The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-20
bill in the chair, the clerk was requested
to forward a copy of the resolutions to

W ior "aru Copy Oh tue RESOLUTIONS 10
the city solicitor. ry>-<-s-.rrus.,-vrsss. y.
communication was read from the
city solicitor under date of February 10
in regard to the injunction that had
been obtained by the Western Union
Telegraph Company from the United
States court, restraining tho city of
Roanoke from collecting from the West
ern Union a license tax of 5000. The
injunction had baen obtained on the
grounds that the tax was unconstitu-
tional and that it was unreasonably
large. The opinion of the solicitor was
that 1t was not unconstitutional; as to
it's being unreasonable he was not so
clear but he did not think it was and
asked for Instructions from Council.
On motion OF ME-. Graves the solicit
tor was instructed to take such stops
as nigh be necessary looking towards
the dissolution CT the injunction.
Mr. Buckner then rose to point of
personal privilege, Mr.. Crabill still
occu Dying the chair. He referred to
letter published yesterday in an after
noon local paper written by Mr.. Groves,
q member of Council from the First
ward, In which the speaker sa stric-
lures had been placed on him such as
he had never known to be placed on
member Of this body before. He
hoo oOhNcQ LII SOuuCll S0V6n OF SlRQG
years aud president for several terms
and was proud OF tho honor that had
been conferred upon him. Just before
Council adjourned two meetings ago
while he was talking with friend
Mr.. Groves offered the resolution to
appoint committee investigating tho
rates charged by the Norfolk and
Western for tho transportation of coal
"a few days afterward," continued
MIR. Buckner, II told the clerk whom 1
intended to appoint on that committee.
l would to God l could have appointed
the committee and only placed ono NJ an
on 1T. / recognized the fact that the
freight rates Of q railroad were matters
TO be regulated by the interstate COM
merce commission. He had remedy.
II it waa intrastate, he could appeal to
the State railroad commission, il inter
state, to the interstate commerce COM
mission, and | disliked to place anyone
in such an awkward position. After
thinking tho matter over and how en-
barrassing it would be to be on such q
committee, / asked Mr. Thomas not to
notify tho memb ers OF their appoint
ment on the committee.
"At the mex. meeting of Council tho
matter was brought up and motion
made to reconsider the motion of Mr.
Groves. Mr., Dupuy raised the point
that in Mr. Groves absence il would be
discourteous to do SO, and the matter
rested at that until this le tier was pub
lished."
AS Mr.. Buckner proceeded ne became
angry and used the word "dema-
gogy" as descriptive of the actions OF
Mr.. Groves.
Mr.. Moomaw-"I call the gentleman
to order as using unparliamentary Ian
guage."
Mr.. Buckner-''If he don't know what
common decency and courtesy is, it is
his misfortune and not my fault. am
personally responsible for every word
utter on this floor"
MIR. Buckner continued in this strain
and in the course of his remarks init.
mated that Mr. Groves action in the
matter had been instituted for cleo ton
eering purposes.
Mr.. Pattie and Mr.. Moomaw called
the speaker to order as going beyond
the parliamentary pale.
Mr. Buckner-"I withdraw the word
'demagogy.'"
Mr.. Moomaw-"And electioneering
schemes
Mr.. Buckner can't withdraw tho
truth"
The chair ruled that since the word
demagogy had been Withdrawn he
could SEQ nothing Objectionable in the
gentleman's remarks
Mr. Buckner-"Ho has the privilege
OF replying and when 1 get thro i gh
l move he be given until sunrise in
which to reply"
Mr.. Pattie-"I think all this will
look bad in the newspapers in the
morning"
Mr.. Buckner (holding up paper in
which was Mr.. Groves letter-"How
did this thing look in this newspaper"
Mr.. McClelland-"I think no mem.
Der of Council has right to publish
in the press anything that has it's
origin in Council and that Mr.. Grove
erred in publishing tho matter"
Mr.. Buckner-"I have withdrawn the
ohjec tionable word. will try to keep
within bounds and remember what is
due from gentleman. When Mr.
Groves came back l had no voli.ion
In the matter 10 appoint q committee.
l never shirk my duty"
Mr.. Moomaw again made some at
tempt to smooth matters over but it
the teeth of an angry bull, and Mr..
Buckner continuing addressed Mr..
Groves
IF you want TO electioneer, sir, don't
you do it at my expense. Before Coun-
Gil had an opportunity to ask for re-
consideration Of the resolution, Mr..
Groves attempts to bullyrag me into
doing a thing that perhaps Council
would have told me not to do. Mr..
Groves has offered in this Council M ore
motions and has Cotton fewer Of them
through than any man who has ever
been in this Council"
MIR. Groves, in replying, said: "When