City council Monday evening gave permission to the Winnipeg Electric Co. to construct a pole line over Salter St. Bridge for a north-end trolley bus system and allowed the agreement to be concluded later.

By a vote of 11 to 5, council decided that the work be proceeded with immediately, subject to agreement that may be negotiated later with the company. The matter was also referred to the special committee on street railway transportation matters.

Alderman Simpkin, Brotman, Anderson, Scraba and Mulligan were against the proposal, insisting that an agreement should first be reached.

The matter first came up when Ald. Hesson reported hearing a radio broadcast which said the city was obstructing transportation progress.

Transportation committee chairman Ald. Morrison explained that before V-day, the Winnipeg Electric Co. started negotiations for trolley service on Stafford Ave. and on Academy Road, but the proposals were not satisfactory to the city committee. The Salter Street proposal was under consideration.

Ald. Simpkin charged that the Winnipeg Electric Co. wanted the agreement on the basis of the old railway franchise and not on the pattern of special bus agreements which were more dangerous to the city.

Ald. Blumberg urged support of the motion to speed up public service. Ald. Scraba agreed.

"What position is it going to put us in if we give the company permission and then start working on an agreement?" asked Ald. Simpkin.

"Does it prejudice the position of the city?" Mayor Coulter asked R. W. Wydeman, city solicitor. Mr. Wydeman said it wouldn't.

Ald. Scott said the Winnipeg Electric Co. had been fair in the past and there was no reason to look askance at future negotiations.

Ald. Forkin said it was impossible during rush hours to get adequate service in the north end, particularly on Mountain and Dufferin avenues, during the winter months. He approved the motion, particularly in view of improvements already made for the scheme on Salter St.

Ald. Brotman made most objection to granting permission without first obtaining an agreement. "There was an impasse on the Stafford proposal and there will probably be one here."