Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-25
NEW PROPOSAL IS MADE
!. TO SOLVE FARE PROBLEM
,Whcclwright Asks That Corporation
80 Commission Fix Fair Valuation
seg of Trolley Property.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SILENT
Hear Letter From President OF V. II.
q p. Company, but Call Meeting
Of Directors OF Municipal Depart
~ mentS to Take Action.

~ Suggestion that the State Corpor-
alton Commission as a judicial body
be appointed by the City OF Richmond
and the Virginia Railway and Power
Company. jointly. 10 determine q
proper valuation OF the properties used
in the street railway service IN Rich
nnond. and that this valuation be used
as a basis for determining an adequate
return to the railway company. WAS
made yesterday afternoon TO the Com
mittee on Streets in n letter written
by Thomas S. Whcelwrigh;. preside nj
OF the company. The letter was read
by F. Randolph Williams attorney for
the Virginia Railway and Power COM
pany-
The commun ica;ton from the prosi-
United as method OF coming tn some
decision in their petition fer an in
crease in far 10 cents. Further in
the letter, il was stated that the val
GaUon arrived AZ and the fare deter
mined would he considered binding on
both parties. and that the city OF
nance, a ra;c OF fare which would give
the company the return SO determined.
Pending the outcome of such valua-
tion and determined return the COM
pany further requested that II be
granted n straight 5-ccnt rate. with =
cents for transfers. in order that some
y
letter stated that 453 cities IN the
United States had granted this relief.
while final action on their petitions
for increased fare was pending.
Opposes Temporary Relief.
In bringing tho letter before tho
committee, MI Williams stated that
the company had promised its work
men an increase Of cents an hour
and that if in the meantime tho pro
posai made recently for a straight O.
cent fare with 2-cent transfers; was
slider this IN the light Of the scent
advance, and have tho increase in
wages become immodiateiy operative.
I'VE estimate that this temporary
relief will Sjvc us an additional rev
cnue of $4,000" stated Mr.. Williams.
"and l would like to tell this com
mit,ee that this VIII not pay the in
workmcn OF the $4,000 10 per cen,
comes 70 tho City of Richmond for
The remainder is insufficient to take
care OF our wage increases"
Under tho state laws placing valua-
tions and fixing rates concerning the
operations OF street railways they do
not come within the coEnizarcc of the
state Corporation Commission. The
suggestion TO call in the assistance
OF the commission, which as judicial
body. and in this case a disintcrcsted
party, could perform this work. n
work for which tho commission is ne
culiarly adapted. Mr. Williams stated
that the corps OF engineers and ac-
countants necessary for compiling fig
Ores for tho valuation would he en-
ployed by the company without cX-
pense to the city.
Committee silent.
That the Street Committee will &C
cept the proposal Of tho Virginia Rail
way and Power Company to call upon
the State Corporation Commission, and
thereby transfer TO that body an au-
thority which is strictly that Of tho
City Council, is unlikely. The com
mittec was silent tho matter q,
the meeting yesterday afternoon. and
on motion il was decided to call q
conference OF the City Comptrollcr
Director of Public Works. Director Of
Public Utilities. the City Attorncy aud
Assistant City Attorney with tho Stree;
Committee. TO he hold Thursday. De-
cember 4. ut o'clock. when tho entire
mpttcr will he gone over. and some
decision reached as TO tho procedure
to be taken by tho city in arriving AT
a valuation OF tho comDany's property
and granting an increase in rate.
Fuller al the meeting that his com
Inittec was well able TO decide on the
company's valuation. and since IL was
& their duty, it would be carried cut
! He said the committee would sit 70,
hearings as often and rs long as il was
necessary 10 obtain all the facts in tho
case. II is not thought that tho Letter
from the Virginia Railway and Powc,
i Company will sa,cn come IN for con
sideration az the conference 10 he hcit
next week.