Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1905 — CITY ATTACKS GRANTS. [ARTICLE]

CITY ATTACKS GRANTS.

Chicago Council Revokes City Railway Permits and Starts Suit. War has heap renewed by the city of Chicago on the Chicago City railway. Mayor Harrison had Corporation Counsel Tolman prepare an ordinance, which the Council passed, repealing Hie extension permit, good until June 1. That done, assistants of the corporation counsel rushed into Judge Mack’s court, where the judge, who had been asked to hold special court, was waiting, and filed a bill to determine the value of the 99year aet and the rights of the city. The action was taken, it was announced, to forestall any legal obstruction in the shape of an injunction in the federal court. Not only the Council members, but the chairman of the local transportation committee, were taken absolutely by surprise when the clerk of the Council began reading the message of the Mayor. Mayor Harrison in his message recommending this course asserted that the present owners of the City Railway Company in his opinion had purchased it to prevent a satisfactory, settlement between it and the city. They had persistently declined to say whether or not they woujd accept the tentative ordinance in case that measure was approved by the people and the City Council. Further, the company had shown a desire to test its rights in the federal courts rather than in the State courts. As the processes of the former were slower than the latter it would be to the advantage of the city to take the initiative by beginninfig suit in the State courts. Realizing that the Mayor’s recommendation would be likely to precipitate* action by the company, the Council hastened to carry out bis suggestions.