The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-16

consolidation, and the courts have de-
cided that in consolidation the costs
iof the abandoned plants can be londet
on the public. And that is exactly
what will be done in Richmond.
Yet. with the memory of other days
with the recollection of the benefits
the city secured by competition be-
tween the Traction Company and the
Fisher Company. there is n natural
| and wholly intelligiblr feeling that
competition is good thing. To this
! feeling The Times Dispatch would say
i good where there Is no other means
tn secure fair rates and reasonable
service. But. in the present instance,
th> city receives from the Virginia
Railway and Power Company ad-
mittediy excellont services at reason
able rates
In the other case. neither rates nor
service were satisfactory. and no
other means of redress. hut compcti-
ton was at hand.
Competition cannot improve present
conditions, but competition. with it's
attendant costs, can. and inevitably
Will. lay heavy hand upon future
development and extension of the
lighting facilities of the city. 1t will
divert to the payment of interest on
outstanding capital charges money
that might be applied to developing
the electric facilities Of the city or
reducing the cost to the consumers
1t will add Richmond as only one
more to tho long list of those cities
who. led on by weak sentimcntality.
public service business have reckless
~ granted public franchises. only to
find that 1t had put in the hands of
consolidation n legal and unbeatable
means for cxtorting further contri-
buttons from the defenscless con-
sumcr
Why should we give to corpora
ton a privilege whose value consists
in it's power to levy tribute on all
the citizens? AS matter OF fact. IL
1t would he better for Richmond to
issue bonds and reimburse the Rich
mond and Henrico Railway Company
for what they have lost than to give
a franchise which will ultimately he
Il heavy charge on ali the citizens.
that only by competition can reeu-
lation bc< secured. Competition has
failed to regulate public service cor
porations everywhere: that is why vir-
GINA showed enough cnliGhtenment to
create its Corporation Commission
We have before Ms to-day in the
Corporation Commission ana the City-
Council a full, perfect and sufficient
means FOR controlling the services
rendered by tho Virginia Railway and
Power Company and the rates charged
by them for that service Why. then.
should Richmond. as city, delibcr-
atcly forego the benefits OF an adj
United ana established means for
regulation and bark back to an cx-
plodcd ana expensive method - eX-
plotting the needs of community?
This is not question between two
competing companies: it is qucs-
ton between the citizens Of Richmond
and their Council. What the citizen
wants is maximum service Mt the
minimum price. What the Council
wants is to secure that right AMI
privilege for this community. And it
is the deliberate opinion of The
Timcs-Dispatch that the welfare of
Richmond and of It's citizens will be
advanced and furthered ny refusing
the light and power franchise sought
by the Richmond and Hcnrico Railway
Company. aud by regulating the Viz
ginia HALLWAY and Power Company.