The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-04
BY VOTE OF IS TO
4 ALDERMEN PASS
R. 8 h. FRANCHISE
Acrimonious Debate Marks
Session When Powers Of
fers an Amendment
ENDS CONTROVERSY
OF NEARLY A YEAR
Railway Company Declares
1t Is Ready to Begin Work
Immediately on Adj
ditions
How They Voted.

ditiOnS
How They Voted.
For the Franchise--Adsnos. .
Atkinson, Butler, Cowardin.
Donahoe, Don Leayy. Gilman,
Grimes, Gust, Hobson, kain,
Melton, Mitchell. Moncure.
Moore, Nielsen, Patram, Powers,
Whittet--1s,
Against the Franchise--Ben-
nett, Grundy, Perdue. Rennolds.
After "a few spiuttering flashes os
pyrotec.infcs on the part of Alder
man Powers. with a little fire by Al
derman Grundy, and some talkfest
by Aldermen Hobson, Moore, CO
wardin and Don Leayy, the board OF
aldermen last night emphasized the
request of the commencement and
concurred in the ordinance granting
the Richmond and Henrico Railroad
company as right to establish and
maintain n light and power plant for
the purpose OF supplying any citizen
with either light or power. In COM
petition with the Richmond Railway
and Power company, or any other
company. ..-..,.......-
- This franchise has been threshed
over and hammered at for nearly q
year. The street committee OF the
rity council considered II several
months: II was finally adopted and
recommended to council. and that
body by an overwhelming vote adopt
/. ed the franchise. and sent 1t TO the
board of aldermee for concurrence.
Tho board met last week 10 consider
this frlachise, bat at the suggestion
or Alderman Grundy. the matter WITS
laid over one week SO that the city
clerk could have 1t printed and dis
tributed among the members fsr
their quiet consideration and diges
ton. all of which as was mentioned
by Alderman Melyton was simply
a waste OF money, as every member
Of the city council knew the nature
OF the paper anyway"
-----------~M Mayor On Hand.
Anticipating a fiery debate on the
measure. there WAS a large crowd IT
Interested citizens present when the
board OF aldermen was called togeth-
er by President whittet An inter-
esied spectator was Mayor Richard :
son. who occupied a seat of honor
within the chamber. Others were
lawyers and officials representing
both tho interested street railway
companies
Captain A. r. Guigon. OF the Viz
Einia Railway and Power company
was not feeling well. as he expressed
himself: II have pain. but am not
going to say anything about r. for
fear somebody might think It was
caused by the vote on the question
tonight."
1t was nearly 9 o'clock when the
body was called together
When the gavel fell there was but
one aesentee-Alderman John Blilev,
who Is now on mis- way 10 the Pa
citlc coast as a delegate 10 the grand
lodge meeting of Elks.
X had been stated during The day
that the Henrico people had the figh:
won by the vote OF twenty 10 four
That prophecy was carried out. The
vote WAS nineteen to four but if Mr.
Biiley had been present, II il under
stood he would have voted in favor
u the franchise.
Powers Amendment.
. Mr.. Powers OF Madison ward, after
the reading 1t tina ard la.sssaa- -
August. presented a resolution amend
ing the franchise. and providing that
the company shall install lights and
corporate limits, regardless OF
whether they resided inside the con
dcnsed belt or not
The introduction Of this amendment
created little ccmmotion because 1t
MAS pretty we'll understood that the
Eshjcrity In favor or the franchise was
overwhelming. but Mr. Powers ex-
planned his proposed amendment dur
ing the period Of fifteen minutes
Mr.. Moore, while apparently willing
to allow Mr.. Powers SUFFICIENT time to
rid himself of the speech or expIana-
ton which he had, grew impatient,
and interrupted the alderman from
Madison ward, to ask him to confine
himself to the subject under discus
sion. and took occasion to state that
he hoped there would be no amend
ment. but that the franchise az passed
by the common council would be
adopted as Il came to the body.
Mr.. Cowardin, who some years ago
was connected with the Traction com
pany. replied to Mr.. Powers in few
words. and declared that the amend
ment proposed would simply place the
new company in hole from which it
could not exricate itself. He hoped
the franchise as proposed would be
adopted.
Mr.. Hobson also assa lied Mr. Pow
ers.
Don Leavy Explains.
Mr.. Don Leavy. when Mr. Grundy
made the statement that the fran
chiSe had been prepared by counsel
for the Richmond and Henrico COM
pany, arose Indignantly. and denied
that such was fact.
Il will tell you how the franchise
was framed" said Mr.. Don Leavy.
st was framed by the street com
mittee. Many of the sections were
prepared by Henry Anderson, counsel
FOR the Railway and Power company
The committee considered every sec
ton, and Mr.. Powers himself worked
hard with US, to help perfect the fran
chise. The committee Is responsible
for this franchise. and no one else.
We fram II and we are responsible
for it,
Mr.. H0bson said ne understood that
the franchise was drawn III the Office