The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-25
TIE APPHOPRIATiON DEFhAH"'
The Light Committee do NOT L""o'eo
Subcommittee Report.


The Committee OF the Common Couhc"
on Light met at $50 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon and declined to adopt the re-
rort Of the subcommittee for an appro-
nriation of $50 900 to establish an electric
light plant. to be owned and operated by
the city.
Those present were Messrs. Grimes
chairman. Noble. Starke, Davis, Waller
stein. Vaughan, Caskie and Hardwickc'
On motion of Mr.. Davis, the report OF
the subcommittee was taken from the
table. and was discussed at length. MI
Davis said the city was paying twice as
much for electric lights as she ought 10
do. and that the establishment OF pidl1
by the city would be movement 10
which any man would resort III MS o" Il
private affairs.
Mr.. Wallerstein said he was opposed 10
large appropriations at all times, but
that this vas an investment which the
city could well afford. considering the
large saving she could make. lie esu-
mated that If the city could secure the
same amount of busincsS from the puDllc
rs the present company now enjoys, inc
cost Of lighting would be reduced from
$4,000 per year 10 $1,000 per year. lie
said he knew Il reliable company, WhoW
he believed in a few days would be pre-
pared TO make an offer TO bulid a nun
bred and fifty thousand dollar plant ana
operate il for five years for twenty thous-
and dollars year. the city to pay an dd-
ditional thirty thousand dollars year Tor
five years, when the plant will be turned
over TO the city, without further compen-
sation.
Mr.. Noble advocated the Appropriation
from a business standpoint, and stated
that the city was getting lights OF Luz
caudle-poWcr when she contracted Tor
200 candle-power. He also argued That
if the contract for lighting the city was
let TO an outside company that the
lights could be furnished to private
parties at such small cost a to largely
decrease the Use of gas, and That when
the gas works were diminished In their
operations, so that gas could not bc SUB
stituted for electric light, The city would
be in the power Of the lighting company
Superintendent Davis. of the Gas
Works. who was present, said, In answer
to a question. that the street gas lamps
could be capped and put In case In forty
eight hours.
Mr.. Vaughan opposed the appropria-
ton, on the ground that the city should
not spend money which she did not have.
The ayes and noes were called for and
the appropriation defeated by the follow
ing vote:
Ayes-Grimes, Noble Davis and Waller
stein-4.
Noes starke, Vaughan, Caskie and
HardWicke-i.
Mr.. Davis offered resolution provid-
ing that electricity should no longer be
used to light the city. The motion was
lost.
Mr.. Wallerstein again brought forward
the matter of the offer by company TO
build a plant for the city.
MIR. Grimes opposed the consideration OF
any such plan. on the ground that the
city would pay $4,000 for what they
could obtain now for $4,000. He an
nOunced that there were men enough III
the two branches of the Council demand
ing the establishment of an electric light
plant by the city to stop the entire
years budget. unless something was
course TO enforce IT, unless otherwise
done.
Mr.. Starke said he was unwilling 10
vote FOR any large appropriation in the
present condition of the citys finances.
but that Il the gentlemen who were push
ing the matter would wait until after the
end of the fiscal year, and the Finance
Committee then said they We're in a po-
sitiOn 10 issue bonds i'm such large blocks,
he might then vote for it.
In order to relnstate the report for
future consideration the vote was re-
considered. and the report laid on the
table