The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-27
CONDUIT ROUTES APPROVED,
Nv. Bcmiss Say, the Work VIII he
Compictcd i'm Ninety Working Day.

The Committee ON streets met Oh spe-
eisi session last night 10 o9naiHeI 'i'e
aupIicatiou of the Virginia Electrical Ran
yy,v and Development Company lor as
ment of routes for the conduits, which
the company il authorized 10 puma uH-
der am ordinance passed by inc Ci'y
Council
The city Attorney presented ms opln-
ION ON the question raised al lhe '"''
meeting az the committee namely Whe'h-
er the City Council had the rlsht TO oei-
ceate to jho Committee Oh Streets tne
mower ID has delegated u reference io
,n. conduit ordinances and the assign
ro.nt of routes bv the committee. me
opiuiou. which is quite lengthy. deals
elbsustfvelv with the Legislative func-
lions" OF "a municipal body. tie quotes
authorize. and cites precedenis, among
fh. latter the ordinance giving fran
cbise to the Richmond Standard Ie.c-
phone Company. which provides that "thc
streets along which The said company may
erect poles and run overhead wires shdli
be- determined from time 60 time by the
Committee on Streets. and the ordinance
granting the right of way 10 the South
ern Bel Telephone and Telegraph COM
pany.
HAS THE RIGHT.
stating "upon the authorities cited and
for the reasons stated. | am Of opinion
that the City Council had the right TO
delegate 10 the Committee on Streets the
power conferred Boy section of the ordi-
nance referred to-
The petition of the company was then
tak,.i from the table. and Mr.. Ebel moved
that the routes asked for should be as
signed subject TO the approval of the City
Engineer
The CITY Engineer made a statement
in regard 20 the material TO be used and
the routes asked I'm the course Of his
explanation he stated that he believed a
mistake had been made in not reserying
TO the city the right to acquire the con-
Quits of the company al amy time when
municipal ownership might become de-
sirable.
Replying to Mr.. Ebel the City Attor-
nov stated that after January !. lg00.
new method Of taxation might b' pre-
scribed. The provision IN the present or
dlnance expires at the date above mem
toned. and unless a new tax is imposed
or provided for, the company cannot be
taxed.
TIE CITYS WIRES
Superb eudcnt Thompson Of the Fire
Alarm Department, stated that he had
considered the matter very carefully and
was convinced that the interests Of the
city We're carefully conserved. lie thought
one duct would be ample for the city's
business This Is provided for tn the or
dinance The company proposes to start
from the power house with sixty-three
ducts.
The City Engineer explained the route
in detail, and Mr.. Bemiss. president Of the
company. said that If the committee
passed the routes he would sign to-day a
contract that would ensure the whole
work being completed in ninety working
days
MR.. BLOOMBERG OBJECTED.
Mr. Bloomberg said he felt constrained
10 vote against approving the petition Of
the company for the reason that II was
never contemplated ly the CITY Council
when they granted the franchise. that
they were giving a general conduit ordi-
nance for thirty years. nor did he believe
that the company thought il was securing
such q valuable concession He stood pre-
pared 10 vote 20 give the company a suffi-
Client accommodate - for its own business.
and IL they woulu 9sk for that privilege
only he would vote FOR 10. but could rot
vote TO carry out am ordinance which
granted so much under such circum-
stances.
The committee then adopted Mr.. EbeTs
molten Mr.. Bloomberg alone voting in the
NEGATIVE.
The committees on Health Schools and
Second Market. met and transacted rou-
tine business.