The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-09
MAYOR IS READY
TO- TAKE ACTION
Continued from First page

from flrst PAEe.)
powerful in this matter" said Mr.
Anderson.
This condition should no prevail.
The council itself should have the
power to compel the purchasing COM
pany to carry out the wishes OF the
itizens and to construct line that
would meet all the requirements of
the city"
Mr.. Anderson In a statement filled
with technicai points. APPEALED to the
mayor to veto the measure and let
II go back to council so that IL moth
ing could be done Dy the present
council, something could be done by
the. incoming council. and that then,
after thorough and full consid era-
ton, an ordinance might be adopted
that would meet the conditions.
He made IL plain that his company
would demand the operation of the
manamus, In the event the ordinance
became a law, compelling the new
company 10 Construct lines for the
benefit of citizens in ali sections Of
the city, and not In particularly fay
ored quarters.
The speaker also touched on the
subject of monopolies, and declared
that the city had the right to extend
exclusive privileges to any public
utility corporation. That competition
was not necessary. and that in many
instances wherc competition arose,
the public were the sufferers,
The mayor is not bound by the
action of council" said Mr. Ander-
son. 1T must be a question with him
as to expediency. The responsible
ity is upon the mayor. He has the
right to dispose OF the ordinance as
o. check upon iN-considered Iegisla-
ton.
This ordinance gives the street
committee all power. IT should give
the council the power to act under
the nandamus. ana not leave 1t TO
the future councils. Whenever an
extension Is desired by the people,
another ordinance must be passed by
council. The city itself has the
right to giant franchises because it
Is TO the interest of the city and the
exclusive company. but this ordi-
nance will prove suicidal and do great
damage to the city and the streets"
When exclusive franchises in pub
lie utilities or monopolies are grant
ed" said the mayor, the city should
control
Mr.. Anderson proceeded along the
lines dwelt upon before the ordinance
was adopted by council He MAIN
tanned the ordinance would not faldll
the requirements. and that insafar rs
ii was controlled by the street conn
mittee it would prove an asset OF i'm
measure bic danger.
Both MessrS. Meredith and Kelly
replied to Mr.. Anderson.
Nr Ia I'd
Icy of this State aud this city to gram
franchises when the municipality in
fully protected. and that II was IT, no
sense the policy OF the city to estab-
Iish and protect monopolies In public
utilities. when the demand was such
as to invite and welcome competition.
IF a governor or mayor acted
upon q fixed policy because OF per-
sonai opinion" said Mr.. Meredith, all
right. But If there Is statute against
competition, l should like to hear it
quoted. The corporation has the con-
stitutional right to regulate corpora
tons, and particularly transportation
companies"
Commission May Regulate.
This point was made 10 indicate
that IL the possessor of the prop ,sed
franchise did not carry out the Ideas
of those who granted ii, the citizens
could demand redress through The
corporation commission.
.4s..Ths, privilege OF cnsonetttiQu * "a
settled condition i'm Virginia. said
Mr.. Kelly. Anybody who wants to
can esta blish a public utility. pro-
vided the city Is made harmless. and
the council has control of its streets.
The mayor has no right to veto
this measure because of personal feel
ing. 1t Is not presumed that no VIII.
This ordinance has received more at
tention than any ordinance In my re-
collection of the workings Of council.
Some OF the newspapers have said
that 1t was railroaded through, but
there was the fullest consideration
given every section.
s'when measure passes one
branch OF the city council by the vote
Of 10 TO 4. 1t looks very much like the
people want this competition that the
other side Ia bowling so much against
Il will venture to say" continued
Mr.. Kelly that rinety- nine out OF
every one hundred in the city. who
live in the territory covered by the
new company favor this franchise. for
they see larger advantages for them.
and more conNerliences.
II trust the mayor Will not veto
this very important measure. and one
which the people have been clam
oring for for a long time.
AT the conclusion the mayor said
that he was ready 10 act now from
The standpoint of policy. but that he
would consal' with tho city attorney
On some legal points, and would be
ready to give his opinion within the
time specified by the code--ffve days
from the time the paper was present
IA IL ha ~ n M
On the 6th OF July. That Will give the
mayor TO the nth, inclusive, In which
10 make his decision. The law pro-
vides that tho 1--WE days shall be work
ing days, and as Sunday intervenes
the mayor really had six days
He said he would be prepared by
'rhursIav ri least - NOT annnhr