Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-08
CAR FARE CONTROVERSY
MAY Be CLOSED MONDAY
Council Street Committee Agrees to
Make Final Decision Regard.
ing Its Recommendation.
DROP ToLL-BRIDGE QUESTION
Street Railway Officials Ask Propo-
sitions BE Divorced and Offer Via
ducts for Salc-Fricnds and OPP
ponentS of Increase Heard.

Settlement OF the controversy con-
corning Increased car fare in Rich
mond appears 10 he in sight. The
whole matter was again discussed pro
and con at the meeting of the City
Councils street Committee last night
and determination was expressed by
the members of the committee to take
final action al Il meeting which will
he held Monday afternoon at o'clock.
OF an informal kind and the members
will simply talk the matter over and
come to final decision as to their
viii eHp'r h. s at iinsT,y to attend Interested
The question of tho toll bridge nuis-
ance in the settlement OF the fare
proposition was eliminated when a
Wheciwright. president of the Virginia
Railway and Power Company, was
read. In this letter the company prac-
cnt conside ration. asking that the pro-
positions be divorced, and made n ten
tative offer TO sell the viaducts to the
city. Randolph Williams, attorney for
the company. argued in favor of the
city granting :, scent fare. He re-
ferred to the increased cost of labor
number of cities had Increased the fare
on lines operating under their fran
chiscs. He declared that the company
was carrying 3,Soo,ooo people Il year
senSer. During September OF this year
the cost of carrying passenger on the
local lines was 400 cents. The COM
pany received for each passenger 4c5
cents.
Thomas Scott. In addressing the meet
ms, declared that he came AS n plain
bought stock in the company, and now
this stock was not worth what he had
paid for it, lie believed that the faro
should be increased. and cited fisures
TO show the Increased cost of la Dor in
other lines.
Tabb Mayo said that he came to Rich
mond in 1865. He gave a history OF
the mule line here. and said that the
fare on that line was 10 cents, or three
tickets for 25 cents
oo Il. b; Gresnway, OF the legislative
Labor Council. opposed granting the
Increase He declared that rates in
other cities constituted an unscientific
comparison. as conditions are different.
and based on different units. He de-
cIarcd the company invested about SIS
100000 here, then sold sl2.ooO,0o0 OF
common stock and about $4,000 900 Of
preterred stock. 1t then made some
improvements and issued bonds for
.l-,eoo.oeo. Now II wanted the people
10 pay 6 per cent on its bonds. not
mao In these fat years It should have
laid by some money for the lean years,
ne said. and not be now attempting to
the people He declared that over
capitalization was the main trouble
DECLARES SERVICE NEEDED
WITH INCREASE OF RATES
]. P. Martin declared that he would
not be opposed to an increase if tho
company would give some service first
he said that it failed to run its cars
on schedule and ignored the demands
OF the laborers and school children in
Fulton. 'i
j. +. Reynolds said that tho way
me car company was working trans
ters was tantamount to an increase In
iares already. He cited Instances
where wrong transfers had been given
ana ana passengers forced to pay double
J. c. Duke explained to the commit.
zee that owing to the order prohibit
thns PUBIC meetings the unions had not
nau an opportunity to appoint com.
NiIttces TO take up the matter.
Mr. Williams declared that NJ
1ireehways figures in regard to Tho
nnances or the company were ali non.
sense, Mr.. Greenway re,or,ed tba,
th"y had been obtained from The recorGS
OF the United States District Cour,
ait. Williams rejoined that Tho ~
hsures contained in these records ,.aro
onIH nominal; lie declared that the
,,Iiapa, mes taken over had been cant
i RaiI@.y at sS2'Goo,ooo and the Vireinia
i,, and Power Company cut out
.,hlrds OF this capita lization
alderman Gunst declared thar ho
opposcd TO delay in the matter ana -
niotion 10 reach a decision Manila,
'erhoon was carried. 81