The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-07

pany. and they were adopted. as was ono
onered by Mr.. Wallerstein inserting the
names OF the officers Of the company In
the first section.
MIR. MCULLOUGHS PROTEST.
Before the ordinance was voted upon
Mr.. Alexander Mccullough. on motion OK
Mr.. Hawkins. was given the floor. MT.
Mccullough said he was present TO pro-
test against the granting OF franchises 70
any OF the companies now applying IN
the name OF the Socialist LABOR party
and OF Local Union No. /. OF virginia, Oh
the Brotherhood OF the Co-opera.iNe
commonwealth. Mr.. Mccullough theh
read paper signed by himself as secre-
tary OF the above organizations. stating
among other things that II Is the duty Oh
the city to protect Itself from being ex-
plotted and robbed by irresponsible cor
porations. who subordinate the interest
OF the people to the creating OF fat uiN-
dends for a class which tolls not hei'he'
spins"
THE past experience of the city goes
on the paper. with these corporations
which were granted public privileges con-
stitutes most unsatisfactory cnaPte' Vi
our municipal history. II Is a con,ii,uou'
record of broken promises, uniulllliea u.1
ties. exorbtant charges. ana ''"uequ"'e
service"
The paper then draws dismal picture
~ tho affairs NJ the city. and states that
unless some change is made u WIZ pe ~
cessary TO enlarge the Jail to take care
Of the unemployed. AS a remedy IL Is
suggested that Richmond follow the ex-
ample of the corporations ana go INTO
the franchise business.
1t then goes on by facts ana ngures -
show the benefits accruing from niuu'c
pal ownership OF plants, eiec'ric anu
otherwise. and I'm conclusion memoriallzes
the Council TO refuse TO grant eiecttic"l
franchises to any company now dpplyins'
to appoint a committee to ascertain '"s
cost of erecting a municipal pant an"
that at the election I'm May, 1879 the peo-
pIe be allowed to vote on the question.
Mr.. Mccullough closed with an earnest
plea I'm behalf Of the propositions set
forth in tho paper presented.
vote was then taken on the ordinance
granting a franchise to the Home Elec-
trio Company, and 1t was unanimously
adopted.
on motion Of Mr.. Jones the rules were
suspended and the ordinance granting
franchise to the Virginia Electric Com
pany was then taken up.
PRESCRIBE THE CHARGES.
Mr. Wallerstein. after saying that he
was willing to grant a franchise to the
Virginia Company. provided the citizens
Of Richmond should receive proper nene-
| IN for giving away such a valuable priv
iiege. For that reason he offered an
amendment 10 the thirteenth section pro-
viding that the maximum charge for pow
| or shall not exceed s. per horse power
| per month.
Mr.. Wallerstoin said that he did not
know whether this figure was reasona-
bic one. he only offered IL to arrive at
what would he reasonable.
/ Mr.. Wallersteln said that he had been
| informed that the electric power furnish
! ed from Niagara Falls was charged for
at the rate Of from 81 to S35 per annum
| while the amendment he offered would
| allow SEQ
After Mr. Ebel had made few remarks
| opposing the motion Mr. Bloomberg
1 moved that a representative ~ the COM
pany he heard. The motion was adopted
| and Mr. William Todd was given the
| floor. He made the point that two fran
| chises had Just been given away just as
valuable as that asked by the Virginia
! Company He stated further that compe-
| ,ition could safely be depended upon to
| regulate cost Of power. He also called
! attention 10 the impossibiltv AT the time
10 fix a figure for power. as his company
could not possibly know what its ex'
pensos would be. II was. he said. clearly
| a question % competition.
Mr.. Wallerstedn asked Mr.. Todd n num-
her Of questions. and endeavored To make
| him admit that his company being ena-
| bled 10 produce power more cheaply by
| water than rival cocern could by steam.
! could drive that concern out Of the field.
| and then. under the ordinance. charge
whatever II chose.
Mr. Todd aid not answer this query di-
rectly lie would not say that being
| compelled 10 charge only s. per month
| would be hardship. because. he stated.
Il was impossible now 10 know the initial
| cost Of the plant.
Mr.. f. A. Catlin. who had given Mr..
Wallerstein the information about the
charge for electric power at Niagara
Fails explained 10 the Council that the
peculiar condition Of affairs there. pre-
vented there being any analogy between
the two plants.
Mr.. H. l.. Cabell. on behalf Of the
| Chamber Of Commerce. said that the
Virginia Company had been fully inves-
| tigated by the chamber and had its
hearty support The chamber wanted
the CITY protected. but believed the meas
IRE under consideration would fully ac-
complish that end. He thought it's pas
| sage would greatly benefit the city. and
cause real estate 20 enhance in value
some said fully hftv per cent He be-
ieved. he said that he voiced the wishes
Of the whole Chamber Of Commerce wher
he asked that the franchise be granted.
| Mr. Wallerstein's amendment was Their
lost by vote Of 10 10 10.
Mr. Jones then offered an amendmen
| ho ha
lines of the company should be designat
ed by the Street Committee before an
work was done. The amendment wa
adopted
NAMES or THE OFFICERS.
Mr. Wallerstein then offered an amend
ment. which was adopted. inserting IN
| names of the present officers in the frs
| section. The ordinance as a whole wa
then adopted.
This concluded the wholesale franchis
business. and the visitors in the chan
her thinned out perceptibly, while othe
| matters were taken up.
| An ordinance was adopted allowing
| w. r lanton TO erect an area and steT
at the corner OF Tnth and Leigh street
Also permittig NJ. l.. Pease to put up
sign a 81 State street.
The application OF the Southern BE
| TeleDh one Company 10 replace with ne
ones defective poles. was received an
fled.
re solution was received from u
| street Committee recommending the al
propria ton Of s3779 10 for the payment
dan ages sustained by the bursting OF
sewer on Fourth street The parties des
mated are as follows:
r. +. and VI. l.. Dun,. S525. Mrs. Edr
| n. II II