The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-03
THE CITY TUG is TO
REMAIN IN SERVICE
Tho Council Declined to Concur in the
Action of the Board Of Aldermen
Retiring the Thomas Cunningham,
Sr-Mr. Thomas Hicks Desired
to Resign, But Was Not Per.
mitted TO Do So.

and In less time than It takes to tell
the Common Council. for the third time
within as many months, last night re-.
fused to concur with the Board OF xAI..
dermen In regard to a special Investigate.
Ing committee to inquire into certain al,
legged corruption in the city. and It may
now be truthfully stated that all at
tempts along this line are dead
The action of the Council last night
was the most cruel jab Of all that haa
been given the Board. for by 1t the lower
branch refused absolutely to even SO
much as permit their seniors, the staid
Board members, to investigate them.
selves.
And it was all done so quickly, 50
neatly and so quietly that many mem.
bers of the Council some OF whom have
always been bitterly opposed to the in-
vestgation. did not realize what they
had voted on until after tho president
had announced the result. s
IT'S FORM DIFFlERENT. W
The wording OF the resolution, which
was last night Killed was quiet different
from that contained In any of the pre- !
yious resolutions, but the ntent and flna.h
result of It's passage would have been
practically the same. 1t requested the
City Attorneyto prepare such an amend
ment to the charter as would give to g
committee of either branch powers equaiS
Ito those now enjoyed by a Joint comsft
nittee. ais n #
Such an amendment was desired by
the Board that a committee from that
branch might have power to summons
a special investigation. which they pro-
posed holding for the purpose Of ascer-
taining certain rllmors In regard to mu-s
snlcipal corruption 5 &
When the resolution was read last
night the Council members were busilys
engaged in conversation with each Other,
and few, If any. We're aware what the
clerk was reading. When the paper had
been finished the president said. as is his
{ custom, that the resolution was on Is +
passage. and that those favoring con-
currence would vote aye and those op-
posed no. %
Only few. weak voices cried aye.
while there was chorus of noes. The
resolution was declared lost. but Mr.
Crenshaw called for a division. Ills. mo-
ton was not entertained, as the vote
had been announced and he had failed
to arise from his seat, as the rules 10 tg
quire, when he made the motion.
THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY.
II developed at the meeting last night
that there Is a strong belief to the ehece
that tho Southern Railway has no right &
to enter the city OF Richmond, and that
the franchises under which they are sup
posed to be operating were repealed q,
year or more ago, 1t further developed
that under the new Constitution 1t IS im-H
possible for the city to grant free OF
charge to the Southern Railway any
franchise In Richmond. the law stat.
ing plainly that all nchises shall bs
put up at auction and sold to the highs.
est bidder. II
a NEW FRANCHISE. 4
The peculiar condition of affairs sur,
rounding the Southern was brought to u
light by an ordinance from the Board of
Aldermen, recommended by the Commits
tee on Streets, which was brought up for
concurrence. The gist of the measure
was to give to the Southern Railway the 4
right to maintain It's main line and spur
tracks in the city. being nothing more
nor less than a new franchise. the former
right OF way under which the concern
has been operating having been repealed
over q year ago. NJ
Tho ordinance was placed on Its pas,
sage on motion of Mr.. Peters. subchair-
man of the Street Committee. lie said
that it was In the regular form and chat
the matter had been investigated thor.
oughly by both the Board and the com,
mittee. 1t was important that the con-
cession he granted, said he, as 1t gave
tho company no additional rights and
Was a mere matter of form.
When Mr.. Peters took his seat Mr.. El-
lett arose to oppose the measure. Hc /
urged that the matter he held up. pend
ing further Investigation.
| SPRANCi "A SURPRISE. "a
Iteremained for Mr., Pollock, however.
to spring the surprise OF the evening,
.'I'he new Constitution" he said plain
IL states that no franchises shall bs
given away by the city, and am strong
ly of the belief that this Council cannot
pass this ordinance. Those rights should
be nut up at auction and sold 10 the hlgh.8
est bidder. as the law requires"
Then on motion Of Mr., Pollock the mat
ter was laid on the table to he printed
and considered at a future meeting.
a year or more ago the franchises 5l,n-
der whicl, the Southern had been opera
ting We're repealed, leaving the company
without alright to enter this city, and
the ordinance that was tabled last night
WAS SIMPLY a franchise in lieu Of the one
repealed, Since the cid franchise Was de-5
clared null and void, however, the Con.
gstitutional Convention has declared that
all franchises shall be put mp at auction
and sold Ell gl s5s Ii s