Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-24
TAKE CARS
OFF STEEP HILLS

Continued From First Parcl
TIC only temporary. and could he re-
vnkeG In two weeks tifrr at the plea
ur" of the Council. ri compel the cor
tiEhtd use of tho East Broad stree.
tracks until tho franchise matter w,rn
disposed of, he said. would he to pro-
long tho pcrilous operation Of the cars
for al least eight months, since dis
position Of the franchise application
cannot he expected in shorter time.
WENDENHURG BITTERLY
ATTACKS PROPOSED FRANCHISE
Mr.. Wendcnhurg devoted much OF his
speech TO an attack unon the blanket
franchise touching upon the immediate
question at issue only briefly lie
warned the committee tina; the rcrout-
ing asked for in the ordinance was part
Of the company's general scheme to
abandon its Broad street tracks east
OF Eleventh street. II was an enter
ing wedge, he SAID. in the direction Of
establishing the permanent rcrouting
in the blanket franchise application
Mr WeudcnburE presented several
petitions signed by East End residents
opposing the rcrouting asked for The
signatures. II was estimated, exceeded
1000 In number Paying tho company
what he called one OF the few compli-
m.nts It deserves he snid that the Vir-
sinia Railway and Power Company.
from tho standpoint Of its stockholders
was an admirably administered corpora
ton. but that from the standpoint OF
the public its administration and scrv-
ice were ''disg:aceful.'
Mr. Anderson asked permission to re-
ply to ihis charge. The company's rec
>Oyd for service and faithfulness to its
duty 10 the public, he said, was too well
known to need defense. The statement
Just made. lie said, stamped tho charac-
ter Of the argument of which II was
4 part.
LIVELY TILT FOLLOWS
INTHODUCrIoN OF PETITIONS
y lively thirty minutes followed the
introduction Of q batch Of petitions. said
TO have been signed by upwards OF
1000 persons fesding in the Eas, End,
approving tile temporary rerouting
asked for by the company. The petit
lions were handed to Councilman Sui
Ivan, who introduced them by request.
Mr. Anderson, in his talk, told the
committee that tho petitions hal not
been seen by the authorities Of the COM
pany and gave the impression that they
were circulated and signed independent
Of Inspiration or assistance from the
company.
Councilman sullivan. who had been
scanning the lists carefully during the
argument. took the floor at the conclu-
sion of the public hearing to make a
brief statement lie appeared to he
considerably exercised
These petitions do not appear ia mo
to he exactly right" he declared, adj
dressing the committee with some
warmth. They arc said 10 contain
about 1000 names. From the number OF
pages that are hero. I suppose that fs
IRE is not far wrong
~ have looked the pagcs over caro-
fully and find that page after page is
IN inc same handwriting. venture the
statement that 80 per cent OF the sig
natures are In the same hand. The
whole thing looks fshy. It'looks as If
somebody has been busy"
OFFERS TO EAT PETITION
If NOT EUILy GENUINE
Mr.. Sullivans criticism OF the petition
brought rush of citizens who de-
mandfd an opportunity TO be heard. The
committee had formally closed the pub
lie meeting. hut the demand was so In
sistent that tho rule was suspcmlcd md
additional time granted
one OF these petitions was circulo.
cd by me-" declared s. #. Flournov. IA nd
In every case the signature Is by tho
pcrson whose name Is signed, or hv n
member OF his family who was author
ized to sign for him. IF that isn't 50
III eat the petition as 1t stands"
THE petition is now the nronortv me
the street Committee" replied Chair