The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-11
Signs Ordinance Which
City Attorney Holds
to Be Valid.
LONG FIGHT IS
ENDED AT LAST
Virginia Railway and Power
Company Expected to Seek
Aid of Court in Resisting
Application OF Richmond
and Henrico to Sell
Light and Power.

Following an extended conference
with city Attorney Pollard. lIayor
Richardson yesterday signed the ordin-
ance providing for advertisement, and
uale Of the IGN, and power franchise
Ioqucsted by the Richmond and Ienrico
Hallway Company. Jus, after the pa
per was returned to Ci,y CLERK August
the Mayor issued the following state
ment giving his reasons for approv-
irg tho franchise.
II approved the ordnance because [
could not consent to create or protect
Z monopoly. and thus secure TO one
ret or persons special privileges which
would have been denied TO others. The
legal questions involved were submit
tea by nae TO the CITY Attorney for
his opinion. and he thinks that the
ordinance is valid.
City Attorney Approves II.
During the afternoon city Attorney
Pouasd delivered To the Mayor "a OK
Isuded written opinion covering the
various law points which have been
rnisec. dealing at Er.at length Win
the night OF tho Council 10 delegate
certain powers TO the Committee on
Streets, leading up 10 Tie conclusion
ih4t ia view OF past acts Of the COuu-
ol. !rcludirg the franchise under
winch ,ho existing company is now
operating. there Is Ia the pending or
oinance no unique delegation OF pow
- which would render the ordinance
invalid or Illegal The Virginia Rail-
N~ay and Power Company has given
notice OF It's Intention OF centcst!ng The
validity OF the ordinance ia the courts.
The ordinance nNes tne terms on
which the city VIII eel! to some party
Set 20 be named right 10 sell and
= strlbuie through tho streets and al
less 81. the city electric li4ht and pow
a. ior a period of nficen years. and
directs the advertisements of the ordin-
enco once week for four weeks. AZ
tor which the Council y II receive BIDS
iog the right Ia the manner pfesor!b-
e.. by law
Ends Long and Bitter Fight.
The action OF MAYO. Richardson =
approving the ordinance puts ar END
u ngh, which has been In progress
for months. and which became acute
and bitter as the time approached fos
the Council 10 pass nnally upon II. AZ:
ter the Board OF Aldermen concurred
with the lower branch u was the gem
ctul opinion OF everybody who had
Followed The progress OF the ordinance
tnat the Mayor would rot veto H. In
died. II he had, II would have PROB
ably been passed over Aia Veto. unless
he could present valid reasons FOR its
defeat
1t is also the general opinion and he
lief OF lawyers that the Virginia Rail
way and Power Company will imrned-
lately prepare 20 take the matter to
the Court OF Appeals. Henry W. An
derson. vice president and general
counsel for the Virginia Railway and
Power Company was out OF the city
Ira.
obtained in his absence as TO what
5ne company might do. on the other
hand. 1t Is stated that the Richmond
nnd Henr!co Ry Co. is getting things
IN shape TO begin work just as So n
az the franchise formalties have been
concluded. But unless It should be
held up and halted by court proceed
irgs, 1t is expected that the work VIII
be under way in a very short while.
Many Predict Consolidation.
The Virginia RAILWAY and Power
Company. which formerly had the con-
tract with the city TO LIGHT the streets
lost II when the city established and
crened its municipal lighting plant
The city is also arranging to light
al of its own buildings. but it is not
competing with the corporation which
now furnishes all OF the ;ght and pow
or for public consumption.
Omcers OF the Richmond and Henri
60 Railway were very mitch elated
last night when they heard that the
Mayor had put the seal OF approval on
a measure for which they had fought
for more than year. Citizens who
have watched the tight have predict
consolidation. although this statement
made. OF course. without authority. is
bitterly resented and denied BY Of
ncers of both companies.