The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-11
MAYOR APPROVES
R. 8 /, ORDINANCE
GIVING FRANCHISE
II Cannot Consent to Pro-
tect a Monopoly" Is De-
Claration of Richardson
1T is VALID, SAYS
THE CITY ATTORNEY
President Forbes, of New
Company, Says Work Will
Be Started As Soon
As Possible

Il approve the ordinance because
/ cannot consent to protect a mo-
nopoly. and secure TO one set of per-
sons special privileges which would
be denied to others" was the simple
declaration Of Mayor ID. c. Richard
son yesterday afternoon. when, at
the stroke of S, In the presence of
Nirgin!an reporter, he affixed his
signature to the ordinance which
gives Richmond another electric rail-
way light and power system.
Earlier in the afternoon the mayor
stated that the matter was In the
hands of City Attorney Pollard for
investigation OF the legal questions
involved In the ordnance granting
The franchise, and that he expected
Mr. Pollard's opinion during the az
fernoon.
1t was 4:30 when the city attur-
ney submitted his findings to the
mayor The ordinance, he said. IS
valid. The die was cast Half an
hour later. with a stroke of the pen.
the chief executive wrote flnis TO Il
nafver that has been agitated by
Eress and public for months. The city
attorneys decision was briefly couch
cd the mayors EXPRESSION was more
SO: there was no occasion for words.
each has given his lest tnoaght and
most careful eonsderats,ga to -
Msighty- prnhlem attended by lnnE
Drawn out eontros ersy. and the YER
diet needed no friils.
The question Of gran ins nan
chise to the RichmoEf and Henrtco
Railway company TO enter Richmond
i'm competition with the virginia
Railway and Power company mas
been in the public eye for long tim.
! Eventually the matter resolved its"n
into n proposed ordinance winch
would grant the newcomers the fran-
ehLSa they desired.
The ordinance. as drafted was re-
ported To The common council June
2Ist by the committee on streets and
adopted, and on July Sd was passed
by the board of aldermen. II then
went to the mayor, who, after CIV
Ing the interested parties hearing.
submitted the legal questions involved
TO the city attorney Within an
hour after City Attorney Pollard rem
dered his decision the ordinance had
been signed. sealed and delivered to
city Clerk Ben T. August. and was a
Flaw OF the land"
No Statement To Make.
Acting President Fritz Siterotng,
of the virginia Railway and Power
company, who WAS informed last
night by The Nlrgtnisn OF tho mayors
action, said simply that he had no
statement To make AT this time Al
the hearing before the mayor. how
ever, a few days ago, Mr.. sitierdihg
stated thar If the ordinance was not
! vetoed he would take the matter 10
the courts,
Henry w Anderson and Captain
A. h. Gugon, counsel FOR the same
company. we're out OF. town yester-
day
Hard Fight, Says Forbes.
President w II. Forbes. Of the
Richmond and Henrico Railway com
pany, who was also first informed
of the fact that the ordinance had
Become law by The Virginian. stated
that he would issue formal state
ment later Pressed. however. for
an expression. he did say. with a note
OF enthusiasm: 1T has been hard
hight; We had good friends or we
could not have won ii. IL shows
tuHt The people are with us. The
move means much to the people OF
4, Kiehmhnd, Wa shall gst To work AN
soon as possible to etxend the lines
The feature Of the ordinance.
which Is drawn In blank, though OF
course primarily intended for the ben
eft OF the Richmond and Henrico
company. Is that IL provides that the
city must invite bids on the FRANCHISE.
and that any man. or set or men
even the Virginia Railway and Power
company--could step In. offer the CITY
q few thousand dollars more for the
privilege and secure IL. though there
t. saving clause that the common
council reserves the right 10 repect
any or all bids without rhyme or rea-
son.
Extends To December. 1897.
The ordinance. as finally adopted.
grants the right to use the streets ot
Richmond for the purposes of placing
therein or hereunder poles and wires,
snbways and fixtures necessary to run
street cars and supply light and pow
er to its inha bintants. in accordance
s. with restrictions laid down by the
city's regulations and with the con-
sent and approval of the street COM
nittees The franchise. OF course.
makes the holder liable TO taxes gov
erning such an enterprise. and Tor
damages to public improvements and
a embodies a clause by which said fran
chise shall be forfeited for failure {"
comply with any Of these provisions.
The franchise extends to the zsd
day OF December, 1927.