The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-08

- 49,.
IT :-=.=::::...=---
sams thins. We are sunning . railway
here and are giving you proof o. WAL
We pr oppose to do.
How much snrplus power have you
over and above the dsmsnds OF your
car linS?" asked Mr.. Fuller.
Il don't know" answered NJ. Mere
dith.
.IIas your company had engineers
20 over the ground and see what osid
there IL In the manner you have sus'
Gested Judge Christians clients should
have done~ asked Captain NiIis.
"You know this company as well as
do was the answer.
WoolA Net ShUss UeDOetAs
I'VE have our own cnxsuesra po'
in Mr.. Kelley. and we have tns'r re-
ports on the cost Of construction. We
have = capacity for about i.300 kiio'
watts at our present power-house'
Would you mind showing this com
inittee your records and the reports Of
your engineers"
I'VE would" answered Mr.. MefeoIth.
We have given proof Of our honesty
of purpose. and whatever we havenf
got that will be needed under enss
franchise we will get
In closing Mr.. Meredith contended
that the Virginia Railway and Power
Company was an unregulafed monopoly.
doing nothing except what 1t chose
Uonnis. SalA JuAge Chsastian.
II have never listened to an arGu-
ment more unfair than that Of Mr..
Meredith" said Judge Christian. He
has referred % my clients ~ makinS
q fake bid. and he admits that he has
NO testimony whatever to support such
. statement II he bad no proof he
ought not to have said IT, ! have told
you OF the financial standing OF my
clients. Can he state 70 this commit.
tee what his company's financial stand.
ing -? Are his company's stocks so
precious that they cannot be put on
the general market? You know that
the general reputation Of his company
10 that II 10 losing money every day.
ana ] may say 20 you as director In
and counsel for several banks that that
10 its general reputation Ia banking
circles. You can see the empty cars
60 by. There can be but one end &c
that In view 81 such . situation. ii
- not fais for him to come before
this coanmittss and make such state
ments.'
Anaefsen's ClSsing Asguoent.
Henry w. Anderson closed the ar
gNmsnt. Mr.. Nelson. OF the committee.
again vetcinS his protest against his
being heard. since his company had NO
bid before the committee.
"You have heard the arguments Of
both bidders 1t jsngth." said Mr.. An
dsrson II ask you whether . single
fact has been brought out In this en-
tire discussion 20 show that the city
OF Richmond will bsnsAt from the
granting Of this franchise. and from
the further eneumhering Of its streets!
II any such single fact has been mem
toned l have not heard It." Mr.. An
derson argued that the policy Of this
Council as to competitive franchises
had not been determined; that there
far In advance Of the discussion by
people. some Of whom had told him
since that they were not in favor Of
the franchise.
"whea people ask you to vote for this
franchise. ask yon to ask them wheth- |
er they arc users OF current" he said
CenDlaants Ffon Haltsn.
Many people In Fulton have told !
me-" said Mr.. Nielsen. that they were |;
not users Of current. because your com
pany had refused to supply 1t unless
they paid the cost Of building the
I'VE have had no such complaints"
Mr.. Anderson There was ,
such rule dur1n9 the recetvership.
but Il was abolished eighteen months
ago. Yur statement 10 the only In
formation I have Of any such COM
plaintA
Expectation 10 one thing and reah-
zation another. II We assume that the
grantee Of this franchise means to
use IL. he will certainly endeavor 20
make money By his busiuess- There ID
Absolutely no assurance In this fran
chiss that he Will 60 into any resi-
Dental or improbable district. -FOUR
In Fulton will get extensions
only when they come before this Coun-
ell and fight through an oroinence
renuirin;. such an extension. ana tnen
lItisats u tor three or -FOUR years.
Mr. Kelley did not touch upon inc
question OF whether the rates were
res.onable or the service adequate |
We are to-day selling $500 kiIio-
vatts OF current, and he tells you thar
thev will have $500. Their railway !
Is bonded for $i.zs0.eee now oueetand-
ing. and has . floating debt OF $'s'ovv.
according 20 its own report to the
Commission The bond
holders own II. and you have NO euaf-
antee beyond their bid that TINS fEsn-
chioe will be eXerc1Seos - tnese UVoe
take precedence over any claim the
city may make on the railway prop'
erty.
Deoe04 0nly b Ts1sA
.Ar. keiley told you that the bens-
At 70 the community would Be IN the
fact that they win pay taxes II the
chief object 10 60 raise taxes. Why mot
let somebody buiId his house ID Nom
roe Park, or . factory b the centfe
OF Broad Street. - you could tax IL.
As to taxes. the Virginia Railway ara
Power CoDpany paid to the e't1es OF
Richmond, Norfolk and Peterseurs
last year s37e.eeev Of which $4,000
was paid to the city Of Richmond
They give you no promise OF lover
rates, since they are alioveo to eharBe
our maximum rate Of 10 cents. As
matter Of fact, sur average rate Is
now al. Two years age IL Was 30.
The franchise has NO requirement OF
service, after the first route. You
know what you win meet with wnen
you attempt to pass an ordinance o.
dering IL to build lines where IT doesn't
want to 70 IL you want ught In Ici'