Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-15
BOARD HAS EXCLUSIVE
POWER OVER FRANCHISES
Administrators, Not Council, Proper
Body to Enforce Requirements,
Says City Attorney.
MATTER PENDING FOR MONTHS
City Accountant to Examine Books
or Car Company AS to Receipts
ana Disbursements Before Street
Committee Acts on Petition.


Exclusive power to force the Virginia
/ Hallway and Power Company TO fulfill
all the requirements Of It's various
franchises. including tho maintenance
or the proper schedules, is invested In
INC Administrative Board as the sue
cessor OF the old Council Committee on
streets. according To an opinion OF City
attorney Pollard to The Committee on
streets last night. In view OF this au-
thority, all papers relative 10 the trac-
ton company's failure TO maintain
schedules on certain lines. which has
been pending in the Council for some
time. were referred to the Administered
tive Board
The City Attorney held that the Ad-
ministratlve Board had Inherited all
the powers formerly invested in the
Street Committee, and that the duty Of
enforcing all provisions Of tho COM
pany's franchises rested with the board,
but that the Council. By proper reso-
luton. could direct any city admins
tration Official. including the board, TO
proceed against the company. IL that
body believed the franchise require
ments were not being fulfilled.
Under the terms OF the old Rich
mond Passenger and Powe. Cornpany's
franchise. according to Mr.. Pollard, the
board could proceed against the Vir-
ginia Railway and Power Company
without notice. Ten days preliminary
notice. to allow the company TO cor
rect any deficiencies. however. is re-
quiTed by the franchise of the Rich
mona Traction Company. The right of
both companies have been assumed by
the Virginia hallway and lower Com
pany.
ALL PAPERS ARE SENT TO
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD
For several months papers from the
City Attorneys office, the Administra-
tive Board and the Chief of Police have
been pending In the Council. These
papers. which show tina: the company
is falling 10 maintain it's schedulcs on
certain lines. have been referred to
and from the Administrative Board
during this time, and last night were
directed cent To tie Board Of Aldermen
for transmission TO the Administrative
Board for its information and any &C
ton deemed advisable.
Further consideration OF the Vir-
sinla Railway and Power Company's
petition for relief, through the aboli-
mittee. and $50 letters from stockhold-
ers OF the company and citizens. sup
porting the request. were received and
ilied. Practically all these letters were
In circular form, signed by sh3 reh old
ers OF the traction company.
The committee voted TO instruct City
Accountant Cofer to examine the com
pany's books to determine its receipts
and disburserne in the operation Of
It's traction lines in Richmond from
1919 TO 1917. Inclusive, and to ascer-
tain the difference in charges made by
the company for current for the OPP
grafton OF cars. as compared with the
charges made to private consumers.
Mr.. Cofer was also instructed to ex-
anime the reports made rs the COM
pany TO the state Corporation Commits
sion, which several members of the
committee believed 20 be more com
plete than those filed with it several
weeks ago.
The ordinance transferring the rights
OF the Richmond and Rappahannock
River Railway Company TO operate in
the streets OF the city TO tho Rich
mond and Seven Pines Electric Rail-
way Company was iccomme nded to the
Board OF Aldermen for adoption. after
being amended 10 provide that tke
$4,000 bond protecting the city is as
sumed by the new company.
The committee referred TO City En-
ncer Boiling for investigation and re-
port. The ordinance permitting the
Southern Railway Company TO con-
siruct spur track in Cary street. be
tween Fourteenth nd Fifteenth Streets.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS