The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-01
By Vote OF 8 to 2, Cary Ordinance
Is Recommended to Board OF
Aldermen Tor Passage.
OPPOSED BY COMPANIES
Claim That 1t Will Cut Revenue
and Be Unfair to Owners
OF Stock.

- I
the Council Committee Oh Ordnance.
Charter end Reform recommended to
the Board of Aldermen by vote OF
e to .. the adoption of the Cary trans
for ordinance Messrs. Barton II. Grun-
d. and W. l.. White voting in the mega
tive.
Mr.. William Northrop. one of the re-
celyers Of the Virginia Passenger and
POWER Company. was present. as We're
several Of the officials of that company.
The car company was represented u
the argument by Captain A. +. Guison
md Hon. Eppa Hunton, while City At
.orney Pollard and the patron Of the
ordinance. Major Hunsdon Cary. APP
peared Cor the city.
The ordinance provides that a trans
fer given to passenger on any of the
lines of the two operating companies
shall be good on the first car passing
the point of intersection going in the
direction In which the passenger is en-
titled to be transferred.
Ordinance Valid, Says Pollard.
In written opinion tho City Attor-
ney held that the ordinance was valid
and within the rights of the Council
TO enforce. 1T does not provide. en-
planned Mr.. Pollard for universal
transfer in the sense of transfer IN
any and every direction as often as
may be deman ded, but for transfer
good on the next car going In the d.
rection in which the passenger wishes
to be transported"
CAPTAIN Guigon opened the argu-
ment for the street car companies, eS-
planning that the Richmond Traction
Company and the Richmond Passenger
and Power COMPANY We're absolutely
distinct in their relations to the city
and to each other. 'Each company
has its Individual stockholders" con-
tinued Captain Guigon.
Their books are kept separate. their
bondholders are separate, and the
bonds are secured on different proper
Ties This difference has not been
generally Understood, since majority
Of the stock. in both companies has
been held by the same parties, nor
since the same receivers have had
control Of both companies"
Detrimental to Companies.
Taking up the merits of the transfer
ordinance, Captain Guigon continued:
"The. plan proposed !s most detri-
mental to the interests of tho Passen-
ger and Power Company. The suburban
lines which radiate from Richmond
are nearly all. all in fact. with the
exceptionof the Westhamptonlin line, which
isanindependent property. owned by the
Richmond Passenger and Power Com
pany.
These lines in the main are not prof
liable ventures except as they are
feedersito the city system. If we haul
Messengers from Seven Pines seven or
eight miles for one fare. then transfer
him to a Traction line and divide that
fare with the other company in set
Ting for the transfer, there Is no profit
to the original company.
Captain Guigon claimed that any
minority stockholder or any bond
holder of the Passenger and Power
Company would have the right to go
before the courts and object to a
course which would be so evidently
playing into the hands of the other
company.
City Attorney Quotes Charter.
City Attorney Pollard replied at
length reading from the city charter
and the franchises OF the two colnpa-
MES to show the citY's rights In this
case.
He said that many things could be
required of the Passenger and Powe,
Company which under the franchise
could not be asked Of the Traction
Company. I'm the five years after tn,
Traction people got their franchise VIZ
learned something about franchise
making" he said, The most intelli
gent citizens need this ordinance; tn,
franchise guarantees to the citizens AZ
efficient service, The inability of ,h
two companies to arrange this transfe
matter between themselves should no
fall on the citizens. The Council ha
the distinct right to make additiona
rules and regulations, and besides thi
the power already exists under tn
franchise itself. We ask the compa
mics to give us a prompt and cticien
Esryice, and not to leave a man stand
Ing in the rain for two minutes, d
happened this afternoon. awaiting
car when q car of another co1npan
WAS standing at his feet. l did hop
the companies would find way I
adjust this matter among themselve,
as they do the sale of their ticket.
without forcing legal fight"
Right of Optional Transfers.
Mr.. Hunton, for the companies. he'll
that under the present conditions tn
passenger had all the rights OF or
t:oaal transfers guaranteed to hin
explaining the relations between tn
7wo companies and their franchises
Vivian you pay a fare on PasHen