Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-09-26

Of Failure Of Councils TO Aareo
Upon Ordinances.
Mr.. w. j. Payne, who Ia ut the head
or the street railways OF tho ponInsu-
In. yesterday addressed letters to tho
mayor aud the presidents OF both
branches of the city council, request.
Ing that the Hampton Roads Traction
Company be permitted to surrender
Its franchise In this city, remove its
tracks ana restore the streets upon
which the limo has been operating to
their original condition.
This request Is tho outcome OF tho
OF Mr.. Payno's plan to
consolidate all of the local companies,
abandon the use of certain streets ana
Pull down the Twenty.sixth street VIA
duct, with tho consent of the council
AS everyone knows. the common
council adopted the ordinances sub.
milted by Mr.. Payne, after making
innumerable changes for the city's
benefit; and the board Of aldermen
refused to pass tho measures az they
came from the lower branch or In any
way that would be acceptable to Mr..
Payne. All OF this occurred some
months ago and the measures died
with the old organization of the coin-
Gil
Developments Expected.
For month or more everybody has
been expecting developments In tho
street railway situation. The Hamp-
ton Roads company declined to COM
ply with the city's instructions to re-
pair the paving on West avenue AMI
various other things have happened to
draw the situation to conclusion OF
some kind. Mr.. Paynes letter was an
interesting development. 1t seems to
have come as n surprise to the city
officials. who apparently thought the
statement that Mr.. Payne would be
glad to forfeit the Hampton Roads
franchise was bluff"
Mayor Not Talking.
When seen last night Mayor Buxton
declined to say what he thought OF
the request. Hc received the letter
In yesterday mornings mail, but had
not had time to give 1t great deal OF
consideration. He gave the letter out
for publication and it is as follows:
Mr.. Payne's Letter.
To the Honorable Mayor, Board OF
Aldermen and Common Council OF
the City of Newport News. Va
Sirs: AS you are aware, we have
had numerous conferences with the
committees of the board Of alder
men and common council In refer
cnce to the abandonment Of certain
franchises Of the Hampton Roads
Traction Company In Newport News,
and the rearranging of the sched-
tiles of said company for the purpose
of providing more satisfactory
service than can possibly be provld.
ed under the present arrangement.
The ordinances, after due consider.
alton, were adopted by the common
council. but the board of aldermen
declined to concur In them.
We have made repeated efforts to
have the ordinances adopted in such
form as will provide the best service
to the largest number of people In
your city. We have also called to
your attention and repeatedly noti-
fled and warned you of the danger
of loss of life and injury to property
in operating cars over the Twenty
sixth street viaduct. and that the ser.
vice over said viaduct should be aban.
doned as speedily as possible. This
danger was called to the attention Of
your honorable bodies In December.
1905, and again In January and Feb
ruary, and on several occasions YER
bally when we have appeared before.
committees of your honorable bodies.