The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-11

1870 WY. IL iHifs1t even come 10 the
time when you would see what IS Dopu-
larly called tho ''Inachinc,' with their
eyes glued upon the Councils 10 see how
the wheels or the government Will work.
Does this Council want to extend an
invitation to these gentlemen to inter
lere with our local politics? Does this
Council want to make II essential that
lhey should Interfere with our local
politics? Are all OF us who may have
the high ambition OF becoming members
OF the Councils to bend the supple
Knee TO these gentlemen before that
ambition shall be gratlGed? Why any
body should have 1t. the Lord only
knows--I don't-to come up here and
be talked to death by lawyers and
other people: bu. If anybody In n mo-
ment or hallucination should desire to
become q member or the Councils, are
you going to make II necessary for him
70 go down to this company on his
knees and ask them TO hold their hands
Off! That Is q technical expression, If
you can't get politician to help you,
you beg him to Just lay hands down
that Is the expression. DO the cti-
zens Of Norfolk who want to come into
the Councils to protect the material In
terests Of the city, who are willing to
sacrifice their comfort and their bust
ness interests, and are patriotic
strength to the management OF the
city's business. do they want to make 1t
to the interest OF Il company with $780,
100000 at It's back to put It's fingers In
every election which Is held? Gentle
men, ] think so far from being 4 protec-
OF the people OF Norfolk the most dan
gerous provision or this franchise
Now there is anothe: thing, it may
Dc y little thing, about this franchise
That [ would like to call attention to.
Understand me, gentlemen, am not
M IN NoIo1t tS
pany Is not fighting through my feeble
efforts to keep the long distance tele-
phone from coming here, we only want
people to tote fair''-but here Is !, pc
euliar feature or this franchise, es-
peclally in view or the circumstances.
gathered from what heard read here,
ana may be frank to say I heard 1t
talked Of on the street, and while have
no personal or professional connection
with the Southern States company, ex-
cept In connection with the duty am
now rerform!ns. Yet understood from
the proceedings which took place the
othcr day. that there IS now In progress
Or negotiation between the city OF Nor
folk and the Southern States Telephone
cnmpan%- that there are nov. negotia-
lions pending For the pliIcha:c by the
city Of Norfolk Of the underground con-
dn'ts which have been laid here by the
Southern States company This com
panN was required when Il laid those
condutS, in consideration or the prom
isc that everybody should be treated
10 provide enough room for other com
panicts 70 lay their wires there too
more room than it needed.
Now this second clause OF the ordi-
nance gives these people The right. the
absolute right If they should undertake
event these people Will take, in the
event they will humil!ate themselves
enough 10 accept what they are de-
manding Of you all, in that event they
have tho poWer ITO use the public ways
Of the city Of Norfolk for the purpose
and owning under the public ways
above mentioned. sub-ways or conduits.
etc." so that to pass the ordinance In
It's present shape practically settles
the question Of the purchase by the
city Of these conduits Of the Southern
States. What arc YOU going TO do
with them? They are larger than are
needed by the Southern States, be-
cause YOU required them to put them
down; and for this other company TO
come in and do this work, looks TO me
as IL that negotiation was off. I don't
care il it Is: it is none Of my fight; but
there Is just that little matter in the
franchise which it seems to ME might
as we'll be looked to.
Now I will say just 4 few words on
some other matters which occur to me.
and I want to comment just few mo-
mcnis--and I do it differentially so far
rs any personality Is concerned, upon
the attitude Of this company. They
say they will not comc-that IL their at
!itude--if the city undertakes to put
any limit on the kind Of business they
would do or the way it must be done.
While General Meaney was talking, in
answer TO question OF Mr.. Anderson,
thought / was mistaken and think
now ! Was mistaken. but I understood
him to say in answer to the question,
Why they wanted to do a local bust
ness here when they We're not doing It
elsewhere that lie was not asking for
q right to do local business here,
properly so-callcd. [ rather thought was
exactly what they were asking. and
this question before the Councils this
evening does not involve the question
whether the Councils are willing to have
4 long distance telehonc connection
With Norfolk, it involves the question
whether, in order TO get il from these
people they are also TO give this bonus
in the shape of an unrestricted local
franchise. "
Why can't they do here az they 90
elsewhere? They go 70 o.her cities.
and vet they are not operating under
any local franchises IL other cities.
How do they connect? They must con-
meet with some other companies some
Local! companies, IL they .se not npe
rating under their own local franchise.
How DO they make Their connections
unless they are? Nell,sif they do thai
elsewhere why can't they DO II here .