Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-07
tained franchises. merely to hawk them
about, 10 sell to the highest bidder.
PUTTING WIRES UNDERGROUND.

Mr.. Rountree moved to amend the SCI
o ton which provides that the compan
shall remove It's poles and wires froi
other streets or squares I'm addition
those specified. and run It's wires In cor
duits therein at the rate OF not more tina
two squares per year" by substituting I
the provision the words mot less tina
four squares
: Mr.. Bloomberg opposed this. He SAT-
Il would be a great hardship TO the con-
pany, as they might be compelled TO pu
their whole system underground In ont
year.
Mr. Rountrce said he still felt that
something more definite was needed thar
the ordinance provided. He was willing
to let his amendment read, Not less
than four years or more than eight"
Mr. Bloomberg contended that It was
making an invidious distinction against
! new enterprises which are started here
| 10 compete with old organizations.
Mr.. Rountree said IL was time the city
| began TO look closer after its interests,
| and the present was the best time 10
| begin.
Mr. Jones spoke against the amendment,
and II was lost.
The ordnance. as amended, was then
adopted, as a whole.
THE HOME COMPANY.
The ordinance granting tho same privi-
leges TO the Home Electric Company was
then considered. The terms and sections
of this instrument are identical with
those of the Southern Electric Company
The same amendments were moved, and
adopted.
Mr.. Alex Mccullough was present.
representing the labor unions, and upon
motion of Mr.. Horace a. Hawkins he |
was given the privilege of the floor. Mr.. |
McCulloch explained his mission which |
ne SAID, was to protest most solemnly |
ana emphaucally against the granting |
OF these franchises. He had a short
paper, addressed 10 the Council by the
socialist Labor party which incorporated
'he views of the labor unions, he said,
ana TINS he proceeded 10 read The pro-
test is couched in trenchant terms.
The petitions regard the supplying Of
power as being a public function. which
should be conducted by the municipaiity
N the interest of every member of its
equation. They insist that it is the |
iuty OF a city 10 protect itself and its
'llZens from being robbed and exploited |
y irresponsible corporations. The past |
experience OF the city. they insist, with
uch corporations, which were granted
uDllc privileges, constitute a most m I
satisfactory chapter of our municipal his {
oIy' IL is one continuous record of c
roken promises, unfulhlled duties. exor- (
ltaht charges, and inadequate service. l.
Iad the city Council hearkened TO the 4
Use advice offered two years ago. the
etltioners continue. when an effort was h
due ior municipal electric-lght plant q
le city would not to-day be brought face II
race with the alarming expedients of
'uuclhs the school term. and thus sacri- | 7,
ing the education of the workingman's | f.
lldren. Attention is called to the state 81
the cltys finances, which are said 10 be
pioraDie; 10 the steadily depreciaung n
operty values, and to the falling off in m
e TAX receipts which is inevitable. bt
AN EVER-INCREASING DEFICIT
ne petition continues: with business te
lshant (Dun d Bradstreet, notwitb IN
,hulhg)' and the department stores 10
Isihs the smaller merchandisers TO TO
IN up the ahctioneer's red flag in 5
mt or their establishments. the cItv's ]
one from business licenses will crow ca
adily smaller. or,
There must be an eyer-increa SING do ink
IN the citys finances unless the nu- an
panty adopts a policy in line with pro- Az
- common sense, and economy" an
petitioners think that the one solu- Ha
OF the problem is for the CITY TO onl
INTO the franchise business. but TO 7
81 III thc interest OF every man, Wo- =,
., and child who live within IFS v
ts.' The benefits to municipalities mil
n retaining TO themselves the func- sen
of electric-lighting are insisted fro
H. and statistics are given. More Chf
2o cities and towns, II is said. own thIl
successfully operate their electric NJ
us, fact which the petitioners rea
N demonstrates the feasibility OF Wol
icipal ownership of this function the
RGINTA CO,rpAN,v,O r,,,,,r,,rl~,, coul
lone, -. -, - iON' thai
In order that the ordinance of the NJ
ma Electric Company should be lot
y from the table and considered. H.
terms of this ordinance are similar a q,
lose of the other two. 80
oil should 90 ~, ne thought the date
hese franoftsoa iS'io sioW III grant very
TO vote for anything that would 80;
ote the material prosperity of the gnar
rms ordinance, he said, gave away -
of the city, one of the ~
valuable assets the city had to dis ~ VI
OF. lie was willing to vote for it 49,
When he was convinced that the 49,.
MS were going to reap the full bene- ~,
tho Conner, -, ~ 'hIT VI uI- Tues
at cost S,II,, o. nan o'iIc- whicl
the mower cor 10 80, "a In, Iess Mr..
Owed 10 a,no,,d Sod iueue oy steam Of tn
nroviso tbat tho rr,.,,. 10 Wy duu- He W
he 81 ner borse-non,a. ,1n. Ia - land
EbeI aslfed for 49, 5 pc ioil ! purch
ton az 10 tbe cnst 80 ,inlS',, III bonds
over The measure car1a hotnre Mr.
,ounciI &C he Trdarstoan peioIe Mr.. /
by the most prominent merchants non .
city. The citizens. he cOntended WIFI
receive direct benefit from il, as pieFd
ia be much cheaper than coal.
Wallerstein said power was sup The
at from $l5 to $50 a horsepower. | asked
ond, he said. had a magnificent ter Oh
power and his amendment would The
e price at 50 year per horse ton o
He urged the Council not TO act brancl
lily in a matter where so much is mousl,
e. which
moved that the repre- the p,
We Of the company should be heard conduC
power
EAKS FOR THE COMPANY. nesses
William Todd, representing the COM docum
pplying for a franchise said the "A III
was merely one of comnetition regard
uncil had already voted away two age OF
ses granting the same privileges. was ao
company could go to the river and OF the
the power. eve have surveyed Of any
'er." he continued. THE engineer city "
e thinks it will be so much. but Secti'
Tres are. OF course, only approx the me-
He argued thai no limit had yer of Poll
aced in any city. and IL was next the BE
ossible for one To he imnosed vides Il
5 no monopolv. II must he a mes years
lply and solely of competition. The and by
( Mr. WalersteIn's amendment their n
'e to drive away competition two-thi
asked Mr. Todd ~ | amendn