The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-03

Company either to &taKe4 sucn steps N
SIX months FOR the cotnp lete preyen tioi,
h az ali diffusion Of electric current from
Its rails or to pay such bills as might
be incurred By The city authorities In
MAILING these changes. We are inform.
Cd that il was the intention and Under
standing that the Passenger and 20 weri
K present to the Water Committee the re.
port which was helng prepared 1T the he
expense Of the Passenger and 20 yer 'sear;
Company should have opportunity to
Company hy Its experts. The whole pro-
I ceeding appeared to have been ati1lcable,
both parties being inspired with q cor
Edlal wish 10 take ali Il proper steps q Is Tor
trcmedying d grave condition II was
therefore, a general surprire when this
special subcommittee brought IN last last
Thursday night without warning g re e port 'l
that required the Passenger and Power eI.
Company to make at once double y
overhead trolley system. " "a
Il The Tlmes. Dispatch Is neither able nor
DESTROYS to give an expert opinion on
Et the comparative vnluo OF the single e o. y
Fl double conduit or trolley system, in re-.
iation to olectrolysis. It Is sufficient 70 70
say that an enormous amount OF expert s,i't3
Invests CATION has been done In this Fl eld
and the results are open to the INSPECTION
OF those who are desirous Of accurate
Information, but we can and do call at Ct
tentlor to an, action on tho part OF the
committee which denies q fair opportunity tut Y
Tor hearing an argument from tho owner
f Of large interests in this city. We 90 9
not care what the City Council req l uires =
the Passenger and Power Company 70
do ii, reason for tho protection and s -
guarding OF the water and gas mains OF
this city. If 1t appears necessary ! 70 re- re-
build the whole street railroad SITUATION
IN order to guarantee our water SUPPLY IN
| che event Of fire, the change must pc
made. and the bill must be paid, but we
"a insist In the name Of fair dealing tn t,'a
snap Judgment be not taken on any ' 81 g.
ana that no citizen or corporal ton WITHIN e.
the citv limits Of Richmond DO deprived
~ 5one nanny, no tier II the penny so
taken Il applied to the city benefit or not,
without having a full and fair oppor11t,u1'-
ATTY to be heard in his own behalf half
NJ FROM the col.est and most selfish busl-
esa view It. cannot pay; q corpora ton ~
WITH such IN enormous investment as as
that owned BY the Passenger a. and I'd Power y .r
Company in this community to run run tn ne
risk that wlll5necessarily pc incurred oy
Y serious Impairment Of the water mains NAL
OF this city. The fact that the Passen-
ger and Power Company Of It's own mo
ton has been seeking to obtain the PEST
expert advice procurable for the rem edy-
Ing Of this condit on. and has shown It
self willing to- submit it's plan to. the
proper city officials. would certainly en-
title that company to the presumption l' Ito AZ
least Of good faith in its statement that
~ desires to do everything that fence
can suggest and that reason can demand
for the prevention Of any future damage
BY escaping electric currents from It's Ines 's
Tn view Of this attitude and IN view OF
tho fact that an ordinance along the
above lines had been practically agreed
,unon between the Passehge ger and Power
Company and the subcommittee from the
Water Committee earlier in the week,
why was the overhead trolley bill
damned through, without tlce, on Tues
day nj ght ?!:,Whyt,was this haste, and why
this sudden change OF front? In the n amee
Of fair play, we think the Passenger and
Power Company is entitled to ask and
receive full opportunity to present its
case and TO make It's report before any
ordinance DO finally adopted. This Is not
a case whore ono party has sought to do
lay and has been properly compelled by
harsh legislation to do Its duty. We want
protection from elcctrolysls, but we want
1T in fairness and Justice, apd We feel
sure that IS the desire OF the Council as
body.