The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-06
THOSE COLORED COOKS
AGAIN CAUSE DISC USSTON BY THE
JAMES RIVER COMMITTEE.
The Members Of that Body rom the Cham
Der of Commerce will Likely Resign un-
der the Guy A torsey's Opinion.

The Committee on James River I'M
provement met last evening In room OF
the City Hall Chairman Landerkin and
Messrs. Vaughan. Powers. Christian, Al
lison. Epps, Noble, and Purcell being
present. -
r. G. Cunningham, superintendent OF the
James river plant, reported a favofabie
condition of the tugs, dredges and other
machinery and the progress OF the Work
for the month.
The City Engineer reported that the
dredge Richmond. which was sent TO Nor
folk from this city to be put on the ways
order. and when fitted with crane
would be ready for service.
The resignation of Mr.. ). w. TraVers,
as one OF the Chamber OF Commerce
representatives on the committee, was
MIR. Travers in his letter said that he
regularly supplied the city Gas WORKS
with materials and that under the con-
struction placed upon the law prohlblt-
ing members Of any committee from FUR
nishlng supplies to the city he did not
feel that he should retain his member
ship on the committee.
Colonel Purcell moved that MIR. Travers
resignation be laid on the table until
an opinion on the subject could be re-
ceived from City Attorney Meredith.
Mr.. Meredith. who was sent for, was
not found in his office, and Colonel Pur..
cell then moved that Mr.. TraVers
Mr. Noble asked that ii be withdrawn.
and said he believed the intention Of the
law was to apply this rule only TO those
members of the committee who were
members OF the Council, and not the
members from the Chamber OF Com
merce.
Colonel Purcell said he had found on In
quiry that his firm some times suppiled
small orders to the city, and he came
to the meeting with the determination
If the City Attorney ruled that the law
applied to the Chamber OF Commerce
members 10 write his resignation ana
hand IL in.
The motion to lay Mr. Travers' resigna-
ton on the table until Mr. Meredith could
be heard from was carried.
THOSE COCKS
The matter of appointing white cooks
I'm place Of the negroes employed III that
capacity on the boats belonging 70 the
city, which created long discussion at
the previous meeting OF the committee,
was called from the table by Mr. Epps.
Mr. Powers moved that the committee
go into the election OF employees as
recommended by the superintendent.
two colored cooks who have been for
some time in the employ OF the city In
that capacity.
Mr.. Noble moved to amend so as to
elect all except the cooks. He said this
was a Democratic party and that they
could not expect 10 control the laboring
vote Of Richmond If negroes occupied
places needed and wanted by white Dem
oCrats.
Mr.. Epps spoke at length on the same
line. and said he would not feel like going
before the people and seeking their votes
as long as negroes occupied places iof
which white men were applicants.
Colonel John b. Purcell took the ground
that cook was to large degree a
domestic and personal servant OF the
Superintendent, and that his wishes in
such a matter ought to be deferred to.
but that now, when the trend was to-
wards economy all along the line he
thought the cooks might be abolished
entirely and some other method adopted
for feeding the men employed.
He then made motion to abolish the
cooks, and II was carried. Messrs. Epps,
Noble and Landerkln voting in the mega
tive.
The other employees were then re-eiect-
ed for the year beginning January ISL next
and the term of employment OF the col
ored cooks expires on that day