Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-27
MUNYON'S
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whether the City Council had the right
to delegate to the Committee on Streets
the power 1t has delegated in reference
10 the conduit ordinances and the assign
ment Of routes by the committee. The
opinion. which is quite lengthy. deals
extensively with the Legislative
functions" OF a municipal body. He
quotes authorities and cites precedents,
among the latter, the ordinance giving a
franchise to the Richmond Standard Tel
ephone Company, which provides that
"the streets along which the said com
pany may erect poles and run overhead
wires shall be determined from time to
time by the Committee on Streets" and
the ordinance granting the right Of way
to the Southern Bell Telephone and Tele-
graph Company.
Mr.. Pollard concludes his argument by
stating upon the authorities cited, and
for the reasons stated, / am Of opinion
That the City Council had the right to
delegate to the Committee on Streets
the power conferred by section OF the
ordinance referred to-"
WILL ASSIGN THE ROUTES.
taken from the table. and Mr.. Ebel moved
assigned. subject to the approval Of the
City Engineer.
The City Engineer made a statement
Ia regard TO the material TO oe used and
the routes asked. In the course of
his explanation he stated that he be-
lieved a mistake had been made In not
reserving to the city the right to acquire
the conduits OF the company at any time
when municipal ownership might become
desirable
Replying to Mr.. Ebsi, the City Attor-
ney stated that after January i, 1870 a
new method Of taxation might be pre-
seTbed. The provision in the present
ordinance expires at the date above men
toned, and unless new tax is imposed.
or provided for the company cannot be
taxed.
TIE CITY'S INTERESTS PROTECTED.
Superintendent Thompson, az the Fire
Alarm Department, stated that he had
considered the matter very carefully, and
Vas convinced that the interests OF the
city were carefully conserved. He
thought one duet would be ample for the
city's business. This is provided for I'm
the ordinance. 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 COMMITTEES
passed the rOuses, lie would sign to-day
a contract that would ensure the whole
work being completed in ninety working
days.
MR.. BLOOMBERG DISSENTS.
Mr.. Bloomberg said he felt constrained
to vote against approving the petition of
the company, for the reason that II was
never contemplated by the City Council
when they granted the franchise. that
they were giving a general conduit or
dinance for thirty years. nor did he be-
lieve that the company thought it was
securing such a valuable concession. He
stood prepared to vote to give the
company a sufficient accommodation for
its own business, and If they would ask
for that privilege only he would vote for
it. but he could not vote TO carry out an
ordinance which granted so much under
such circumstances.
The corgmittee then adopted Mr.. Ebeps
motion, Mr. Bloomberg alone voting In
the negative.
The committees on Health. Schools, and
Second Market met and transacted
routine business.