The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-04

the taxation feature OF the ordinance
which he thought ought 10 be amended.
CALLED IT \ HUMBUG.
In my opinion" he said, "this ordi-
nance IS a humbug on its face. | don't
believe there is "A gentleman in the
Council who would vote for IL under the
impression that it was TO continue no
longer than the franchise of the Main
street line As sensible men you will be
driven 10 he conclusion that IL must be
made permanent. There is no reason
which could be advanced why it should
not be perpetual. Whysthen, do you
not make It perpetual "
Mr.. Reddy went on 10 say that he
knew the city Attorney and eX-City At
torney had said that the ordinance was
a good one, and their opinions were en-
titled 10 great weight.
"But" he said. you would have laugh
ed at any one who had told you years
ago that when the franchise of the Bell
Telephone Company expired it would not
get out. You may laugh at me now.
but / tell YOU frankly that this line has
been given the right 10 carry the mails
and I do not know where Federal inter-
ference begins or where II ends"
Mr. Reddy referred 10 the city having
been taken by the throat Of The Federal
power. and solemnly warned the COM
mittee 20 approve no measure which
bristled with precautions as did the one
under consideration.
You may say this Is buncOmbe." he
said. but / tell you that Federal inter
ference IS no buncombe. 7 beg of YOU TO
reject this ordinance. which. upon its
face. confesses that you have no conf
dence in the position assumed"
ID
Mr. Hin Montague. representing the
Young Mems Business Association, fol-
lowed Mr.. Roddv. Mr. Montague said
that he heartily believed that the three
hundred young men banded together in
that organization had the good of the
city al heart. AMI they believed that the
Council had better go slow and wait un-
iii the expiration Of the franchises of
the Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany.
Taking mp the ordinance Mr. Monta-
que echoed the words of Mr. Reddy, that
il Is a "hot-bed Of litigation" The bond
clause he cited as a fruitful cause OF
dispute.
As 10 the mail-carrying matter Mr..
Montague said that ii might be that the
company would have 10 carry the mails
from Seven Pines al the way up Main
street, AllA Allt COVER ll4llNlAN NA NnT AAAAh'I
States would prevent any interference
with its system.
Gentlemen. he concluded. 'I beg OF
you 10 wait a few more months as tho
electric railway has already made you
wait eleven years. Don't you know that
they would not ask yo 10 allow them 70
remove their tracks IL they did not think
that It would better their chances? \
move Of his kind must make rs think
that they would struggle desperately to
retain their franchise
Mr.. j.. c. Pe0uze, owner of the I'M
perial Hotel. briefly entered mis- protest
against the removal OF the tracks. say
ing that il would damage his property
10 the extent Of $4,000
Mr. Henry Lee Valentine, president Of
the Young Mems Business Associatan,
was next heard. Before beginning his
remarks he presented letter from Or.
Hunter Mcclure protesting against the
removal Of the tracks.
Mr.. Valentines remarks were brief.
ana he referred entirely to the schedule
of the company and its probable effect
upon It by the track removal.
THE COMPANY'S SIDE.
Capt. Guigon was next given the floor.
He first replied briefly 10 some criticisms
of previous speakers. and then paid a
compliment 10 the general spirit and in
tent OF the Y. NJ. -. A. which, however.
on this occasion. he said. had undertaken
to tel the committee that its legal adj
visors were IN error.
He then went on 10 take up and answer
the arguments OF Messrs. Reddy and
Montague. In regard 10 the sneering
statement Of the latter that the COM
pany was a public benefactor." Capt.
Gugon said that its managers did not
claim TO be angels with wings. but he
asserted that its enterprise was con-
siderable factor in the well being of the
city.
lie showed that the removal OF the
tracks would take the cars out Of bad
locality and OFF bad track. and run
them on frst-class tracks through good
locality.
RIDICULED THE IDEA.
Mr. Guigon ridicued the idea that the
granting Of this privilege would lessen the
value of the Main street franchise when
II came to be sold two years hence. 1T
Is true" said he. THAT our company
hopes TO be allowed 10 continue 10 operate
its Clay street cars on Main between
and Seventh streets. after
the expiration Of the present franchise.
even should il be then granted 10 some
other company. We are satisfied the
Council will never again grant an exclu-
sive franchise 10 any company, and there
fore Il will certainly allow US to continue
TO use those tracks for that distance II
Il finds. as we believe 1t will, that It is
public benefit and convenience II 1t does
not. why then we viii go back 10 Franklin
and Bank streets. with this gain that We
shall have had two years to put the line
I'm perfect condition"
After combating various arguments
advanced and showing that nine-tenths OF
the community favored the proposed
change. the speaker took up the FED
eral interference question, and SAID that
while such alarm was manifested az al
lowing a line Of cars 70 run over anoth-
er road whose franchise expired first
the committee seemed 10 have forgotten
that that privilege had been twice grant
ed by the Council TO the Richmond and
Manchester line. without any such fear