the Commercial Club had passed a resolution requesting Mr. Blackwell to donate a site for a park in return for privileges granted. That such resolution should have been presented to the council, but as the secretary of the club was opposed to the resolution, he supposed that it had been pigeonholed.

He then stated that in view of the fact that Councilman McInnis was in employ of the railroad, he did not think that it was right for him to vote on the subject. He had been in the same position himself on several occasions and had been expected to deliver the goods and had done so.

This attack on Mr. McInnis' integrity aroused that gentleman. He asked the mayor if he was barred from voting because he was in the employ of the Navigation Co., in which neither Mr. Blackwell or the Idaho Washington Northern Railroad held any stock.

Mr. Sammons then said that he had every faith in Mr. McInnis' honesty, but still thought that his connection with the Navigation Co. might influence his vote. Mr. Reynolds stated that Mr. Blackwell did not own a dollar of stock in the Navigation Co., neither was Mr. McInnis in the employ of the railroad company.

At this juncture Mr. Sammons said that if he had been misinformed regarding the position of Mr. McInnis and the ownership of the Navigation Co. he would withdraw his remarks and apologize to Mr. McInnis. The latter gentleman had stated before the apology was offered that the attorney might be the kind of a man to deliver the goods, but that he was not and he desired it so understood.

At this point the mayor interfered in the conversation greatly to the disappointment of many of the auditors, but the talk was becoming too acrimonious to suit his honor.

A. W. McMorran then addressed the council and said that the resolution mentioned by Mr. Sammons was not intended to be presented to the council so that no blame attached to the secretary of the club. He was in favor of giving the railroad company what they asked for in the petition as he believed that it was for the benefit not only of the company but of the public generally. He was affected by the closing of one of the streets but did not think that it would bother him much. He thought that the majority of the citizens favored the closing of the streets as requested by the company.

The matter was laid over until the next meeting.

There were no objections to vacating an alley in block B of Scott's second addition. An ordinance covering the matter was introduced and passed to a second reading.

The petition of about thirty-five lady residents of Newport, praying the council not to grant a license for a saloon north of Third street, was read by the clerk. The petition also prayed that no other saloon licenses be granted in the town. The Royal Neighbors and the Rebekahs also presented remonstrances against the granting of saloon licenses north of Third street as did about fifty citizens. The petitions were ordered received.

The Northern Electric Co. presented a communication to the same committee when Manager Beckwith stated that he would like to have it read at this meeting. The reading stated that they were unable, on account of the condition of their plant, to furnish power to the Pend d'Oreille River Lumber Company. They also claimed that the company was in arrears for the use of power to the extent of $150.

The Pend d'Oreille River Lumber Co. presented a communication denying that they were in default to the Electric company and presented the original vouchers covering payments of rent from the time the contract started until the company shut off the power on one day's notice. They also presented an affidavit from Chas. H. Pike, their superintendent, bearing on the question of shutting off the power. The entire matter was referred to a committee consisting of Caldwell, Hynes and McInnis to investigate.

The Northern Electric Co. also presented a proposal for lighting the city, claiming the old contract had expired some time ago. The communication caused consternation amongst the councilmen. The company proposed to furnish five arc and twenty incandescent lights from June 1 to December 1 at the rate of $82.50 a month rental and the lights to burn from dark until 1:00 a.m. Additional arc lights to be furnished at the rate of $8.50 each. No deductions to be made for lights not burning unless the same lights were out on two consecutive nights. The company also proposed to take it for granted that, unless the council rejected the offer at this meeting, the contract had been accepted to date from June 1st.

The price charged for the light staggered the members of the council. Some of them stated that they did not care for the lights as much early in the evening as they did after midnight when they were needed to provide light for the police in order that the officers might better protect property. The communication was finally referred to the committee having charge of the other electric light dispute.

Chairman Bennett, of the committee on judiciary, reported favorably on the petition of Wm. Heisner for a saloon on Washington avenue between First and Second streets. He stated that he could not report for the balance of the committee. The clerk then read the petition and bond of Mr. Heisner and Councilman McInnis moved that it be accepted. Messrs. Dunwoodie and Vawter addressed the council on the subject. They were both opposed to granting the license; the former because of the location and the latter because it would cause the lodge organizations occupying his building to seek other locations greatly to his financial loss. The mayor said that if it were not for the fact that he was presiding at the meeting he would also be on the floor fighting the granting of the license.

On the vote to accept the petition and grant the license Councilmen McInnis, Caldwell and Hynes voted no and Councilman Bennett yes. The motion was declared lost.

The contract for grading Fourth street and constructing sidewalks and gutters thereon was let to Joseph P. Berneck. The council then adjourned.