Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-18
THEY DEFER ACTION.
STREET COMMITTEES PUTS OFF
CONSIDERING PHONE ORDINANCE.
MORE CHANGES THAN EXPECTED
The Paper as Drawn by The City
Attorney Contained Provisions
Sell Some of the Mules.

City Hall last night. There was a fuli
attendance OF members, and In antcipa-
ticn OF the consideration by the com
mittee OF the Long Distance telephone
ordinance. the room was fairly crowd
ed with interested parties Both the
American Telephone ana Telegraph Com
pany OF Virginia and the Richmond
Telephone Company were represented by
counsel. The matter, although 1t was
discussed at length. remains ia s'aiu quo,
as the committeeman were unpre-
pared for the changes made by the CITY
Attorney In revising the ordinance, so
as TO fully protect the interests OF 'he
city. There was some MISUNDERSTANDING
in regard TO the matter, and the con
sideration OF the changes was postponed
Several matters of importance to the
department we've brought TO the attention
of the committee by the City Attorney
and city Engineer. and great volume OF
routine matters was disposed OF.
WANTS TRACKS TAKEN UP.
Chairman Allen called the body TO order.
After the usual preiiminaries. II was
moved by Mr.. Bloombers that the rules
should be suspended. i'm order that those
who had special matters 10 Jay pe'o4e
the committee might be heard.
Mr. Morgan II. Mills petitionei Tor the
removal OF a part Of the sreet-faliWay
track on Ninth street ana ane n'T rne same mn
petitioner asked that he might be allowed
10 make n culyert connection between the
residence No. 406 west Grace street ana ana
under the supervision of the City Engi-
neer. The City Attorney, VINO was pre-,
ent. gave il as his opinion that IN such
a case, where such concession was 10
the interest of the city. the committee
might overstep the limits imposed by the
law and grant the request. \ motion t.
this effect was ouered by MI. EDei, ana
adopted.
TO HAVE GENERAL TRANSFERS.
Captain Andrew p,z1ini. Jr.. OF the
Richmond RaiIWav and Electric Company,
and Mr. Phillil Il Sheid. counsel fOr
the Traction Company, appeared together,
and requested that all matters pertaining
10 street-raiiWay legislation might be
postponed until the 18th instant, by which
time ii was expected that system or
transfers would be agreed upon by the
granted.
An Interesting discussion was aroused
over a request from the Cemetery Com
nnittee for the use of harness and scoops
in the cemeteries for ten DAYS. Mr..
Bloomberg moved that the mules also
should be loaned. as they were at pres
tNN SldHIiIS III tUt SlcbitS anu iCllhNA-
ing the city no service.
Mr.. Carter moved as an amendment that
the sum of 50 day for each team har-
ness, and scoop should be charged. The
Chair ruled both motions out of order.
1t was not legal. he thought. for the
committee TO lend or loan its equipment
10 any, other committee. This opinion
Bioomberg. and after both motions had
been withdrawn a resolution by Mr..
Bloomberg that the mules. scoops, and
mittee be lent. upon the understanding
that the animals are properly fed during
the time they are used and returned in
proper condition. was adopted.
LONG-DISTANCE ORDINANCE.
Upon motion Of Mr.. Bloomberg. the
long-dstance telephone ordinance WAS
next taken up. The ordinance prepared
by the City Attorney. pursuant to the
resolution adopted by the committee.
April 18th was then read. Mr.. Bloom
berg submitted that the ordinance diff
fered in many essentials from the one
which the committee adopted and I'm
siructed the Attorney to shape up. The
present ordinance. ne said. differs par
ticularly In the matter Of rates and con-
Mr. Pollock endorsed Mr.. Bloomberes
view. He said that the action of the
City Attorney appeared to him 10 b. un-
precedented No one could recognize in
the ordinance prepared by the City At
torney the lines laid down by the COM
mittee.
The chairman explained that the City
Attorney had stated very plainly that
at would be impossible for him to pro-
perly conserve the interests of the CITY
by merely incorporating the views of the
committee. and al a subsequent meeting
Mr.. Meredith was told to prepare an or
dinance upon legal lines fully protecting
the interests of the city and the paper
just read was drawn by the Attorney.
pursuant to that resolution.
Mr.. Pollock introduced q substitute 10
the ordinance which. he said. he had
prepared, Incorporating the ideas of the
committee as expressed when outlining
new ordinance.
The substitute met with opposition from
all quarters. and Mr.. Pollock withdrew it.
TAKEN UP BY SECTIONS.
Mr.. Ebel then moved that the old ordi-
nance should be considered section by
should point out wherein 1t was illegal
or aid not conserve the city's interest.
the iirst clause of this ordinance, said
Mr. Meredith, gave the American TeIe-
phone and Telegraph Company of Viz
ginia telegraph rights. Under such a
provision the city would fasten upo,
itself just such corporation az they
were trying to get rid of to-day. If
would let the company come in here. pro-
tected by the interstate commerce laws.
Mr.. Bloomberg said he thought the
commute had Inherent information 70
the. City Attorney. The company was
really telegraph company and made
its distant connections by telegraphing.
inc second section, dealing with tho
lone-distance system and the local dis
tribution system, Mr.. Meredith said. prac-
tically gave up the right to make con-
Quits on Broad street The next section
which dealt with the laying of the in
sulators and planting of poles. the Attor-
ney pointed out, contained no restriction
as 10 wires, insuators and man-holes.
Mr.. Meredith then said he came up a,
he last meeting absolutely at sea No
provision had been made for the placing
OF poles. wires, and all the other details
At the same time he had listened TO tho
views of counsel, and had worked out a
scheme that he believed to be fair n,
lli He had based the ordinance on the
bne drawn by the old committee on orii-
nances Of other cities. and upon the
combined experience of the City Engi-
neer. the Superintendent of the Fife
Alarm, and himself. He did not thinl,
the ordinance he had prepared embraced
a single provIso that the city ought moi
10 have
Mr.. Ebel moved that the question
should be postponed until the evening OF
the 26th instant at O'Clock. so that the
matter could be further deiiberated ed The She
motion was put and carried by vote OF
6 to 8.
MUST DIVERT THE SEWER.
The City Attorney drew the attention
OF the committee TO the disastrous effects
likely TO result TO the Gallego- Mills pro-
der the building 10 the mill-race. IL was
liable to involve the city in enormous
\ expense. He suggested that the channel
A should be diverted from Seventh street
N 10 Twelfth 10 Mill Ridge. a route which
the Engineer had mapped out.
The committee. after brief discussion
adopted the motion OF Mr. King to ap-
propriate $500 for this purpose
REDUCE THE STREET FORCE.
The City Engineer informed the com.