The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-01

cussion of the proposed light and
power franchise yesterday afternoon
at the meeting of the street commit
tee
For the period of two hours the
discussion continued. Had 1t not been
for other committee meetings there
would have been several hours more
of discussion, but at / o'clock, Mr..
Mills suggested that the committee
adjC urn to another day, when the dis
cussions may be resumed. and, If pos
sble, concluded The committee
therefore adjourned to 4;30 o'clock
next Monday afternoon
In the opening yesterday afternoon
Judge George Christian spoke in the
interests of Upper & Company.
bankers and brokers, of New York,
who had put In a bid for the fran
chise, Offering the sum of $4,000 for
the same.
Judge Christian. in a few words
introduced his clients to the commit
tee. He said that he had no personal
knowledge of them until he had been
retained as counsel in this matter.
He had, however. taken every means
to learn all about them, and found
that they were honorable and re-
sponsibIe bushes men of New York.
fully able te carry out any contract
may have entered into.
After this Introduction Judge Chris
ton went into a discussion of the
merits of the franchise, and endea-
vored TO show why his clients bid
should he accepted by the commit
tee.
Good Policy.
Council has already determined
that it Is good policy to grant the
franchise, and no court nor tnsA
COMMITTEES. can go behind that" said
Judge Christian.
The city attorney has decided upon
the validity of the franchise. and
we came forward with our eyes
open. and offered our bid in the best
of faith. My clients are ready to
sustain the ordinance and to carry
out its requirements. We know that
1t VIII prove an expensive proposition
to conform to the requirements of the
ordinance, but up TO this time we
have complied with all of them.
When IL was suggested the other
day by, my friendss Mr.. 4MsEadilh44 that
the ordinance was designed for the
Richmond and Henr.co company, |
felt that he had presumed too much.
W men Tie ordnance was passed by the
city council il became the property
Of the city of Richmond. open 10 any
one, spread before the general pub
lie, and To no one concern or man.
The fact that the Richmond and
Henri co people offered but zen dollars
for the franchise indicated, to my
mind, that they felt 1t was worth
less proposition. We thought differ
emily. When we offered five thousand
dollars for the franchise, we felt that
IL was worth that much.
- zE f.a erFR~ = tlss
highest responsible bidder, and / can
show that my clients are responsible.
and not to Il lower bidder. unless some
good reason can be shown fer 50 de-
ing. Favoritism nor prejudice should
predominant IN the award Of the fran
chise'
Judge Christian said that Upper e.
Co. would, II given the franchise. open
headquarters here, throw much capA-
tai into the concern and esta bilsh a
new enterprise in the city.
Drastic Ordinance.
''Tfiis is a most drastic ordinance,
and liberal in its provis ons so far as
the interests OF the city are concerned.
Under the provisions of the ordinance,
The city may compel the company 10
extend it's route and system to any
section of the city. whether it paid
the company or not
Mr.. Kelley, representing the Rich
mond and Henrico company. arose in
his place and thanked Judge Chris
tian for his opinion as To the drastic
| Qualities of the franchise, and for
what he said concerning the interests
of the city.
In conclusion, Judge Christian APP
peaied to the committee to grant his
company the franchise on the grounds
that the company Is responsible and
ready 10 go To work at once. and that
/ it had made the highest offer.
/ do not throw down the bars
against the coming in of foreign CAPT
/ tai and enterprise" concluded the
speaker.
Following Judge Christian, who
| spoke for more than half an hour,
Samuel L. Kelley, of counsel for the
Richmond and Henrico company
spoke for fully the same period OF
/ time.
THE city attorney has said that
! there Is no legal power which can
compel the committee to grant the
franchise to any one. But council has
determined that the interests of the
city are promoted by competition in
public service. The people themselves
BY large majority have declared
themselves IN IatCr OF ppHHprtit'ou,
and as the councilmen are the trus-
tees OF the interests OF the people. they
are expected to do what the people
wish.
Voice of the People.
1--WE presented petition said Mi.
Kelley .at recent meeting OF this
tsanxn tt&ee, signed by. z. 2ae people rep
reseftsng the business interests Of the
city. These people probably repre-
sented Ave thousand voters
The people ask that We be given
| this franchise. The question OF COM
| petition has been settled. The rep
| resentatives of 1000 working people
! have asked it. AS trustees OF the peo-
pie it is clearly your duty To do what
| they wish.
THE Richmond and Henrico com
pany has worked for solid year Tor
| this franchise. It's representatives
have spent sleepless nights and have
sweated blood Then why should an
other party come in. after We have
done all the fighting and the work.
| and take the franchise away from is =
[ The sum of five thousand dollars is
/ A mere bagatelle compared Ia the good
| the city may derive from the work :
/ mas Of the franchise by the Rich
mond and Henrico company.
!, "tlo not place us in the position Of
being forced into consolidation. Give
use an even footing upon which TO
! place. GARY, hsasinesS .hefars the pe.apla
We are an established plant. Our