The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-15

A speciaf meeting OF the Common C0un-
Gil was held yesterday. afternoon in the
Council Chamber under the. following call:
e<-a RICHMOND, March 12, 1873.
Mfr. e. G. Houard, City CLERK:
Please issue notices for meeting Of the
Common Council on Thursday evening at 5
O'Clock, to consider the resolutions adopted
by the Board OF Aldermen In relation to inn
provement of the Hastings Courtroom and
the license to be granted o. 'Brian's circus.
[signed] DE- L. sTRAus,
JOHN NJ. HIGGINs,
II. METZGER.
Present at roltcall: Messrs Adams, Ba-
ker, Curtis, Elicit, Gregory, HargroYe, Hig-
gins, Johnson, King, Manson, MetZger, Oil
yer, Starke, Skinker, Stokes, Straus, Tim
berlake, Whitlock, Wood, and Christian.
\, The two newly-elected members, Messfs.
Elijah Baker in place OF Mr.. Charles T..
Taylor, Of Jefferson Ward, iand E. D.
Christian in place of Mr.. George L. Chris
tian. OF Clay Ward, appeared in their seats.
The body was called to order at 5:10
O'Clock by Mr.. Higgins, and on his motion
Mr.. NJ. l.. Straus was invited to preside.
The Joint resolution authorizing the City
Engineer, under the direction Of the Com
mIttee on Grounds and Buildings. to. en-
large, repair, and alter the present Hus-
tings Courtroom, was, on motion OF Mr.
Higgins, taken up.
On motion Of Mr.. Starke, Judge Chris
tian, who was present, was invited to ex-
press his wishes on the subject Of the pro-
posed Improvement.
Judge Christian said that he hoped the
Council would concur in the resolution. a
day or two after his election DR.. Beale came
to him and said that If the courtroom was
not altered and improved it would kill
him; that he believed Judge Guigon's death
had been fastened by the illy-yentilated
room in which he had to spend so much of
his time.
The resolution, as it came from the Board
OF Aldermen, was concurred in-ayes, 20 ;
noes, /.
Board Joint resolution giving permission
to John O'Brian to exhibit his circus and
menagerie for one week for thirty dollars
was taken up and concurred in.
Mr.. Curtis moved to suspend the rules
and take up the Board OF Aldermen resolu-
ton paying S219 to N. G. Crowds and $50
to Charles j. Daniel for two parcels Of land
conveyed to the city for the purpose OF
widening Twenty fifth street north OF Vena-
BILE, &c. Agreed to.
Mr.. Straus opposed taking the money
from the contingent fund. as that fund
could not afford it.
Mr.. Curtis argued in favor Of the resolu-
tion.
The resolution was reiected-ayes, 10;
noes 9-not two thirds.
A number of bills, resolutions, &C., were
presented and referred.
Mr. StrauS moved to adjourn. Lost.
MIR. Higgins said it was very important
to elect president, as he desired the ap-
pointment OF member in the Committee
on Streets to ill Mr.. Taylor's place.
Mr.. Straus said that there were nine
members absent, aud he thought 1t would
be very unjust to those gentlemen to now
go into an election for president. He felt
satisfied that il the absentees bad the least
idea that 4 president was to be elected they
would have been present. It was a very
important matter-the selection Of a presi-
dent-and he hoped the matter would be
postponed until the next regular meeting.
There was lively little debate between
Messrs. Straus, Curtis, Higgins, Stokes, and
the Chair.
Mr.. Higgins moved to suspended the rules
and 60 into an election.
Mr.. Straus appealed to the Council to con-
tinuc the harmony that has for so long char.
acteriZed the meetings Of the Council, and
not press the matter, but wait until the next
meeting.
Mr.. Curtis assured the Council that unless
the harmony Of the body was disturbed by
Mr.. Straus himself there would be no cause
for trouble.
NIr. Starke spoke in opposition to going
into the election this afternoon.
The question being taken Oh going into
the election the vote resulted as follows:
AYEs-Messrs Adams, Campbell Curtis, Gre e.
ory, Hayes, Higgins, Manson, Melzger Stokes, Whit
lock, and Wood-ll.
johnson, King, Oliver, Starkc Skinker, Sraus, Tim
berlake, and Christian-l2. s... .sa
So the Council declined to go into the
election. ..
Adjourned. = ...