The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-30
COMMON COUNCIL.
Called Session Held at
the Chamber Last
Night.
Az ORDINANCE REGULATING
WATER RATES ADOPTED.
subject to Action by tie Aldermen.

Inc Common COUNCIL met IN cdlltu
session al the Council Chamber yesterday
evening at 7:40 o'clock. The body was
called to order by the clerk, and com
munication from the president, Mr. T. +
Campbell, stating that he could not be
present on account of the illness Of bis
wife was read Mr.. Peasants nomi-
mated Mr. Bodeker a. temporary chair
man and he was elected.
On motion of Mr.. Glover reading the
minutes was dispensed with.
The following members were present
Messrs Bodeker. Bowden, Brauer Z. r.
Carter, Isaac ". Carter, Christian
Courtney, Curtis, Ferriter, Glover
Grimes, llunl, Joynes. Mitchell, hussen
Phillips, Peasants. Steel, S,ratton, J. W
White, and Royal White.
An ordinance amending and re-enaci.
ing sections 10. ~, 10, 90, and % of chap
ter q of the city ordinances, concerning
the water-works, was introduced by Nr
StrattOn.
Mr Stratton stated that the ordidance
introduced by him only amended the
ordinance approved October the 10th,
1888 50 as TO fix the rates o. charges for
water used in closets at the same figures
the people were now paying, instead OF
the increased rates prescribed by the
ordinance, which would otherwise 20
into effect on the 1st of January. and -
strike out the paragraph referring TO
self-acting fixtures. He said that there
were more than 1000 non-sef-acting
closets in the city, and that of these the
larger number are in houses of the
poorer classes, and that he did not think
the burden Of an additional taxation
should be forced on this class Of people.
Mr. Hunt said that he was in favor of
adopting the ordinance, but he wanted
10 offer an amendment striking out that
part Of section ~ which provides that
when a building is laid in brick or stone
work or plastering done five cents for
each thousand bricks, two cents for each
cubic ward OF stone, and ten cents for
each one hundred yards Of plastering
shall be paid and that a license for the
use of water shall be obtained from the
SUPERINTENDENT for each building or
other work before such work is com
menced for which the city water is used
but no license shall be issued until the
charges for water on the estimated
amount of work 10 be done shall
have been paid He proposed TO
leave only that paragraph which
provides that for each table used
for brick-making $40 per annum shall be
paid. lie said that this ordinance in
creased the water tax from to cents
per thousand brick, and from : TO : cents
per hundred ards Of plastering that he
objected 20 tins clause because il did not
encourage Improvements in the way OF
buildings; that this amount had TO come
ont OF the pockets of the contractors, and
wac not paid 10y The property-owners;
that il was a useless trouble for builders
to be forced to come to the office Of the
superintendent to get a license for the
use of city water
On motion of Mr. Stratton, Mr. Boil
ling, Superintendent Of the City Water
Works, was requested 10 express his
views of the matter
Mr. Boiling said that be did not wish
TO 90 into the whole ordinance, but that
he would answer any questions asked
him By the body In regard 10 the
amendment offered by Mr.. Hunt, ne
stated that the increased rates were the
same as those enforced in many other
cities, and that the total income derived
by the city as water tax from this source
did not exceed $500 per annum
Mr. Christian said that he was not in
favor OF eXempting the builders from
water tax more than any other depart
ment Of manufacturing interest; that if
the builders did not get paid for the
water they used, il was alone their fault
in estimating for contracts.
The question was put to a vote, and
the amendment lost by-ayes, noes, 10
Mr.. Brauer introduced q resolution
providing that whenever non-self-
acting closet got out of order it shall be
the duty of the owner of the property TO
take it out and substitute in It's place
selt-acting fixtures. The amendment
was withdrawn until after the adoption
of the ordinance, and accordingly thrown
out altogether
The vote was then taken on the ordi-
nance as a whole as amended by Nj
Stratton, and it was unanimously
adopted
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
President L. l. Bass has called a meet
ing Of the Board of Aldermen for to-mor-
row evening at O'Clock, 10 concur in
this action of the Common Council If
2 he ordinance IL odcpfaI O a IL NOM starJs