The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-22

Practically without debate, and with
no cons Iteration given to essential de-
tails. the Common Council last night
adopted an ordinance intended to give
to the Richmond and Henrico Rail
way Company a ifteen-year franchise
to use any and all OF tho streets of
the city for the distribution OF light.
and power. and for the extension of
It's street car system. The hnal vote
was - 10 =
Methods were used at which Victor
Rosewater and William Barnes, Jr,
might turn green with envy. The
ordinance was ADOPTED at special
meeting. called at the instance OF of
fcials OF the company which is to
benefit by the franchise. Members of
many years experience said that never
before had they seen a franchise voted
or at the first meeting TO which it
was reported from the committee
The Council refused to give thirty
minutes to representatives. OF each
side for discussion, IN the face of a
petition signed by Richmond stock
holders or the Virginia Railway and
+. yer Company, representing $780,
600 OF invested capital and leading
o. zcns OF the community. asking to
oe heard
II would not even have read the
al ordinance as framed by the eubcom-
Intttee of the Committee on Streets,
over which six months time and labor
had been expended.
1t sent for the city Attorney carly
In the meeting, members tavuring the
franchise using his presence as an
argument against u motion to lay the
matter on the table until the next
regular meeting, yet no one asked
| him a question, and he might as we'll
nave remained at homo.
Beyond few desultory remarks by
MIR. Powell on the proposition to put
H. matter of discounts into the ordi-
nance no member gave a reason why
| the ordinance should be passed, and
passed In extraordinary session
City Mny Pay Eli.
so determined were Inc advocates
OF the franchise to force a vote last
night that they passed :. paper which.
as pointed out by Mr.. Pollock. is 40
chat 1t provides no uo.u Iusuring
that the company which secures the
franchise will remove its property
from the cirys streets al the expira-
ton of the time limit Ii may defy
the city and make The municipality
pay for the remnants of its business
career.
Competition OF the sort contemplat-
ed. under existing conditions in Rich
mond, said Councilman Gilbert * Poi
ock. in explaining his negative vote.
is a fallacy. He asserted his belief
light cheaper than in any other city
OF its Size. and that me service rem
dered Is second to none,
Where regulation II be had" he
said, competition Is a mistake. There
arc members here voting on u matter
-f,t.
cred. They nave sent for the City Ak
torney and nave not asked Aim q
question"
Result OF Roll Call.
The final vote on the adoption OF
the ordinance was as follows;
Ayes-Bntkins. Blake. Boshen. Bow
man. Brown, Burke, DuiMr, Cease.
GIN, Ifuddon. HirschberG, HSbsou. HUI
bcr, Jones. Lumsden, Pollard. Powell.
Powers. j. G.; Powers. John t.; Hat
ciihe. Rcade, Eichn ds, scaton, seipb,
sullivan. Umlauf. weston, Wiltshire,
Worknan-S0.
Noeh-Fergasson. Faiier, Miller,
Mills. Plnner. Pollock. Vonderlehr-
Ahsent-Brndle!. Peters, Richards
son, Rogera--+.
Music In the Parks.
Before the Council adjourned, 1t
suspended the rules and passed an
o'ulldNtt aPpi'Hild 'iIS SS."Nc lOc
music in the parks for the remainder
of tie season. The amount is TO be
expended under the direction OF tho
committee on Public Grounds AMI
Buildings. The vote was Ayes. 80:
noes s
Councilman #. Pollard Jr. pro-
sided in the absence Of President r.
Lee Peters The report nf the Com
mittee on Streets concerning the ordi-
nance was made the order Of business.
Mr. Mills moved that the report and
ordinance be laid on the table until
the next regular meeting OF the body.
He thought the members unprepared
vote.
This Council" he said ought to
adopt its own franchise. such ran
chise as it desires TO sell for the bone
ii ef the people OF the city rather
than ono prepared and advocated by
an interested Corporation"
Want Original Printed.
Mr.. Pollock wanted to amend by
having the ordinance printed along
Continued on Seventh Pase)