Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-03
TUESDAY, JANUARY ), 1922.
Next Weeks Conference

4 IT HE public Will look forward with
81 newed confidence to the conference that
has been arranged for Wednesday Of next
week by representatives OF the Virginia
Railway and Power Company and employees
@of TINT corporation. This evidence that
4 both sides are favorable to n discussion and
I presumably, 10 negotiations rs against i'm
mediate break on the matter OF wages, will
+ encourage the belief that the question at
I issue will be settled tremendously and with
/ a due regard for the rights of both sides.
Such settlement is earnestly to be de-
sired. From the viewpoint of the public
s3nothing could be more disconcerting than
the prospect of n cessation or disorgapiza-
tion of the city's transportation facilities.
4 A distinctly gratifying aspect Of the stu
Ration is to be found i'll the readiness of
eceriain union leaders 10 admit the severe
difficulties of the cOmpany's position. The
Employees realize apparently that the COM
pany is operating at n loss. but take the
position that the scale of wages provided
by the revised basis will not enable them to
| live. The cOmpany's officials, it may he as
sumed, take the position that the corpora
ton also must live 4 friendly conference
under these conditions is logically the first
Rstep toward n solution. The success of
next weeks conference necessarily will
displayed by the parties to tho controversy
in the meantime. 1t should be their en-
deayor to keep the atmosphere free of bit
3terness and confusion, 10 impress the pub
lie more by disposition to fairness and
conciliaton than by threats of drastic ac-
ton.
1t will be we'll for the public and the city
government to consider il!>the meantime if
here is any solvent or element of sol
vent that may be supplied by a third party.
t will be we'll TO inquire when, if ut ALL
he railway and power company is TO have
definite and final answer from the city
bn its long -standng franchise petition
TRThere has been ample time for
i an answer. The difficulties of deter
mining the facts and merits of the
matter are not insupcrablc. The public
would like to know the relation of the de-
lay in this connection to the necessity felt
| BY the traction company for a reduction in
wages, if there is in fact, any relation at
all In any case the nublic should be inter
ested in having the corporations status
clarified by settlement OF the franchise
question.
Richmond is not experiencing pc
sculiar difficulty with respect to its
local transportation system. The diff
Guilty has been practically universal
among American cities in recent months.
. Traction companies have been in dis
ytress everywhere. Some of them have
' had to take a receivershp. Richmond may
| BIO able to set an example for the country
| by approaching the problem with view
I to effecting permanent and constructive
.lsolution No thinking person is yet pre-
iEpared to admit that street cars are obsolete
|ssor unnecessary. II is perfectly idle TO
lamagine that jtney lines will ever replace
1.-THE street car system. The obligation rests
RsHpon the public ana the municipal govern
fSment, then, no less than upon the traction
|kcompany and its employees, to apply honesty
Intelligence, fairness and patience TO the
search for solution This thing can be
isworked out. Richmond's reputation for
sanity in industrial matters warrants the
hope that it will be worked out promptly
I and Justly
|