Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-17
II. r. POLLARD,
NEWTON sYNDIcATE's

II. r. POLLARD,
City Attorney.
NEWTON SYNDICATE'S ORDINANCE.
On motion of Mr. King. the committee
decided TO take up the ordinance OF the
Boyd Newton syndicate. Mr. c. V. Mere
dith ex City Attorney, who appeared to
represent the Richmond Traction Com
pany. said the form of an ordinance
might be immateral. but he asked that
the Traction Company be heard.
Mr.. Pollock moved that counsel on both
sides should be heard. The Boyd-Newton
people. he said, were bound down by an
option. but he thought the matter was so
important that nothing would be lost by
getting all the light possible
Mr.. King spoke again in favor of his
motion. and supported the claims of the
Boyd-Newtcn syndicate. as matter OF
public policy. -
Mr.. Ebel supported Mr.. Pollock. There
is a new factor in the case now, ne
said. "the appearance Of Mr. Meredith
whose advice we az esteemed whHe ne
was with us"
Mr.. Bahen supported MIR. Pollock. and
M,. Ainslie said his company had no de-
sire TO shut off debate and he SAID ne
hoped Mr.. Meredith would be heard
BUSINESS. NOT SENTIMENT.
Mr.. Meredith spoke of the importance
of the step the committee was about 10
take. He wished especially 10 call atleh-
tion 10 the difference Of the Applications
ITe was not unbiased, he said, Out ne
hoped the committee could grant the
franchise so az to conserve the interests
~ the city There was no sentiment at
tacbed IN either petition. "The first ques-
i'm ,, he said. us. rs It wise 10 consoh-
dateg Have YOU seen anything IN ullS
cit,. evcent consolidation of railroad IN
torestsg All you have to do is 10 deter
mine not the advisability of constellation
hut whether there will be consohuatio
whether you will or no. You may deter
mine whether you don't want IT, out 'i'e
question IS. VIII It come. -
Who holds all the franchises III eiis
city to-day, he asked ana ne Ou', 81,
Tho history of the street railways IN RICH
- en- show that the Independent Ines
with the exception Of the TRACTION I'm
IN. had been monopolized by the Klcn-
mond Railway and Electric Compahy'
"W-bat You have 10 do" he said, 10 10
500 mat the city gets the beneht OF the
consolidation. and not the cOnsohuaIoi9 =
is the tendency OF the
times. When you come 10 lay asiue 'l,a'
question the question Is, what Is inc
80 vyay 10 give railway facilities 10 your
neoDleq Which is best, as FAR as faliiO"N
Transportation is concernedF
vou have the power under me Iraclioh
ordinance to make lhehl W
-, ,,ieh VIII you take from them
tho vherewithal to give these Iaclil'le9
80 vouq No one can say anythlng asaiiis0
the service rendered by the 1ilol'oii
company. VIII you grant them p,Ni
lie that you have enjoyed since .Io'. .
existence. or will you do something mat
will iniure them?
GIVE THEM ALL POWER
Taking M the Boyd-Newton ordinance
- ia. ssYou are asked 70 grant an I'D
eoluta franchise to this COMPANY. fasS
,bis ordinance and the petition STATUS
ike air in the eyes Of the law lo
company would be in position 10 say ~
the Richmond Railway ana fl"cir'o I'm
many: Gentlemen. we are now IN pos'-
tion to parallel your lines; now come ~
terms. If you grant this ordl''alio - ,''1
syndicate can run Va
street or any other street. -, o.,
lie deprecated the granting of such an
ordinance on the bare statement ula1
stock would be delivered. Who KNOWS
III the syndicate proposes TO acquire
tbe Richmond Railway and Electric COM
nonv9 Are YOU TO pass ordinances 10 iet
eenftemen speculate? he asked. Inc coon
is that they have an opuoh
fro,,, a company. and they come 10 you
ard ask for a franchise that they are hoI
now prepared TO take. Are the liaii1iiisoS
~ the citv SO cheap that men can COMIC
here and ask for an opportunity 10 Sec
,.betber they will 30 to the expense OF
,,,,rcbasi sing a railroad? These gentlemen
state that they have an option from the
Railway and Electric COM
nonv Have they ever said they were
nrepared to accept the option? II they
are not prepared TO do IT, they slhlp'y
want an opportunity TO see If II VIII pay
them. and that is not fair TO the Guy VI
to you. e..o,,
You will give a black eye TO your fran
chises. and who do you suppose will come
for them7 '"rhe Traction Company he
said. "would not offer the same terms IN
the future as they offer now. we come
here and are ready 10 build" said MI
Meredith. IF the syndicate only proposes
10 spend 10000 as has been stated III d
published interview. 1t VIII not De SUM
oient." He stated that the Traction Cons
Many had facts and figures which leu
them 10 be satisfied that when the syhul-
cate made the examination OF the Rlch-
mond Railway and Electric Company
books they would never touch the optioh'
He offered 10 give the committee iacts
and figures that led the Traction company
TO refuse an offer of consolidation some
time ago. because they thought the road
led 10 ruin.
Continuing. Mr.. Meredith argued that
two roads could not live on Broad
street. and the syndicate proposed 10
use electricity on Broad street. Ine
Traction Company" he continued, asks
for a privilege OF running on Main street
II we run on Main street, the Union Pas
senger Company will come TO terms with
MS we want the right to 20 on Main
street 10 prevent extravagant terms be-
inc vrested from the city under section
% ~ the ordinance Of 1865. You have an
,rnortunity OF putting the city in a posi-
lon ~ safety. My experience as an Off
,or ~ this city is. that if Mr.. Fisher
,,spts 10 delay giving the information
'ba, the Boyd Newton syndicate wants,
=, c,,l DELAY il. You are asked 10 grant
thine, hut an option on one hand and
, franchise on the other, to people who
- ,,renared to do by the city in the
,,,,,,rn az they have done In the past.
ponl,,,ng 10 Mr.. Bloomberg, Mr.. Mere
,t,b said the company proposed TO take
he Main-street franchise on the same
.n,,1,,tons as the Broad-street franchise,
md would offer good service.
SPEAKS FOR THE SYNDICATE.
~ Martin Of counsel for the Boyd
>a,yton syndicate. said he would en-
leavor to stand on the strehs'n Vi ms
,Un case. and not on the weakness Oh