Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-11-30
COMMON COUNCIL.

Gil of Alexandra, Va, held Monday M So
vember 29th 1897, there were present: ~
Hubert Snowden, esq.,, President. and
Messrs. Alton Moore, C. N. Moore. striS ias
Latham, Birrell, Brill, Harrison, Greera'
Smith, Uhler and Ficklin.
A communication was received from Fo,
George L. Simpson, Mayor, convening ,bn
City Council for the purpose Of CONSIDERING
his reasons for not signing the ordinsncss
passed November 23rd, 1897. granting ceT.
tain privileges TO the American TcIe6bona
and Telegraph Company OF Virginia.
The following message WAS received:
MAYORS OFFICE.
ALEXANDRIA. Va Nov. 20. 1872
TO the Honorable City Council OF AIey.r.
dria:
Gentlemen:-I respectfully return. with.
out my approval the ordinance passed h.,
your honorable tody November 23rd. 1sg-
granting to the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company of Virgins, the right IL
erect pole, and wires on the public st,estssnG
alleys of the city of Alexaudris, and Will
my disapproval is naturally and sincerely 90.
companied with the regret that it apparently
places me in opposition to you, the represents.
lives of the citizens of Alexandra. csnno,
without reprehensibly ignoring that which
deem conscientious duty. Withhold view.
upon matters touching the rights of Aleysn.
dria's people; therefore, am ! constrained IN
submit to your generous and intelligent con.
sideration reasons for trespassng upon your
time and convenience, reasons predics.ei
upon sn earnest belief that the ordinance
bereinbefore mentioned contains elements
akin to positive invasion OF municipal powen,
and which viticate one of the fusdaplen,sl
virtues Of public policy, impartiality in The
distribution of municipal favors.
If We compare the provisions of this ordi.
nance under discussion with privileges here.
tofore granted. We are confronted by An Nm.
justly discriminating anomaly, for where
other companies are required 70 give bond for
correct compliance with obligations, no bond
is demanded of the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company. Within stated period
other companies are compe led to replace
wooden poles with iron Cnes, and no su,h
wise provision is incorporated in this new or.
dnaMce. Other companies are forbidden ia
transfer their franchises, and the Am rcsn
Telephone and Telegraph Company is specisl.
ly invested with powers of transmission 10
successors and assigns. II we scknowleige
the incontrovertibilty of the contention tbs,
owners of properly. whether individual or
corporate. have an inherent and inalieusble
right to dispose of their holdings, without 10.
teIvention and without aid OF ordinance we
fail to destroy the incongruity of inserting
prohibition in one case and permission in an.
other. most injurious poss'b ilty is srg.
gested by the gift to t. Q American Telephone
and Telegraph Company of the right to erect
poles without limit and practically upon the
streets without number, and the danger of
this concession if in no vie lessened when
accompanied with the argument that the see.
ond section modifies OF even abrogates the
first for is this should be 80, the City Eng
neer and Committee on Streets become pos
sessed OF power TO place poles upon every
street in our city, not excluding King street
which the City Council in is wisdom except
I'd in the fist section of ordinance, sud
there will remain therefore the offensive fsct
OF suboidinates exercising an authority thit
should never be segregated from direct Coun.
Gil legislation. If there are abuses, prescn, or
prospective, in an ordinance, elimination
should precede adoption, for safety is not ST.
ways born of the belief that repeating clauses
are panacea. But few weeks ago, ard
quote from recollection of Dew.plper items,
the city OF Richmond attempted TO interfere
with the telephone company, claiming, as !
uuucIolduu, IlguL 10 10 20, uDuer al Oii.-
nance. said right being embodied in the IN.
strument granting privileges to said company,
and United States Judge passing upon the
case decided in effect tina. said company
could erect poles upon all streets and alleys,
any provision to the contrary notwiths and.
Ing. In connection with this, quote from
al editorial in the Alexandra Gazette Au.
( ust 25,h, 1897, Judge Golf. of the United
states Circuit Court of Virginia. hns Just de.
cided that neither city nor State has aug
rights which the Bell Telephone Company i
bound to respect, and that that Company Csn
run its wires through such streets and alleys
as it may choose, irrespective of State law, or
city charter"
In conclusion, pardon me for adding that in
my hunb!e judgment too many safe guards
cannot be thrown around a community in the
matter of granting permission to erect poles
upon public thoroughfares. Tax paying psO.
pie who have increased property values, who
have improved premises, and bcautiicd both
home and city, have their labor and efforts 9f
teutimes thwsrted through the introduction
of unsightly distractions which impair values
and destroy attractions Respectfully.
GEORGE L. SIMPSON Mayor
Upon motion of Mr.. Smith further const.
GRAFTON of the matter was postponed until the
next regular meeting of the City Council.
After the reading of the ordinance as passed
by the City Council November %, 1891 The
board adjourned.
HUBERT SNOWDEN, President.
Taste n p CTANCDnDV CIorl-