The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-03
POWER FRANCHISE
VOTE UP TONIGHT
Aldermen Said to Be About
Evenly Divided on
Issue.
PAYING TEN CENTS PER NAME
Canvassers for Henrico Petition
Get Allowance for Each
Signature Secured.

! The Board OF Aldermen has been
called TO meet tonight at 1880 o'clock
to take anal action on the pending bid
Of the Richmond and Henrico Railway
Company fos light and power fran
chise The Board is said TO be about
evenly divided. with the probability
against concurrence in granting the
franchise. The latest poll gave slA
members 10 each side. with two not
committed either way. The call for the
meeting is nonpartisan. being sisneo
by those who have pronounced views
on both sides The signers are John l.
Grimes. IL. W. Melton, John J. Mitchell.
W. J. Gilman. Lawrence Paul. Marx
Gunst. John b. Bliley. a. {. Nelsen n.
Joseph -. Powers. James Disney. ord
way Puller.
A Nonpartisan Call.
Messrs. Powers and Puller are men,
hers of the Street Committee. when
reported in favor Of rejecting all BIDS
on the ground that the proposed iran
chise did not require service IN resi-
dental sections. and gave no compeh-
sation to the city for the use OF the
streets. nor any promise OF lower
rates or better service. The kicnhohu
and Henrico Railway Company DID s1o
for the franchise, whereas the rgh' 10
use all the streets and alleys IN the
cit, could probably be capitalized at
millions
AT A special meeting of the Common
Council. held November p. the lower
branch adopted as substitute Tor th7
Street Committee report the ifAdHOH
resolution. granting the franchise re-
ouestad by the Henrico Company. ana
drafted by its own attorneys. al II
bid Of $40. Immediately thereafter
lobbyists for the Henrico Company De
gan circulation Of a call for meeting
of the upper branch. but after mum
Der of names had been secured. IL was
found that they did not have enough
votes pledged, and the call was not
presented. In order TO bring the mat
ter TO an issue and end the discussion
several Of those known TO be on the
other side agreed TO join in call on
a nonpartisan basis for meeting To-
night.
Ten Cents Per Name.
Fighting in the last ditch for the
votes needed, the Richmond and Henri
go Company IS reported 10 be paying
10 cents per name for signatures 10 4rS
petition to be presented tonight IAN
yassers employed 10 take these pei
,fops about. especially on Church Hin
and IN Fulton. have told those "AOi',
the asked TO sign that they were PAID
or tbe commission basis. at so much \
sfe-nature-lO cents for business men
and voters. and cents for other names
number OF citizens are said to nave
signed the petition regardless OF l's
contents. out of sympathy for the can
vassers. and to help them earn the4i
money. 1900
The franchise fight has now reached
an acute stage in which the three
elements are the two car companies
involved, with their adherents ana
friends in and out of the Council anu
those Aldermen who are desF"us "a
seeing the citys interests properly
protected.
Does Not Serve Residential section
Among this latter group are some
| Aldermen who favor a genuine COM
petition. could that be secured. but VINO
will not vote 70 give away paper
I franchise when there Is nothing 10
guarantee its exercise save in con
! Cested central manufacturing secti0ii
/ II is worthy Of comment that no Pc
titions for such competition have como
I from patrons OF light and power ia
! that section Only BY securing inc
/ adoption Of additional ordinances anu
nrobably By extended litigation can
/ competition be secured under tnis iran
ohise in residential or outlying sec
rions. Notwithstanding this admitted
fact. the loudest demand for granting
the Henrico Company what II asEs
has come from the far East End from
South Richmond, and from the south-
ern side OF Clay Ward-outIying sec
tons where customers are far between
and where many lines now in opera
ton are Improbable.
The contention OF the Richmond and
Henrico Company is that IT is an exist
ing company already in the field Win
a street railway eight miles long and
A viaduct which has been OF great
benefit 10 the city. II desires nov 70
enlarge its powerhousc and enter the
light and power business. promising
generally to extend its street railway
lines in various directions In the ~
I ture.
Charges SeII-OUt scheme.
The third factor in the situation. the
: Virginia Railway and Power Company
which owns all OF the other street
3 railway lines IN and about the city. AMI
I which holds a general light and power
I Franchise here. has H'i NteiNdt''
. charge boldly that the application OF
the Henrico COMPANY for tTSnciis'
is A mere part 81 seli-out schen'-
Having an unavoidable street railway
on their hands. bonded FAR beyond its
! cost. the charge Is that the promoters
now propose TO unload their loss j"
otde~ 90 eject this. paper franc iscS
are 20 D. secured and the public mlho
allied with saggestions Of extensions
Il car lines. Local capitalists nave
been invited 60 buy Hcnrico stock -
2 the assurance that fhc company c'i."
s-et whatever 70 wanted from the Co1a-
cl and 80 cold force the old com
panv 10 buy ~ out
The vote tonight viii sftile ? nat
- which has been under disr-Issi 'u
i, tho cosncii M -cuc form. or en-
,,fher Tor nearly = wear. and nn which
80. a.. f.ro~ = wealth o. drgtsu1f NJ