The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-24
ing been put down to freeze out the
local company.
4 City Attorney Moomaw. OF Roanoke.
briefly urged the committee not to report

ing peens put dOWlf 10 21ies@Se
local company.
city Attorney Moomaw. OF Roanoke.
briefly urged the committee not to repor.
the bill.
Hon. II. r. Pollard, City Attorney of
Richmond, closed the debate in opposition
to the bill. He said he had been unant-
mously commissioned by the City Council
to fight this measure. The Council did not
act upon an ex parte statement. but at
least three of the corporators We're heard.
One of these corporators had as president
of the Chamber of Commerce, signed the
paper adopted justifyinE the action of the
city in its war on the Bell Company An
other corporator was vice-president OF the
Chamber at that time, and third was
an ex-president of that body. Now, these
gentlemen came to the Legislature ASKING
that the fruits of victory be snatched
from the CITY.
After these preliminary remarks, Mr.
Pollard plunged into the merits OF the
bill. making practically the same arSu-
ments he advanced before the Senate COM
mittee.
Mr. Pollard said the published statement
that this company would pay the STATE
$4,000 in taxes annually. was ridiculous.
The City Attorneys address was earnest
and forceful and received the close atten-
ton of the committee.
MR.. CHRISTIAN. AGAIN.
Mr.. Pollard was followed by Mr.. Chris
tian who made a very able reply to the
objections urged to the bill he Impress
ed upon the committee that the cltles
would have the same privilege of going TO
the courts as the company. He denied
that the proposed charter conferred mo-
nopolistic privileges AIRY other corpora
ton with the ability to conduct teie-
phone business could get a charter and
enjoy the same privilege.
The fight. he said, the Bell Company ana
! the city of Richmond had kept up Tor
| years had nothing to do with this case.
| This was simply question OF Whetner OF
| not business men would vote to give the
| people comprehensive telephone System
throughout the State
With reference to the assertion that
| the company might discontinue part
| of its system after built. Mr. Chflstian
! said he did not think this could be done
under the charter, but he was WILING
| for the bill to be so amended as 20 re-
| auire the system established to De main
| tained.
| Neany, president of the American Iele-
nhone and Telegraph Company, who gave
| the same asons that he urged before
| the Senate Committee as to why TINS bilI
| should be passed General Meany read the
| ordinance reported by the Street Com
| mittee Of the City Council or 4Richnnohu'
| granting franchise TO the Long o's-
I! tance Company. He said he did TINS
| to prove that his company had sonGns
| to make an agreement with Richmond
No other city had sought to impose sucn
| burdensome conditions. Yet, the CITY
! had refused to pass this ordinance
! The General. after replying to the as
] sertion made by Mr.. Pollard, that 1t
/ vas ridiculous to assume that this pro-
| posed company would pay s1oe.oo year
| in taxes, and pointing out how this would
| be done, said his company mad never
had any litigation with any city in the
/! State
| The General made a plain. business
| like talk to the committee.
| The committee will probably vote upon
| the, bill to-day.