Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-18
LET THERE BE LIGHT.
cAILED aEEsyNG ciTY COUNCIL.
The Gas en- the Capitol ssuare--city Cssnel'
Oppsssd 10 cassins u Ofr-rhe New Ciss-

The Gas en- the Capissl square--City Cssncii
Crpsssd 10 Canine tt On-The New city
Hail cuessssr.
A meeting OF the Common Council was
held Yesterday at 6 o'clock. pursuant to o
call OF the president OF that body, Mr. j..
TAYLOR Ellyson. The meeting was held 10
" consider the action OF the authorities In
tuning the gas of the Capitol Square, the
Crpitoi, and the Governors Mansion"
There were present Mr.. Elyson and the
following members: Messrs. Ammons,
Archer, Bowie. Bryan, Campbell. Curtis.
Frischkoru. Griffith, Gum. Hughes, Jones.
Lewis, Parster, Pesrman, Phillips, Piz-
zini, R.dford, Riddci', and S,raus.
The reading Of the minutes. on motion
OF Mr.. Bryan, was dispensed with.
Clerk Howard read the report OF the
Board OF Public Interests, recommending
that 80 much OF the city ordinance as re-
lated TO the cutting of OF the gas from the
Cppitoi Square be revoked until a meeting
OF the General Assembly OF Virginia.
Mr. Bowie said the Committee on Light
had taken no action on turning on tbe gus
from the Square, and did notlnteui to do
so until the Council acted. lie presented
a report from the committee showing that
II wss the duty Of The auditor ten days after
A gas-bill became due. to report the same
10 the Committee on Light, whose duty, In
case OF default OF payment. was 10 cut the
Gas off. An attempt had been made to have
a proper settltment. and only promises to
nav had been made. The auditor had
doae his duty In attempting TO collect the
amount.
The repcrt saws: "Our duties under the
law were plain, yet we felt anxious to act
cautiously in the matter. especially as such
undue prominence bad already been given
il and at a regular meeting Of your COM
mittee. held on the 4tb, the superintendent
was instructed to suspend action for ten
DAYS and to notify the proper authorities
that tue gas would be turned of unless the
amount was paid within that time. The
superintendent promptly notified the State
officer OF this action Of the committee, and
as no payment had been made st O'Clock
p. N. Monday, he ordered the supply OF
gas to be turned OF the buildings above
mentioned"
The report ended by saying that no ac.
| ton would be taken In regard to the gas
on the Square until the Legislature met.
Mr.. Ellyson said that at the time that he
called the meeting OF the Council he was
under the impression that the gas was
turned Off from the Capitol Square.
Mr.. FIiscbkorn moved the adoption OF
the report.
! Mr. Pizzini moved to amend the report
by including the Capitol and Governors
house in that part OF the report which de-
ferred action until the Legislature meets
again. He ridiculed the idea that Virginia
would not pay a gas-bill Of not more thar
SI,3OO. He could not think that any Vir
ginian with State pride could believe thai
his State would be guilty OF such an act
The bill had not been paid because thC
Legislature had failed TO appropriate oil
amount necessary for the purpose. Il
would do this in time.
Mr.. Bowie opposed Mr.. PizZini's amend
mcni, and MIR. Straus advocated it.
Mr.. Riddell bad conscientious scruplei
about agreeing with Mr.. PizZini, and asked
to have them removed, and Mr. Pizzini die
go.
Mr.. Cabell was astonished that any on,
could oppose Mr.. PiZziDps resolution. Tb'
committee had done what the ordinance
required, but the ordinance in this ems,
was wrong. The United States GOyera
mcni was excused from this penalty "unti
such time us legislation shall require" ant
the State should be similarly treated. No
cent would be lost by delay. Could w
not trust our State! The last Legislatur
had been crowded with work, and on thl
account had failed to take action.
MIR. Bowie said there were funds in han,
out OF which the amount ought to be PAID
and that the matter would not affect legisla
ton at all.
Mr.. Pizzini's resolution was adopted b.
the following vote:
AYFs.--Mcssrs. Bryan, Cabell. Campbell. Curti
irischkOrn, Gum. Hargroye, Hughes, Pearnai
Pizzini. Riddeli. siraus, and Ellyson-l3.
NOEs -Messrs. AmmOns, Archer, Bowie. Grt
fth. zones, Lewis, Parater, Phillips, ana Re'
fOrd-9.
The ordinance was then adopted by th
following vote:
AYFs-Messrs. Bryan, Cabell, Campbell. Curti
FIifchkorn. Gum, Hargroye. Hughes, PArate
PearnAn, Pizzini, Riddell, Straus, aud Ellyson
IA.
NOEs.-Nessrs. Archer. Bowie, Griffith, Jone
Lewis IhlInps, aud Rankin-7.
-. NJ Inn