Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-13
Phone RATE REDUCTION
!. CONQUERED IN BY BOARD
Rates in Effect Before
Burlcson Order.
"FoR HIRE" BILL RECoNNtITTEE
Public Robbed Of Expected Spcctac-
: ular Debate When Workman Moves
That Measure BE Sent Back TO
Committee to Broaden Scope.

Alderman Powers resolution order
inE the reinstatement OF telephone
rates which wcre in effect in this
city prior TO the Burleson increase
Uas concurred in by the Board OF
Aldermen last night and now goes TO
the Mayor for approval. Before It's
passage the resolution met with un-
expected opposition. This came from
Aldermen Grundy and Winfree who
took the position that j; should not
be adopted before the telephone COM
pany was given an opportunity TO be
heard. This opposition was later with
drawn and the measure passed without
dissent
When the resolution came up Alder
man Grundy asked il Il AUTOMATICALLY
restored pre-war rates. Alderman Pow
s vas ' sgned i by the Mayor. Aidsrman
Grundy then declared :hat he DID noe
believe that the. telephone company
that 1t looked Ike taking snap-judE-
men;" and as if the company WAS
no, getting a, fair deal. He said thai
there should have been public hear
ing on the matter.
Wants compnny's Side.
Alderman Wnfree declared that ne
agreed that the, company ought To
public utility cost four times more
than it did sevcra! years ago
chaf tooR t2S oor ~"q G defese Of
his resolution ana declared that II
would be most unfortunaie FOR tile
For hsSpe rest6ra sp Of rates should s
delayed. In answer TO the charge tina,
the telephone company had not nad
rates were Put in effect mere withou.
fact that there was pendins before
application OF the telephone company
FOR rates even higher than those now
In existence. He was willing, ne SAC,
application for increased rates. but ne
INSISTED that the corporation he made I
10 return 10 It's former rates before
such a hearing was given.
Worse Service Than Ever.
Alderman Epps said ,ba, If it was in
the power OF the City .Couni!l TO re-
store the old rates he hopcu that the
vote would be unanimous The com
Rearing and then gave worst service
than under the old rates.
Alderman Fuller SAID that the gov
errment arbitrarily increased the rates
ard that they should be put pack where
they we're and then the matter de-
c,ded on its merits. But. he declared.
to be taken into consideration.
.tldeEmai, workm asked if the
man Powers replied that il was his
personal opinion that i, had not.
Spectacular Fight Postponed.
The spectacular fight of the evening
was expected over the measure amend
Ing the for nlrc" cars parking ordI
nance. Some warm debates were eX.
pected and Goodiy number OF peo-
pis were on hand to cheer on their
respective champions. However. after
Alderman Fuller had made speech
opposing the change in the ordinance,
Alderman Workman quietly moved that
thx measure he referred back 10 tn.
Committee on ordinances and this
motion carried with surprising sud
dnnness
In making the motion Alderma,
Workman declared that he wanted the
ordinance hroadcncd and a real auto
mobile law passed regulating rates 10 be
charged IN this city. He declared tina;
people had been paving as high as 81
70 get a comparatively short distance
from the Broad Street station