The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-09
ANXIOUS TOKNOW
IF RATE is FAIR
Richmond and Henrico Seeks
Right to Sell Electric Current
in Richmond.

Further argument was heard before
subcommittee of the Committee on
streets last night on the application
] OF the Richmond and IIenrico Rail
way Company for general power and
light franchise c. v. Meredith and
>. L. Kelley appeared for the appli-
cant company and Henry w. Ander-
son for the Virginia Railway and
Power Company
The committee determined that be-
fore going into the terms on which
such a franchise should be awarded.
III should determine the question Of
rates--whothcr those charged by the
existing company werc reasonable,
and whether any benefit would ac-
crue to tho city from competition In
electric lighting to compensate Il for
tho annoyance of having the streets
torn up for the duplicate installation
OF conduits and pole lines. Several
members OF the committee oppressed
the belief that IL such a franchise is
awarded II should fix a maximum fate
OF charge, and should also be made
to expire in 1927. when the existing
light and power franchise expires, SO
that the city might be then in 20
sition to deal with all bidders and
obtain the most favorable rates.
City Is Wiser Now.
Several members of the committee
held to the view that tho city had
learned much In franchise making
since the old Virginia Electrical Rail
way and Development franchise was
awarded, and that II should profit by
mat experience, even though IT was
not possible now 10 Impose the same
limitations on tho old company.
Mr.. Anderson was frank to say that
were favorable franchise for longer
than seventeen years offered for SALE
as required under tho Constitution,
that his company would be bidder.
Mr.. Meredith argued that since tho
Corporation Commission had not at
tempted to fix light and power rates.
and probably could not do SO until
specifc additional power is conferred
by the General Assembly. the only way
to fix rates was by reasonable COM
petition He protested that his COM
pany was not stranger or outsider
trying to get into this field, since IL
now had n street railway line in op-
Grafton. had erected a viaduct which
brought two sections OF the city to-
gether and now had a power house
with surplus current going to waste
An additional burden had been placed
on his company amounting to about
$4,000 year, he stated, when the city
refused to allow duplicate wiring
WGere tracks are used Jointly. making
Il necessary for his company to pay
for power which II already has
Attorneys FOR each company agreed
to secure for the information Of tho
committee facts and figures from other
cities as to rates and whether the
more progressive cities had Jared bet
ter under a controlled monopoly I'm
public service corporations or with
competition.
Wants investigation.
we would like TO have the prtnti-
pie settled once and for ALL" said Mr.
Anderson. I'VE arc now asking pco-
pic to buy our bonds with the pro-
cecds OF which we expect to make
large improvements here. We believe
that If this committee will make
thorough unbiased investigation on -
own account-as. for instance, was
done In the electrolysir case-it Will
decide that such utilities are natural
monopolies. and that capital so in
vested should be protected so long as
the community Is given, adequate SER
vice at reasonable rates. My company
viii be glad to bear all the expense
of making such an investigation
either bv bringing witnesses here or
by the committee going elsewhere"
The committee agreed that before
going further into such discussion
II was necessary to establish what is
a reasonable rate for light and pow
er current in city situated as Rich
nond is and attorneys on both sides
promised to furnish the committee
with data on that point at the next
meeting.