Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-29
FISHER AS A FACTOR.
INTEREST As TO HIS RELATION TO
STREET RAILWAY.
STATEMENT FROn COLONEL ELLETT.
He Suggests That Present Owners
May lie in New Corporation, Hut
This the Boyd-NewtOn People very
Firmly Deny-CounciI To Act.

"The Boyd-Newton syndicate Will mol
stutify itself by declining to accept some
| thing that has never been offered
This statement, authorized by one OF
the leading men in the syndicate, was
made in view Of an announcement made
in another paper yesterday, that the syn
| dictate would refuse to accept the ordi-
| nance framed by the Committee or
| Streets, unless the taxation clause IS ma
terially modified.
The ordinance will be introduced at
the regular meeting of the Common Coun-
| ell next Monday. A call for special
meeting was issued. but it was deemed
| advisable to let the matter wait, and the
call was Withdrawn. Under the rules
| Of the Council all franchises must lie on
the table for thirty days. but 1t has peeh
decided 10 ask for a suspension or rules
| in order 10 expedite matters, and the
ordinance will be considered next Monday.
At the meeting Of the Committee on
Streets. at which the taxation clause
was argued, IL was agreed by couiiSe'
for tho companies and by the representa-
lives oil the CITY EDN|l Aiii'AAN N'''"N $50
question should not be argued again be-
fore the Council. The representatives, OF
the two companies are anxious TO be
given the privilege Of the floor next
Monday. but this right will probably be
disputed BY members Of tho street Com
mittee and opposed by the City Ac-
countant and other city officials
THE ELLETT SYNDICATE.
The only new development in the street
railway situation yesterday was a state
ment made by Colonel Tazewel Elicit
on behalf Of the new syndicate that mas
lust entered the race for the Main-street
franchise. but the names Of whose men,
bers have not yet been made public.
Colonel Elicit says his company stands
prepared TO post a bond Of $4,000 Tor
the faithful performance of any contract
which they may enter into with the CITY
His syndicate, he says. is in no way con-
.nected with the Newton-Boyd syndicate,
the Traction Company or the Richmond
Railway and Electric Company. 1t has
great resources. and stands ready 10
give Richmond the very best service pos
sible. and 10 meet any reasonable tax
that may be imposed. The taxation clause
in the proposed Richmond Passenger and
Power COmpany's ordinance would not
he says. be considered overburdensome.
Colonel Elicit gave out the following
statement for publication yesterday
MY clients are not prepared as yet 10
file an application for the Main-street
franchise It is simply this. II there were
q clear field and fair fight the parltS
whom represent would Immediately ME
an application for the Main-street fran
chise. The syndicate is composed or as
responsible gentlemen i'm Richmond ana
away from here as compose any syndicate
that has made an application.
SELL TO HIGHEST BIDDER.
"The opinion Of the City Attorney. how
ever is 10 the. effect That no one except
the Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany or its assignee can be now taken
into consideration by the Council, ana
every other applicant Is, therefore, eX-
Guided In my opinion. and. ] may say,
after a great deal Of discussion with
many fair-minded citizens Of Richmond.
! think the consensus Of the opinion OF
disinterested citizens is that the CITY
should BIZ an amendment OF It's charter,
place itself I'm position where II could sell
its valuable franchises % the highest
bidder with this done = would be no
more 10 the interest Of those l represent
than the interest of the Boyd-NeWton
syndicate. the Traction Company or any
other gentlemen who desire To apply Tor
the franchise If they are considering the
city's true interest; but II would strike
the shackles from the hands OF me Guy
of Richmond and enable her 10 De IN a
position TO dispose Of her franchises upon
the most favorable terms for the tax
PAYERS OF the city.
again | submit. with all Difference,
that this Is the time when the CITY Coun-
ell OF Richmond should make haste slowly
To dispose Of this matter No one would
more cheerfully endorse the high chardc-
ter Of the Richmond gentlemen who com
pose the Traction Company ana the
Boyd-NewtOn syndicate than myself ana
L. f.4fn 81 ion a
least degree to reflect upon them per
sOnally. ] am simply discussing bust
ness proposition. and when l glance nj
the proposed ordinance 20 be granted 10
the BOyd-NeWtOn syndicate 1 see mat
several Richmond gentlemen are named,
and that Mr.. T.. ". Wilson and Mr.. Arcn-
ibald r. Watson are also named as IN
corporators. And then this clause. which
is very significant. Immediately foiloWs'
cor such of them as may accept the pro-
visions of this ordinance.
This clause has peculiar import when
taken IN connection with the TACT that
the counsel for the Boyd-Newton syhul-
cate has expressed grave douDt as 10
whether the Richmond men would accept
the provisions of the charter. MI T.. w.
Wilson and Mr. Archibald T. Watson COM
pose the firm Of +. w. Wilson q Co, OF
No wall street and No. So Broadway
New York. They have for years been the
bankers and brokers of the Richmond
Railway and Electric Company or Of Mr..
Fisher. and have several times during the
past two years been in Richmond as the
agents of Mr.. Fisher or OF said company.
MIGHT ACCEPT FOR FISHER.
"Now, should the Richmond men de-
cline 10 accept. | think that there are but
few citizens OF Richmond who doubt that
the agents Of Mr.. Fisher would accept
for any one Of those associate gentlemen
to whom this ordinance may be granted
| can accept II legally.
What would be the result of Mr..
Fishers agents accepting the charter.
| Fisher would control the street-railway
interests of Richmond for the next thirty
wears and we might look for the same
narrow and selfish management in the in
terest Of the corporation as opposed Ia
the public interests of Richmond as has
| characterized his management IN the past
| even going TO the extent Of weekly taking
| his receipts from here and depositine
| them in banks I'm northern cities.
Again the counsel for the BOyd-NeW
| ton syndicate, when urgently pressed by
Mr. Meredith, counsel for the Traction
Company. in argument before the Street
! Committee. TO produce the agreement be-
| tween the Richmond Railway and Elec-
| trio Company and the Boyd Newton syn
! dicate, declined TO produce said agree
ment. though often urged 10 do so. Under
such circumstances, We at least. have
| the right to presume. taking the most IA
! yorable view Of the situation for the
! BOyd-NewtOn syndicate that 81 per cent.
| Of that stock is controlled by the Boyd
Newton syndicate and ~ per cent. by the
| Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany. Under such circumstances II can
be readily left 10 any fairminded man as
| TO how long IL would be before Mr.. Fisher
| would be again in control.
ARE NOT THE ASSIGNEES.
| Again. under the decision of the City
| Attorney, this franchise can only be
granted TO the Richmond Railway and
! Electric Company or their assignee, and
/ IL 4. L.