The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-19
GOING FOR THE GAS COMMITTEE.
Special Meeting Of the Council Takes
Hold OF the Gas Outrage.
Mr.. Pizzini Wants Reform in the Depart
ment, and Board or Commissioners.
Committee Asks an Investigation.
Reference OF the Matter 10
the Board OF Public
Interest,

A called meeting OF the Common Coun-
ell was held yesterday evening at ~
o'clock. The following members were
present: Mr.J. T. E!lyson. president, and
Messrs. Allen. Bowie. Brauer, Campbell,
Clarke. Catlett, Elicit, Frischkorn, Gum,
Harprove, Hayes. Higgins, Hooper,
Hughes. King. Metzger. Miller, Phillips,
Pizzini. Rose, Straus, and Weisiger.
The President said the Council had been
called at the request of the Committee on
Light.
Mr.. HigCius. chairman of the Commit
tee on Light, said he had been instructed
by the committee to present a preamble
and resolution, which were read, and
which asked for The fullest investigation.
The resolution reads:
ReSolred, That this committee unite in a
call for q special meeting OF the Common
Council for Friday afternoon at 1:30
O'Clock, and that a special committee con-
sisting of four members OF the Common
Council and three members OF the Board
of Aldermen, with the presiding officer
Of each branch, be appointed, whose
duty IL shall be 10 make immediate
and thorough examination OF the con-
dition and operations OF the city gas
works. including searching investi-
CATION into the methods OF The manu-
facture and the cost OF gas in the holder
for the past eleven months, and the cost OF
gas i'm the holder for the months OF No
yember and December, and report, with
such recommendations as they deem best.
Mr.. Campbell said he was IN favor OF the
resolution except that he thought the COM
mittee named was too large for efficiency,
and moved that the committee be made
three councilmen and two aldermen
without the presidents.
Mr.. Hargrove said he thought lhe COM
mittee on Light ought to have exactly
what they asked for.
Mr.. Higgins said he wanted the investi-
cation, but was welded to no special plan.
Mr.. Straus SAID he hoped that the whole
matter would be referred to the Board OF
Public Interests, with the president OF the
Board of Aldermen added, and made mo-
ton 10 this effect; and the vote being
taken, this motion prevailed, and upon
further motion of the same gentleman the
Board was empowered to secure the SER
vices OF IN expert il they deemed it neces-
sarv. the pay of same moi to exceed $3.50.
MIR. Pizzini offered the following pre-
amble and resolution:
Whereas it has been demonstrated that
some departments OF the city government
can be more successfully carried on by
commissioners elected by the Council than
by the committees; and whereas there eX-
lists amongst the people deep-seated con-
viction that the present management OF the
CITY o,s-works il not successful, and is in
great need Of reform: therefore be it
ResoiUed, That special committee. COM
posed OF five members OF the Common
Council and three from the Board OF Al
dermen, TO be named BY the respective
presidents, be appointed to take under con-
sideration the eXpediency OF so amending
the CITY charter as to place the gas depart
ment under the control and direction OF
commissioners elected in the same manner
as the Police Commissioners said COM
mittee TO report its action at the next meet
| ing Of the Council.
Mr.. Phillips moved that the preamble
and resolution be laid on the table unit
the Board of Public Interests report, and
the motion was adopted.
The Board OF Public Interests Is consti
tuted as follows J. Il. Elly,on, president
of the Common Council, president: anC
Messrs. Maxwell II. Clarke, T. II. Elicit
and Andrew Pizzlni, Jr., members OF thu
Common Council; c. X. Barksdale anC
| William II. Pleasant., from the Board o
Aldermen; Alfred Il. Courtney, William
| II. Palmer, 4. o. Noting, John j. Pur
cell, and Joseph X. Anderson, from th'
citizens: B. Il. August, secretary.
The Council adjourned, having been II
/ casSion only q brief while