Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-23
SEEK TO HAVE FRANCHISE
SUBMITTED TO PEOPLE
Metal Trades Alliance VIII Oppose
Outright Grant, Unless Rati.
fled by Electorate.
WANTS BETTER CAR SERVICE
Crowded and Infreauent Cars In Rush
Hours Regarded az Poor Afgu.l
Inent for Plan to Abandon Lines
Which Parallel Others.


Trade unionists OF Richmond win
oppose any outright grant Of a thirty
year blanket franchise to the Virginia
Hallway and Power Company Unless,
the Issue is first submitted to a vote
OF tho people. No objection will be
raised to negotiations between the.
traction company and the City Council
with view to drawing up definite.
basis OF agreement, which might then.
be ratified by the electorate OF the city.
Opposition to the blanket franchise
was strongly registered yesterday az.
ternoon at meeting OF the Metal
Trades Alliance. which is composed OF
delegates from twelve unions. Tho;
same attitude had already been taken.
by the Machinists' Union. No. 10, and
the Iron Molders' Union. These three.
ORGANIZATIONS have appointed commit !
tees to watch the negotiations care
fully. and with full power to take stepsI
10 protect the interests OF the labor
people.
The meeting yesterday afternoon;
was an open one. and each union al !
lied with the central body was repre- !
scntcd. while delegates from the othe,i
unions that have already acted werJ
present to speak for their orRnniza
tons The opposition TO the bIanke d
trhncnise was unanimous. and the deli
egatea were outspoken in their sentf
inents against the traction companyI
IL was the consensus OF opinion that
tho proposed franchise needed careful
ATTENTION on the part Of the labor pco !
pie OF Richmond. and should be viewed
with suspicion on their part
R{DICULE CONCESSIONS
0FEEsn +.
While none of the. speakers had made
study Of the franchise as pronoseL
by the company. a fair idea Of it's ,ermy
were given by them. Practically an
or The concessions offered by the com y
pany were held up to rldicule
,hey went to give us three via !.
Just, Mt for the scrap heap. Then again
they OFFER to saddle the city with
Forest Hill Park. II Will reoaire anl
expenditure, OF 100000 to make Il Oh
any. use TO the public"
Ihat tho company should be per-
mttted 10 discontinue any or the eiiai !.
Ing lines was also condemned strongly
by those residing in the East End OF
the cry. Men took the floor and told
OF the need or cars on the lines at thei
present time which. they did not be Z
ifeve could DO remedled by discontjnu 4
ing other lines. Speaking OF the con
Sested conditions during the hourss
when the workingmcn use the cars. or al
said. 80 o''S
The street car company is the onel
concern In the city that gets paid forI
the very thing IL does not give. I viii
pc willing to go onrrecord az saytne}
that not one out OF three persons rid Z
ins curing The early morning or dur !
ing the evening rush hours gets a seat
we WOULD not permit any other busI- I
ness 10 charge US for something wa dids
not get. am firmly opposed to sfvinrf
valuable rights to q company whlchi
pas not already done Its full duty un 4
der. tho old franchise u. - .
COMMITTEE NAMED TO /
WATCH PROCEEDINGS
NO plan OF action was taken. I'M byl
the Metal Trades Alliance for febtIn 81
me proposed franchise. but this wag
ielt the discretion.of the commit 1
tee. meeting Is to be called ,whem
every other union In the city VIII bel
asked to send delegates with power to|
JOIN forces with those who have In /
augurated the fight. The. joint com
nittee VIII attend all Council meet !
inss. and will watch carefully the prof.
ceedings II franchise is Advertised
which does not meet with the approyaA
or the union men. meetings Will be held
ana strong opposition will be aroused
among the voters of the city
! ~. Is. GreenWay was named as chair 1
man OF the Metal Trades Alliance com 4
nlttee;. j. NJ. p. Leavy repr esents theE
Iron holders. and J. =. Reynolds thef
Machinists' Union.
The union men Will ask for CO i
operation from all OF the mem bers Cd
locals In the city. AS expressed at thc{
meeting yesterday, the laboring people,
arc strongly affected by the WORKINGS
of-thc public monopolies, and must seed
that their interests arc safeguarded.
/, .One';of the chief fears Is that tn ii
new franchise will be given In such al
manner as 20 permit the traction com 4
pany to dictate terms. Fears were ex \
pressed that. labor tickets school
tickets and the present six for "a qGar-
ter tickets would be done away with. Il
Charged With Gambling.
II. r. Gayle, w. Thornton and j. F.H
x.,I,t to-