Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-01
A BREEZY MEETING.
STREET COMMITTEES wRANGLEs
OVER SCHEDULES.
SUB GMMI7TEE REPORT DEFEATED.
The Situation Now Unchanged-Mr.
EbeI Conducts n Vigorous Fight
Against the Old Company-A
Lengthy and Lively Debate.

|
pointed to Investigate the condition and
schedules of the street-car companies
came up for consideration. For three
hours the two penalty ordinances pre-
sented by the subcommittee formed the
| subject OF debate that was highly
spiced at times. and not little acrimo-
Nous. The report was subsequently de-
feated upon n tie vote, and the situation
is precisely the same that 1t was before
the subcommittee was appointed
Mr.. Ebel led the fight against the CON-
panies, and Mr.. Pollock. although chair
man OF the subcommittee. opposed the
report. Captain Cuigon, representing the
Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany, urged that the company had not
been represented at the meetings OF the
subcommittee. and was therefore not in
a position TO reply to the report and the
ordinances which accompanied 1t. Mr..
! SHIELD, counsel for the Traction Company.
stated that the president Of that road
was out OF the city. and therefore could
not reply to the report. The Traction
| Company, he said, would, however, be
| able TO comply with the requirements
within thirty days.
The members attending the session
were Messrs. Allen chairman. Burton,
Gibson. Ebel, King, Pollock, Peters, and
Woody. There were also present Messrs
II. X. Pollard, City Attorney; w. Il. Cut
shaw. City Engineer; a. Il. Guigon, rep
resenting the Richmond Railway and
Electric Company; Phil. l.. SHIELD, Of the
Traction Company, and number OF citi-
zens interested in the legislation pending.
The ordinance allowing the Chesapeake
"A rfIc
spur-track from its main line along the
western side of Mill street to point near
Potter. for the benefit OF Mr.. John 5.
Bordner. of Alexandria, who is establish
ing glass plant at the corner OF Mill
and Hospital streets, was recommended
TO the Council, after the insertion of the
provision that the glass plant company
shall keep Mill street in proper repair.
The ordinance allowing the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
Company TO construct spur-track from
its lot west OF Harrison and north of
Broad street. into the property of the
Home Brewing Company. which is erect
ing an extensive plant, was recommend
ed to the Council.
THE ELECTRICAL COMPANY.
The ordinance extending the time for
the commencement and completion of its
hydraulic work by the Virginia Electrical
Railway and Development Company came
next. and under this paper the company
is required to commence work October /,
1899 and complete the same by October
/. 1900. al which time the company shall
begin TO erect poles and run wires, and
within six months thereafter furnish cleo
tricity TO the extent OF at least 2,oC0-horse
power.
Colonel Cutshaw suggested that all re-
ference to the construction of subways
be cut out of the ordinance. 1t behooved
the city 10 be careful on that point, he
said. The suggestion was adopted, and
the ordinance was recommended to the
Council
STREET-CAR ORDINANCES.
The street-car ordinances were the next
business. Mr.. Pollock, chairman of the
subcommittee which looked into the mat
ter and presented the ordinances. said
counsel for the companies had stated
that they had not had time to prepare
themselves with data to argue against
the ordinances. He was aware that the
Council was anxious for an early report
but he was unwilling to take any adj
vantage OF the counsel, he said and have
them come before the Council with COM
plants which should properly be made
TO the Street Committee.
On mis- motion, Mr.. Guigon was given
the floor. He said he had only seen the
ordinances and City Engineers report
three days ago. and he was not ready to
go into the matter. He appealed To the |
committee as a tribunal of justice Tor |
continuance, and said any court in the |
country would grant continuance OF a |
case under similar circumstances.
IF have committed murder every day |
for two years" he said, adopting IAN
guage that had been applied TO his COM |
pany, IL am still entitled 10 trial I'M |
der the laws Of the land"
WAS LIKE LYNCHING.
The speaker characterized the inten-
ton of the committee 10 take up the |
matter at once as something very like |
'Iynching for murder" He said he had |
no intention of attempting to dissuade |
the committee from adopting some such |
measures az were proposed. but he did |
hope to secure some notifications.
Mr. SHIELD asked az a matter or cour-
tesy that the consideration of the report
be postponed until the next regular meet
ing as no officer Of his company had yet |
had a chance TO read the ordinances ex-
cepting himself
MR.. POLLOCK'S MOTION.
Mr.. Pollock said in view of the fact
that counsel for the two companies had
not been invited 10 be present at the
meetings of the committee when the or
dinances were considered, he thought the
matter should be postponed. He moved,
therefore, that the matter be laid on the
table for one week, and that the Coun-
Gil be notified that a report would be
submitted at its May meeting.
Mr.. Ebel opposed the motion. saying
that the delay in the matter had come
10 be an imposition upon the public. He
did not think the proposed ordinances
worked any hardship upon the companies.
They should. he thought be grateful to
the City Engineer and TO the committee
for pointing out the defects In their lines.
''The people want better schedules" he
concluded.
MIR. King spoke in favor of postpone
ment
Mr. Ebel again took the floor. claiming
hat representativ Of the electric lines
had been i'm possession OF information |
gotten together by the City Engineer for
'ome time
Mr.. Guigon declared, on the contrary.
hat he had absolutely been unable to
iecure the information He had much
in his possession, he said,
obtained from his own inspection, by |
means of which he expected 10 show in
.ccuracies In the City Engineers report.
a TIE VOTE.
After an excited colloquy between ! s
iossrs. Pollock and Ebel. in which the |
after accused the former of "bad taste"
dr. Pollock moved to defer consideration
4 the matter until next Saturday night.
'he motion was lost by the following tie
'ote:.
Noes-Messrs. Burton. Ebel. Gibson, and
'eterS-i.
Ayes-Messrs. King, Pollock. Allen, and
Voody@.
OPPOSED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
The same fate overlook a motion TO 4.
diourn subject to the call OF the chair 1
nan. and the report was taken up.
The reading having been concluded, d
'aptain Guigon again stated that he was o
ot prepared and could have nothing 10 =
ay on the subject.
Mr. Pollock said though he had been =.
hairman of the subcommittee which !.
repaired the report and was in full SYM
athv with IL. yet he would be compelled u
> tbts time 10 vote against 1t. since the | c
ompanies had been given no opportunity
, be heard. Il
RAcTIoN COMPANY COULD COM s