Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-23
TALK ABOUT LIGHT.
STORMY SESSION OF COMMITTEES ON
LIGHT, ORDINANCES, &C
Rejection OF the Trayior Ordinance Re-
commended--A Plan for n City Hospi-
tai Proposed and Discussed.

commemorate Plan iOr u Wv bOept-
tai Proposed and Discussed.
A Joint meeting Of the Electric-Lght, |
Ordinance, and Light Committees was held
in the Council chamber at 6 o'clock yester- |
day evening TO consider the petition and
accompanying ordinance allowing the
Tray]or Electric Company the privilege OF
running wires for the purpose Of supply
ing private consumers with electric light!
One thousand signatures of business
men and others were appended to the
former document.
When the first page of the petition had
been read 20 illustrate the character OF It's
signers Mr.. Guigon, as patron OF the ordl-
nance. claimed the floor.
COSTLY AND POOR.
He said the electric-light furnished pri-
vate individuals at present is very costly
end very poor. II was asserted by some
that the company now furnishing lights
had no right to do so. while Others said the
Traylor people could GO ahead without
permssIon. Anyhow thcy preferred 70
get permission before they went ahead. IL
was certainly q case that appealed strongly
to his sense of justice. He had heard
nothing against the franchise being al
lowed and everything for 1t. IL
was his belief that If the new COM
pany is granted the privilege asked
the service will be greatly increased
and prices lowered. The last city con-
tract. which is $l1 900 less than the pre-
vious one. was a proof of what competition
could do. He was looking 70 the interest
of the city and citizens. A rival company
would be advantageous. All who wanted
franchise the same as gwen 10 others
should have it. At present the electric
company pays no attention 70 the COM
plant OF private individuals. Lights 60
out and stay out and no deductions are at
lowed without a wrangle.
INVITING A DIsCUssIoN.
In order TO have some question before
the meeting Mr.. Stratton moved that the
Council be asked to appropriate SS5,OOO so
that the city might erect its own plant.
Mr.. Mann seconded the motion.
Mr.. Guigon made the point that Mr..
Stratton was out Of order, the meeting
having been called to consider particular
The Chair (Mr. Courtney decided the
point we'll taken.
MIR. GRAY moved that the franchise asked
for be granted.
Mr.. Crenshaw proposed TO amend the Or
dinance so as to have the poles subject 10
the approval of the Street Committee.
Mr.. j. W. Carter suggested an amend
ment that the franchise cease as soon as
the city owned its plant.
Mr.. Brander remarked that there might
be good reasons for not having git that way.
for in case the city never. got IT'S plant the
company might be continued as having q
perpetual franchise.
GIVE AND TAKE.
The Chair asked Mr.. j. W. Carter to state
his amendment, to which that gentleman
replied that if people paid attention 10
what was going on he would not nave 10
repeat. The amendment was then stated
by the Chairman, who, after doing so. told
Mr.. Carter he had made the request as an
oct of courtesy.
Mr.. Guigon reduced Mr.. Carter's amend
ment to writing, which was changed so as
10 make il at the will of the Council, in
which shape il was, with Mr.. Crenshaw's
amendment, adopted.
Mr.. Bowden inquired if the present
franchise contained the same proviso.
Clerk Shelton said il did, and was taken
to task by Mr.. Bowden for answering these
kind of questions ofhaud, to which the
Clerk co0lly replied that he had the printed
ordinance in front Of him when he spoke.
REJECTED AND RECOMMENDED.
Mr.. Guieon moved that the ordinance
"a IL came from the Council be rejected by
the committee, and that they recommend
il as amended.
Guigou was making one motion or three,
to which the answer vas laeon1caily gwen
"One."
The motion was, however. divided, and
that portion of 1t rejecting the ordinance
ga it came from the Council was adopted.
Gr. Guigon read that portion OF the or
dinance amended and moved its adoption.
Mr.. Glover called q halt, and said he
thoucht the committee was going ahead
too fast. The city had it's gas-wor ks and
oupht to have its electric-plant. The
present electric-plant is about played out.
The Electric-Eght Committee is at work
getting plans and estimates and 1t Is not
right to give franchises while. this IS
being done 1t was his belief, he said,
that there is something behind this
sented it we're very astute. DE
remembered when Mr.. Traylor appeared
before the Street Committee and asked per-
mission to run power-Wlres, the question
was asked if be would not furnish light
and the impression left on the, minds OF
the Street Committee by his reply was that
be would not. He agreed with Mr.. Gui-,
pon that the electric-light service was bad
at nresent. and that the city ought TO have
its plant The committee and Engineer
| were at work, and If necessary the plant
could be up and in operation by Septem-
Der 1st.
IsIT oPPos1TIoN2
MIR. Glover claimed that the move pro-
posed was in opposition to the clty's gas
| interests. ,.,,,
MIR. Guigon said it was not, and if MIR;
| Glover would prove his statement he would
| withdraw the ordinance,
Mr.. Glover pointed to the house oppo-
site. vhero gas was burning, and asked
him If Mr.. Traylor went there and put in
electric lights and the gas was taken out,
would not that iniure the city
AIr. Gray said he would vote. in opposl;;
| tion TO the city If 1t was better and
Mr.. Glover replied that MIR. Gray might
| do this, but that any matter that hurt the
| city's interest would not get corporaPs
vote on either branch.
sure of that.
MIR. Glover returned to the charge and
| said that he understood that as good gas as
| the people of Richmond now paid $l.6O
per 900 feet for could be manufactured at
| 81 at a big profit, But he had to remem--
| her that ne was elected on the platform OF
protecting the as-works.
Mr.. Guigon said he was elected on the
platform of protecting the peoples in
terest. The franchise could be given tor
awhile and then everybody might be
J shut out"
/ SUFFERING CITIZENS.
Mr.. Stratton thought if the city was
going to have plant it ought not to allow
| the 1raylor or the present company either
! TO furnish lights to individuals. In justice
| 10 All he moved that the ordinance be laid
on the table. c....
Mr.. Guigon remarked that Mr.. Stratton