The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-20
WATER WORKS FIGHT.
ufNCHEsTER's COCNCIL SUSTAINs
IHE AC1JON or TN - MAJORITY
or the Board OF Water Commissioners
Death Of Mr. MCGEE From Poison
Personals.
N.Ncpfsrrn BUnFAu RICHMOND TrMEs.
800 IL, $780, Hv.rrrr HIOcE

fight. ID the adoption OF the W"J'i'f
ronort Of the Water Commission. the
minority report Of Mr.. Sims being re-
iccted Before taking up the business for
which II met however. the Council wan
| dered far aneld and the scenes were the
averse of amicable. \ large crowd OF
/ Interested spectators atten'eu '"v iNee
/ ing c..,
/ As will be remembered. the Water com
mission al IT'S last meeting consolidated
/ tho offices OF Inspector Of Plumbing ana
| SUPERINTENDENT Of the Water Works, and
elected Mr. Harvey Bourne 10 that posi-
! ton. thereby dispiacing Mr.. hoihce
! bradley. who has for years held the
! position Of Superintendent Of the wafer
I Works.
This action was holly contested by
I Nj. Sims and az the Council meeting on
/ the night OF the 18th be attempted 10
present "a minority report. After "a very
unpleasant scene the Council refused 10
receive the minority report until the ma
iority report was presented. and instruct
| ed the Commission 20 have that report
ready by the succeeding Friday hltHI
/ when q called meeting would be held.
BONDS OF OFFICIALS.
/ At last nights meeting the first ques-
/ ton taken up was that Of the bonds
| OF the officials In charge Of the city water
/ works SIR. Matthew Morton stated that
/ he and his committee had been instructed
| 10 prepare an ordinance bonding me
Water Commission. bat that after look
/ lax into the matter they found that me
{ Superintendent was bonded for S-,5H ana
/ the clerk for So. The Water 'cmMl--
| sion. he said ola not have 20 handle
/ any money. After having ascerialned
....- ..fr IL Narfnn iia commit
Tee had suspended operations Until they
! could notify the Council that the only
officers who handled money were al
ready bonded lie wished 90 know wheth-
e- the Council wished them 10 proceed
/ any further.
| SIR. Green said that he did not con-
slider the amount for which these officers
were bonded large enough by good
/ deal. and f. ought 90 he increased.
Nessrs. Sims and OBrien. as memhers
/ Of sc Water Commission. declared that
| the, would much prefer being bonded.
The discussion continued for some time
and I'm its course 80 was brought out that
the last quarterly report from the
water works officials had not been read
although 10 had been received about ten
| days ago.
MIR SIMS CHARGE
Mr. Sims al once rose 20 his rect "nen
| he ascertaiucd this fact.
.Whv was this not read week ago.
! he asked II believe there Is some jug
! glcry going on about this matter and
want 20 know all about ~ IL looks very
peculiar and ! want an explanation.
Mr.. O'Bnm explained that the paper
had been left over from last meeting by
his Instructions a- II was only the usual
report and DE thought 10 could very well
20 over a week
After "a few more remOnstrancos from
/ Mr. Sims the clerk read the report ana
10 was adopted.
\ report was read from the Sewer Com
mission. recommending that the sewers
laid by Mr.. =. II. barrow be received
by the Council
A motion was made 10 receive this re-
port, but Mr.. Sims opposed II on the
ground that the sewers had not been
tested. He wished the matter referred
20 a special Council meeting 20 be held
some time in the future.
Mr. Poole declared that tho Council
had no power ia the matter. They had
relocated an that 20 Doe Sewer Commis-
sion and nothing remained TO De- done
but 20 receive the report
Mr.. Nelson declared with emphasis that
the sewers had not been properly tested.
only two sewers, De said. bad been tied'
and only one worked properly.
Nlr. Sims again took the floor in sup
mort Of his motion. in the course Of which
Doe took occasion 10 make several unpieas-
ont remarks 90 the President ~ tho copn-
ell. Captain O'Bricn, who's receired them
quietly and kept his temper admirably.
THE ENGINEERS OPINION.
After speeches from several others
Captain O'Brien took the floor. and stated
that the engineer. SIR. Mitchell, had state
al as an expert that the sewers were
Jon good working order.
Further discussion Of The matter was
stopped hy Mr. Patram, who called for
the opinion ~ the city Attorney on the
subject.
Judge Clopton, after reviewing The work
OF laying the sewers from its beginuns.
gave tile opinion that the action ~ the
Sewer Commission under the contract
with Mr. barrow. was final so ar as TIE
city was concerned. IT, explained low-
ever, that IL per cent. OF tho amount
Appropriated for the construction 0l sewers
was o. De retained for twelve months 10
remedy any defects which might arise.
HE WOULD SPEAK.
A motion TO table the report was lost
and the question 0f receiving tne itrnff
came up. Upon this Mr.. Sims attempted
10 speak He was ruled out OF Order iy
the Chair. but declared chat be would
sneak. ana didn't ask the Council amy
odds and be carried out his purpose. pay
Ing no heed 20 the Chairs remonstrances.
Tile vote was then taken on The re-
port, and u was adopted by a vote az
10 8. Messrs. Sims. Patram. and Nelson
voting NO
The object for which the Council had
assembled but which had dwindled into
inslguifcance the majority report OF the
Water Commission. was then read AFTER
which Sir. Sims again offered The minority
report. which the Council refused 10 re-
ceive at It's last meeting.
The question Immediately arose as 10
whether the Council. had any power over
the Board Of Water Commissioners. and
Judge Clopton was called upon
Judge Ciopton said that. according 20
the ordinance. the power Of the Board 90
appoint and remove officials was abso-
Lutte and be did not think there could
be two opinions concerning the matter.
Nir Sims took tho floor al the close or
Judge Ciopt0ns explanation and expressed
The opinion that in consolidating the
Offices OF Plumbing Inspector and super
intendent OF the Water Works the Board
had made "A radical change which they
bad no right 20 30 under the ordinance
creating them. and that their action would
NOT De valid until ratified by the Council.
Judge Cl0pton reiterated the statement
that the power o. appoint and remove
officials was vested in the Boarl. ana
that they had the right 10 consolidate the
two offices.
GOOD deal - discussion followed