Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-04
TALK ABOUT'PHONES.
Ordinance TO Resclnd Privileges Of tht
Southern Bell Considered.
QUESTION DID NOT REACH A VOTE.
spring-street Resolution Adopted-Big
Sewer Appropriation Referred TO the
Finance Committee Other Matters.

The Common Council held a very I'M
portant session last night, but could not
finish the vast amount of business before
II. Among the spectators were several
gentlemen of prominence, interested In
matters to arise for the consideration OF
the body. The members in their seats
were Messrs. Bloomberg. Briggs Brock.
Carter Cashie, Cottrell. Davis. Deane,
Diacont, Donleavy, Epps Ferriter. Grif-
fin. Grimes, Gunst, Hobson. jackson.
Landerkln, Lawder Mayer. Mcdowell.
Page, Seay Smith, Trower, Wallerstein,
Woody, and President Glover.
Two lengthy reports from the Commit
tee on Streets. providing for a number
of pieces Of street. and alley-work. were
the first papers to engage the attention
OF the Council. In one of these was the
resolution appropriating 1890 for the
purpose Of opening Spring street through
the penitentlary grounds. This was
adopted. and the appropriation made Is
to carry on the work for the first year.
Another resolution appropriating SO.OD
sewers, was referred to the Committee on
Finance. Similar action was taken upon
the resolution appropriating 800 for the
purchase OF two mules and authorizing
the sale of two broken-down animals.
MIR. CAsKIE ON FINANCE.
Quite a batch of papers. nearly all OF
which were amended, came up from the
Committee on Finance. Among them
1,tfn a "a
the payroll account of the city schools.
This had the sanction of the Finance
Committee, but not of all its members.
Mr.. Casl.e made a speech concerning the
individuality of making such additional
allowances to the committees governing
the departments of the city. He said
that such n policy meant the sure imam
cial embarrassment of the city. and in
this connection stated that during the
past two years this city had acquired
floating debt OF $4,000 to $4,000 by APP
propriations OF this sort. He declared
that hereafter he would vote against all
extra appropriations, as If they were con-
tinually made the Council would have to
increase taxes, which he could never vote
for.
After some further discussion, 1t being
explained that the contracts OF the School
Board demanded this sum, the resolution
was adopted.
The additional appropriation of $3.50 TO
the contingent fund of the Police Board
was allowed.
resolution donating 500 TO the Wo-
mans City Mission for the purchase of
coke for the colored poor was so amended
as to make the amount $500. and TO have
the appropriation made direct to the Su-
perintendent of Public Charities.
FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT..
The question of an extra appropriation
of $4,000 to the expense account OF the
Health Department evoked great deal
of discussion. The Committee on Finance
recommended that the amount be changed
from $4,000 TO 5000.
Mr.. George b. Davis made a vigorous
appeal for the larger sum, stating that
il was needed to carry out the work
of the department during the remainder
of the fiscal year. lie said II the Coun-
ell did not make the allowance the proba-
bility was that the health force would
have to quit work, as the department was
already In debt He was asked by Mr.
Wallerstein as TO the exact amount
needed Mr. Davis said that. according
to Information in the hands or the com
mittee. the whole of that amount would
be required. Mr.. Wallerstein moved to
amend the resolution, so as to fix the
sum at $500, which, he thought. would
be sufficient. Mr.. Carter said he believed
1890 would be enough TO carry the
Health Committee through. and he moved
to amend with those figures, which was
agreed to. The resolution, as amended.
was then adopted.
SALARY FOR THE CORONER.
A resolution instructing the Committee
on Police to contract with DR.. William
II. Taylor, City Coroner TO relinquish all
claims against the city In connection with
his office as Coroner upon the regular
monthly payment of $3.50, the agree
men. to be In force until July /, 1896, was
adopted. 49,
Tn. resolution appropriatng $500 for
putting up the names and numbers OF
the streets of the city was adopted.
In accordance with the recommenda-
ton of the Committee on Finance, the
resolution appropriating $3.50 for the
widening of the Boulevard was rejected.
To the Finance Committee went the
resolution appropriating A,l5O lot the
laying of l0-inch Waterman In Pine
street
From the Committee on Elections came
an ordinance, which was adopted, hNlns
the pay OF the judges. clerks, constaDies'
and other election-ofiicers at s. each for
each election. The sum of 500 was appro-
priated to the Committee on Electlohs
for the purpose Of defraying electoh-eA-
penses.
The report of Dr. William II. Taylor
as to the splendid properties Of the
water of the spring at Chimborazo PARK,
came up from the Committee on Grounds
and buildings and was forwarded TO the
Committee on Health.
THE TELEPHONE QUESTION.
There then came from this same COM
mittee an ordinance which provoked an
hours heated discussion, and resulted IN
adjournment. The ordinance was that re-
yokIng the franchise of the Southern
Bell Telephone Company. which question
was so long agitated in the Committee
on Grounds and Buildings. 1t stipulated
that the privileges Of the company shouid
cease twelve months after the date OF the
approval of the ordinance by the Mayor
Mr. Caskie thought the Council was not
sufficiently posted to act upon a matter
Of such gravity. He, therefore. moved
that the ordinance be referred TO the
Committee on Streets for proper investiga-
ton, and for the views OF both the Guy
Attorney and City Engineer upon the
subject.
Mt Gunst was sorry Mr.. Caskie had
made such a motion. as ne, as chairman
of the subcommittee on Grounds ana
buildings, which had looked into the ques-
ton. had come prepared to furnish the
Council with such information as would
make the matter plain to all. He urged
the body to vote down Mr.. Caskie's mo-
ton. and TO act upon the ordinance.
Mr. Trower. who is usually one Of the
most modest and retiring members OF the
body, averred that the proposition OF the
Grounds and Buildings Committee was
In very bad taste. He thought that body
had somewhat trampled upon the privi-
leges of the Committee on Streets, any
way. He was opposed to the city's having
free phones, the refusal TO grant which,
he believed to be the bottom Of the trou-
BILE.
The topic was then taken up and ably
combated by Mr.. Bioomberg, one OF the
orators from Jefferson Ward, who opened
with the proclamation that he was not
in favor of trusts and combines, but al
ways believed In justice. He could not
see wherein II was fair TO the Southern
Bell Telephone Company TO hastily re-
woke its franchise. The privileges granted
by the city TO that corporation were not