The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-22
THE VOTE W AS
EIGHT TO FOUR
Continued from First Pase.)

(Contirucd from First Pase.)
special privilege? Who are they. anyhow?
They are only private parties--seven pri-5
vate parties-asking you to overturn three.
chapters of the Code-asking you to take
away from cities that just legis alive fuac-
ton they have so long exercised. to have
control of their streets. Now, sir, say
that their requests are unjust They ask
that you take away from the cities OF
this Commonwealth-ths cities in which
dwell almost the majority of the States
fcitizens-to take away from these cities
the God-given right of self government,
and give that right to seven gentlemen.
the incorporators of this bill. These sew
Ell. gentlemen want the right to confcol
the streets and alleys of every city in
this State. Is that just? And, it also
gives to this company the possible right
of occupying these streets without any
compensation to the cities for SO doing.
For the bill itself says that the city only
has a say as to the location and main
tenance" of the companyrs lines-not
any reasonable regulation as to what
the company shall pay for using the
cities streets; not any reasonable resu-
lation'' as to the question of taxation:
but only as to the location and mafnte-
nance" of the comDany's lines.
STATE TAXES.
Mr.. Flood-How many lines are in this
city to-day, Mr.. Pollard? Are there not
two: and isn't the Bell Company the only
one that pays the State any taxes?
Mr.. Pollard-I don't know, sir. You are
an officer of the State, and, consequently,
BETTE informed on that question than
myself. but do know that the Bell Tele-
pnonc Company is staying here in de-
fiancc of the municipal authorities and in
defiance OF the ordinances of the city OF
Richmond. Now, the incorporators OF
this dill have been driven from one point
to another-from pillar to post. Every
time an objection is made which they
can't meet in any possible way, they say,
well. let the committe mike that amend
ment." l say, why didn't they prs sent
proper bill at first, instead Of bringing
here such an exhaustive measure? Now,
gentlemen, their bill has been reviewed
and riddled from stem to stern-it has
been torn in shrcds Now, let it be hung
upon the pillory of public Indignation. as
a warning to others coming before this
Legislature. that you, gentlemen, will al
ways maintain that grand principle Of
Democratic government, Equal
rights to all; special privileges to none"
General Meancy has come here and told
You all about his experiences. He says
that general regulations have been adopt
ed III other cities: does he not know that
Ricl:nond has also adopted one? One of
the very reasons his company did not
accept those general regulations was
that there was a requirement that every
telephone company had to pay two dol
lars for every pole that it erected in the
streets of this city. Wasn't that reascna-
BILE? But his company wanted to come in
for almost nothing-wanted special priIi-
legcs.''
RULING OF COURT.
Mr.. Christian-Do you know that the
Supreme Court has decided that they
could be compelled to pay that?
Mr.. Pollard-Yes, and at that time there
was on the statute books OF Missouri that
requirement that companies should get
the consent of cities before c1rerinS upon
their streets. My friend, General Meaney.
also refers to st. Louis as a place OF
peace-as a lovely place for the telephone
companies. Yet, in that very case re-
ferred to by Mr.. Christian, there was q
discussion and question raised about the
streets being wrongfully used by the tele-
phone companies. Does he not know that
there is also a case, which has been de-
clded by the United States Supreme
Court. in which company went to work
digging up the streets OF st. Louis. and
when the city authorities stopped them.
the company tried to get a mandamus to
compel the city authorities to allow them
TO dig up the city's streets, but they
failed to get it.
Now, just one moro point, and I am
through. They lay great stress upon the
great good that will resultant the end
VIII justify the means. Do not be mis-
led, gentlemen of the committee, by that
oesriscd and Jesuitical principle. Can
any end justify the means, when local
seii-Sovernment is overthrown-when the
a'ar Of justice is uprooted? The ques-
ton does not require an answer.
The committee adjourned until s P. A..
for the purpose of considering the bill IN
executive session.