The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-15
Richmond and Eenrico
Company Wins Long
Fight.
AINSLIE GIVES
HIS RE ASONS
Officials of New Company De-
clare That They Have No Fear
of Ordinance Being Illegal.
They Say They Have
Funds to Complete
the Work.

Refusing 10 reverse thr ueSis-V" Va
two City Councils and former Mayor.
Mayor Ainslie yesterday afternoon
signed the ordinance granting a Hght
and power franchise and extension OF
tracks to the RIchmo nd and Henrico
Railway Company. and returned the
bill to City Clerk Ben T. August
Having passed both the Common Couh-
ell and Board Of Aldermen. the sigma
ture of the Mayor makes the Bill a
law. In announcing that he had APP
proved the franchise. Mayor Ainsle
gave out the following statement 70
the newspapers:
after careful examination Of the
history and terms Of the ordinance
granting a light and power FRANCHISE
to the Richmond and Henrico haiiway
Company and the questions Involved
therein. and a careful consideration of
the exhaustive arguments FOG ana
against the ordinance. l am not CON
WINGED that / should override the opln-
ions of the attorneys for the city as
to SIS legality or the judgment OF two
Councils and the former Mayor as 10
its policy and terms.
Under my conception OF the veto
power IN such cases. il should not De
exercised unless / am convinced either
that the ordinance is plainly in viola
ton OF the laws Of the State or clearly
the result OF corrupt, hasty. hl-consio-
cred or ill-adyised legislation AS
such is not the case in this instance
am Of opinion to approve the ordi-
nance
Rumorx of Contest.
This marks the end. temporarily at
least. Of the hottest franchise hShl
Richmond has ever seem The grant
ing Of light am power rights TO the
competing company was bitterly con-
tested every step of the legislative
way b. the Virginia Railway and row
ersf-onpany. which, aside from attack
ing the ordinance In regard 10 Its
validity. did not hesitate to impusn
the motives OF the applicants for the
franchise At the time the ordnance
PASSED the Common Council. Henry W.
Anderson. counsel for the older COM
pany. directly charged that the Rich-
m ,nd and Henrico has no idea OF ever
putting the grant to its proper use
but viii force the old railway 10 ouS
IL out
From he vigorous assault maoe
upon the legality OF the ordinance just
adopted. II appears possible that the
Virginia Railway and Power Ccmpans
will at least make an attempt TO nave
/. tested in court. Henry W. Ander-
son. who denounced the validity OF the
franchise time and time again ourlhe
the 6ght. was asked last nighl II his
COMPANY intended to contest the ot1l-
nance in court, but he declined TO
commit himself. NJ. Anderson asserted
Z, the hearing before the Mayor that
the new franchise is Illegal in that IL
confers legislative functions upon the
street Committee OF the Council, when
are reserved by the citys charter for
the Council alone.
John c. Hagan. secretary and treas
Erer of the Richmond and Henrico
RAILWAY. expressed confidence last
night that the franchise would with
stand any test
while I do not believe the franchise
will ever be taken into court. we are
prepared 20 meet our opponents on any
ground at any time When both city
attorneys. two Councils and two
Hsyors-both lawyers-attest the va
liditv Of the franchise, We are not
disposed to feel shsky about It.
Terms of Frnchise.
Under the terms Of the franchise
plans for the execution of the grants
conveyed by the franchise must be SUD
rnitted 10 the street Committee py the
Richmond and Henrico Railway within
sixty days from YESTERDAY Mr. haSaii
said last night that the proposed route
had been worked out in detail ana
was ready for presentation TO the COM
rnfttec on instant's notice. The officers
of the company have not decided eN
sctlv when the plans are 20 De nleo'
Tho committee IS empowered to alter.
enlarge or diminish the route proposed
by the company
Other terms Of the franchise require
thar work on the plans sanctioned ny
che street Committee must begin WITHIN
three months from the hnal approSai
81 Tho ordinance ana must De com
Melted within twelve months IN Vne
futurc extensions or the original rsnte
may be made n any time by the pas
$50 Of an ordinance by the City
Council According 20 Mr. hsgan, inc
,cv, company has the funds IN hand
for the construction WORK anu j. tc~"s
20 begin al once
Ffrst Was bitter.
TIA. e~rf for franchise mas extended
c,-r- a period nf many months and ~
xoivcd two Councils. Toe str1@ Eif
bc~aa Iast srrirC with the ccnsioera
et,rfd b. granted 20 any new com
-- AFTER a hard nGht the old
f-o,,,f voted to ask biiz on IEhi
and power Franchise. only Two rios
v-c-c e5b-nftfed-onc Of 5000 by 2
Northern syndicate and another OF ~
by the Richmond and henrioo KAN
With tho virginia Railway and
r,cv-e- Company aligned with tho
Norshern syndicate. the forces locked
horns IN the city Council on Noyem Der
e. and the Richmond and henTi -
Halfway won the award BY vote 81
"a to : on Wednesday. December 4
the hrht reached head before the
(contiru~f on rourtcenth PagcD