Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-11
THE DAVIS MANSION.
TUE CITY HAS NO POWER TO ALLOW
IT'S USE FOR A MUSEUM.
Opinion Of RIchmond's Attorney on 'no
subject--Thc Committees bst"p-
ped In Their Work.

The Committees on Schools, Finance
and Grounds and Buildings met In the
Council chamber yesterday evening 70 con-
cider the transfer of the Central-School
building, formerly the residence OF Presi-
dent jefferson Davis, TO the Ladies Holly
,vood Memorial Association TO be used for
tho purposes of Confederate museum.
Alderman j. II. Capers presided.
resolution from the City School Board
,voa road expressing the willingness OF the
board TO discontinue the use OF the man
sion for school purposes provided tho clty
s,,rnishes a suitable building to take lts
place.
Colonel Cutshaw, City Engineer, who
was present. stated that suitable school
hriid,n0 70 take the place of the present
ono would cost from $4,000 70 S3O,OOO.
and that a lot to erect 1t on would cost
from $4,000 upwards, according 10 ioc"-
ton. -.;o,, %
some length the following OPINION OF tho
City Attorney us TO the power Oh INC N'un-
ell in the premises was read
CITY ATTORNEYS OPINION,
To r n Capers. Chairman Of Joint Commit;
lee Of Schools, Finance, and Grounds ana
Buildings:
SRI was instructed to advise your COM
mittee as TO what power. If any, the 1lty
Council has to surrender the use OF tha1
bnildiug of the city known as the DAVIS
Wansio, - TO the Ladies' HOLLYWOOD Memo
rial Association. | was informed tlat IL was
proposed that the building should be set
aside for those ladies for the purpose or
allowing them 10 establish and MAINTAIN
therein museum Of relics OF the southern
Confederacv. Doubtless il is desired and
intended that such use should continue IN
definitely and for a number OF years.
As the question submitted 70 me IL
simply one of municipal power, us an
swer must be found in the charter OIL the
city of Richmond.
The only provision in the charter having
even remote bearing upon the suOIect
submitted Is the fourteenth division OF
section 10. 1t reads as follows:
ITO grant aid to military companies ana
| reOimeDts organized within the city, 20 So
! cieties or associations for the advance
ment of agriculture and the, mechanic
arts; TO scientific, literary. and benevolent
societies. provided such societies or asso-
Citations are located in or near the city, or
| in the case of agricultural societies, s1an
| hold their fairs IN or near the city; and 10
I
( ries and public schools"
Hence the question is reduced 10 con-
/ struction of the words 40 grant aid
to scientific, literary. and benevolent 60
/ cieties."
II am of opinion that the proposed object
/ is not embraced in any of the words lust
quoted. The words Literary societies
/ have the nearest relation to the proposed
object. But it would be charging toe
/ much the scope of those words TO hold
/ that they embrace such an object as the es-
/ tablishment of n museum. The city has a
much power TO contribute to an art gal
| lerv as it has TO assist in the establishment
| of museum. But neither can be properly
held to be embraced in the words last
/ quoted.
In the decision of the question submitted
! it can make no difference that the city sur
renders the use of building already owned
/ by her instead of renting one for the pro
posed museum. In either case II would
| clearly be an illegal appropriation or use OF
/ the city's property. lam, therefore, OF opln
ion that the City Council has no power &c
grant the request made as to the use OF the
Davis Mansion" for n museum.
G. Y. MEREDITH,
Citv ATTORNEY,