The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-03

THE TINES presents this morning in
terviews with some of tho leading men
of Roanoke on the subject of the bond
ordinances, the advisory board and kim
dred matters. The interviews are
given with tho strictest impartiality.
The weight of opinion is heavily in
favor of surrounding tho bond ordi-
nanccs with the strictest guarantees.
The advisory board is supported
heartily by a majority who understand
it thoroughly, and opposed by a small
minority. There seems to be also a
few who fail to understand the plan of
such Il board. Not q few citizens re-
fused to express an opinion for publica-
ton. OF these a majority are opposed
to the bond ordinances outright and re-
serve their reasons.
L. Il. ~Fishhburno, president of tho
National Exchange Bank: 81 realize
the needs of Roanoke in tho way of
public improvements and am as anxious
to sec tho needed improvements made
as any other citizen in the city, but /
Will not vote money to be expended by
the present Council or any other Coun-
Gil that is dominated by tho influence
of James a. Mcconnell. I am opposed to
the public fund or any part thereof
being controlled by a man who | have
good reasons to believe would eXpcnd it
without regard for the interests OF tho
people, or public opinion. 1 fear that
an advisory board of public improve
ments and all it's actions would be con-
r | bV AIZ. 49,
this influence controls the Council. For
the bond election until after the NUM-
cipal election in May
j. T.. Smoot: 81 think that the Coun-
Gil should yield to the demand of public
opinion and provide for a board of pub
lie improvements as outlined in TIE
TIMEs recently, or place some ~restrie-
ton on the expenditure Of the money
tina will satisfy the people. It will re-
quire much time of competent and
practical men to Superintend the eXpen-
diture Of the money for the general
good-morc practical knowledge of this
class of work Than there is in the Coun-
Gil and more time than the Council has
to devote to this work. Unless the Coun-
Gil does listen to the demands of tho
people and take some decisive steps at
the meeting Tuesday night, the bond
ordinances will be defeated. If after
Tuesday nights meeting the Council re-
mains welded to it's old ways, this cleo
ton should be deferred until after the
May election"
Thursday, but before going he authorl-
zed TIE TINES to quote him: II am"
said he, "strongly in favor of postpon-
ing the bond ordinance election until
after the May election. Then we will
be able to determine whether the bonds
can be safely voted. If the election is
hcld without having surrounded the
expenditure of money with proper safe
guards tho bond ordinances will be over
whelmingly defeated. The advisory
board is the only adequate plan pre-
scented. Thousands of dollars have
been spent on u streets. Can any one
tell where that money has gone? 1t has
boen largely wasted. What assurances
have we that the same management
will not waste tho money which is now
asked for in these bond o~rdinanccs?'
e. III. Stewart: SIT is plain enough
that the members of tho Council have
their w private business to attend to
and cannot sacrifice the time necessary
to oversee public improvements. There
Cdu, GuCH, Dc lO reuSOudDlc ODJcCUlOu 10
the plan of having an advisory board to
supervise this work and do what the
Council can not do themselves. The
freeholders, who will have to pay the
bonds eventually will, of course. be
guided by the action of the Council. If
the Council will adopt this plan, have
the mayor nominate a board in whom
the people will have confidence and let
the Council appoint them, the bond
ordinances will carry. If there is any
doubt they will be defeated"
Captain j. Allen Watts: "The ad-
visory board is legal, practical and
sound. 1t will do more to satisfy tho
f~reeholders than any plan which can be
suggested. If it is not adopted the
bond ordinances will be showed under.
The people who provide the money have
a right to know how it will be spent"
j. R. HockadaJ, president of the Real
Estate Exchange: II am in favor of the
advisory board point blank and will do
everything / can to secure it. Whether
the Council wish it or not, if the people
demand it they must submit. am not
in favor of voting these bond ordinances
unless some guarantee is given by the
Council that they will be properly
handled, and the money expended as
the people desire it shall be-"
S. T. Engleby, president of the Eide
lily, Loan and Trust Company: Il be-