Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-10
THE ALDERMEN.
LAST REGULAR MEETING OF THE
PRESENT BOARD.
They Refuse to Revoke the Two-C -Consecu-
tive-Council Railroad Franchises-
New Precinct.

Board of Aldermen was held last night.
Seven O'clock was the hour for conyening,
but it was three quarters of an hour after
that time when the reading of the minutes
of the previous meeting was concluded.
The reports of the various committees
were received and fled and the action of
the Common Council on various matters
at its last meeting concurred in without
debate or comment.
sEyENrH-sTRrET CAB LINE.
The ordinance allowing the Southside
Land and Improvement Company to run
! its tracks out Seventh street from Clay to
the Richmond Locomotive-Works was also
concurred In
TWO COUNCIL oRDISANcEs.
An ordnance was recommended by the
! Street Committee revoking a number or
railroad ordinances This was at the sug
gestion of the City Attorney, who thought
it proper that this outgoing Council should
act upon these ordinances, which have TO
! be revoked by two consecutive Councils
before they become non-efiective.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Crenshaw tho
| City Attorney gave his views on the sub
| ject and stated that he thought 1t wrong
| that the city should have her hands tied in
| this manner. No matter how great the ne
| cessity the city could not act in any OF
| these matters. 1t WAS not the intent OF
| these ordinances to interfere with present
| railroad arrangements or take away prlyi-
| leges but to SIMPLY vest the power to do so
| in the Council, where it belonged origi-
nally.
He had heard that the Norfolk and West
ern railroad wanted to enter Richmond
| over the Petersburg bridge but under the
| present arrangement 1t would DO barred
| from crossing Eighth street.
The whole matter was should tho city
get back the power she may need, and 1t
was no hasty legislation to take away
privilege from or DESTROY the property OF
any railroad. He hoped that the incoming
Council would also revoke the privileges
and take away from these railroads the
power which bellows to the city.
CITY ENGINEER.
Colonel Cutshaw was also invited to eX-
press his opinion upon this subject. He
conceded with the City Attorney and said
that the city was suffering from hasty and
imperfect railroad legislation. This was
the proper time for bringing up this mat
ter and breaking up the two-successiye-
Council matter and make 1t at the pleasure
of the Council. Matters along the Chesa-
poake and Ohio railway are in such bad
state that the people are almost up In arms
Several endeavors are now on foot to COM
promise these troubles, but the city officials
have their hands tied and cannot act rs
they should have authority. to do. The
idea was to put the railroads in such con-
dition as would compel them to carry out
their promises made to the city.
OPPOSED TO IT.
Mr.. Williams thought that as the rail-
roads gave support TO many people, and
the capital put up had been furnished with
the understanding that the privileges could
only be revoked at the discretion OF two
Councils. that it would be improper to re-
woke these franchises without cause. tie
wished 1t understood that he was now the
counsel of no road. 1t might be misun-
derstood outside of tho Council chamber
and affect the credit Of the roads III ques-
ton. The two-Council clause had been
passed upon by the councilmen puiposely
with their eyes open.
Mr.. Dlckerson (Mr. Capers in the chair
said that the idea that these revocatIons
meant nothing was absurd. III they meant
nothing, then il was better not to revoke
the ordinances. Ii capitalists were TO be
dealt with IN this manner how could they
be expected to come here and invest their
money? The movement had not emanated
from a member of the Council and had not
even been referred TO committee. The
matter was one of reform IN legislation
and properly belonged to the Committee
on Retrenchment and Reform. lie did
not think il was right to do this thing
without cause and without notice. so late
in the session.
Colonel Cutshaw explained that he pro-
badly had more to do withthe proposed
revocations than any other one person, as
the thing was rarely thought Of except Mt
the end of a session.
The City Attorney said that he had en-
braced in the five ordinances all OF the
franchises which required the act OF two
consecutive Councils to revoke.
STREETS OR NOT.
The first ordinance was that revoking
the franchise of the connecting track be-
tween the Richmond and York River and
Chesapeake and Ohio railway companies.
Mr.. HargrOye wanted to know If this
track was taken mp (for the sake OF argu-
ment) how would il affect the streets
crossing the old basin and canal.
Mr. Williams said the railroad owned the
property in fee simple and streets could
only be opened by condemnation.
The ordinance to revoke was lost by
vote of ayes TO 10 uoes.
ORDINANCES ADOPTED.
The following ordinances were adopted: |
Regulating the management of River |
View Cemetery.
Appropriating $1,000 for the improve
ment Of James river.
Regarding the issuing and redemption of |
bonds
Allowing the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
way Company 10 erect trestle across the |
canal east OF the Fiye-Mile locks.
Extending the time for beginning the |
construction of the Southside Land and |
Improvement street-car line to October 10,
1890
cLAY-wARD PRECINCT.
The ordinance creating a new and fifth |
election-precinct in Clay Ward was laid on
the table. Later the ordinance was taken
from the table and adopted.
TIRE-EscAPEs.
The Board laid on the table the ordi-
nance requiring fre-escapes TO be placed |
upon public buildings and others more
than three stories high.
wATEE-RENTs.
The Committee on Water submitted
allowing them to place water
meters in private residences. and author
izing the Superintendent to FIX the rate of
water-rent where none Is stated in the OrdI-
nance. Both adopted.
JOINT SESSION.
A resolution was adopted for Joint ses-
session Of the Board and Common COun-
ell 70 elect successor to Fire-Commis-
sioner John II. Frischkorn, Of Jefferson
Ward, and Police-Commissioner Beyeridge,
of Jackson Ward. the terms of both of
whom expire on the Goth of this month.
PULL UP THE TRACK.
The Board cOncurred in the action Of the
Common Council in repeating the ordi-
nance allowing the Richmond and Chesa-
peake railway 20 construct and operate a
tramway on Eighth street from point be-
tween Broad aud Marshall northward to
the mouth of the tunnel.
Routine business was followed at IL p.
NJ. by adjournment.
LEG CRUSHED BY A CAR.