Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-15
II y ~ = =
WILLIAM 4.
NO AUTHORITY.

q WILLIAM +. SMITH,
HAD NO AUTHORITY.
In connection with this matter the
Clerk read the following from the City
Attorney:
William NJ. Turpin, President of the
Board of Aldermen:
Sir.-I herewith reply TO your letter
of April lst, asking certain questions as
70 the report Of the special Committee
on the Investigation OF the Gag Works.
/ do not reply TO the first two questions
asked. because that committee has taken
proper steps to have the report present
ed to your body.
In reply TO your Inquiry whether "the
Board has jurisdiction over member
FOR acts alleged to have been done by
him when he was a member of a co-ordi-
nate branch OF the City Council" 1
have to say that | am OF opinion that
your Board is not authorized by the char
ter to take any step looking to or in
nicting any punishment upon a member
Of your Board for any act done when he
was a member OF the Common Council.
c. V. MEREDITH. City Attorney.
This was a profound surprise TO the
members Of the Board. Mr.. Snead. one
OF the signers of the minority report,
said thst he could not understand what
the City Attorney meant by his opinion.
He said the Attorney had practically
made up those reports and recommenda-
tions, and TO say at the last moment
that the Board could not do what he
had recommended that It should do vas
astounding to him.
Mr. King Withdrew his minority re-
port until he could prepare appropriate
resolutions 10 go along with the paper.
This was allowed.
NO RESOLUTION OF CENSURE.
President Turpin stated that he had
never seen intelligent reports so jumbled
up in his life Leaving the chair, he
offered the following:
Resolved. That the Board in view Of
the opinion of the City Attorney. dated
April H. 1896. with reference to its
powers. under the charter. as 20 the pun
ishment Of a member OF the Board OF
Aldermen for any act done when he was
member of a coordinate branch. pre-
cludes any action on the part of
the Board as to the report of the Com
mittee on Investigation OF the Gas De-
partment relating to Mr. John Mann
a member of the Board OF Aldermen, and
that said report. and the resolution ac-
companying it. be received and filed.
Mr.. Snead explained that the record
showed that Mr. Mann had said before
the Investigating Committee that he
knew 1t was contrary TO the city ordi-
nances for councilman TO be interested
in city work
After brief discussion the resolution
offered by President Turpin was adopted
by the following vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Bahen, Blake Hard |
wicke, King. Mitchell. Moore. Mount
castle, Noble. Tanner, Vaughan, and
Turpin-1l.
Noes-Messrs. Allen, Burton. and
Snead-3.
Mr.. Snead's ordinance reorganizing the |
several committees was handed in from |
the Committee on Ordinances. without |
recommendation. The patron Of the |
measure offered substitute. involving |
some slight changes. but the whole mat
ter was laid upon the table.
KEEP THE LIBRARY OPEN.
There was considerable discussion upon !
the proposition from the Common Coun- |
Gil TO abolish the Office of assistant 20 the |
State Librarian Mr.. Hardwicke moved |
TO amend the resolution so az TO go into |
effect July 1st. The President OF the |
BOARD argued strenuously against cutting |
off the appropriation for this purpose until |
IL had been given fair trial. Mr.. Turpin |
thought the fact that the library was |
being kept open at night was not suffi- |
GENTLY advertised. 1t was a reflection |
upon the intelligence of the people OF |
Richmond. said President Turpin. TO say |
that they were not thirsting for the great |
knowledge contained In the 30,OO0 or 1000 |
volumes in that library
Mr.. Hardwicke's amendment was agreed |
10, and the resolution as amended was
adopted.
A resolution providing for the con-
struction Of sewer In Taylor street |
from Randolph street westwardly. was
referred 10 the Committee on FINANCE.
SET BACK THE DATE.
Concurrent action was taken upon the
resolution instructng the Finance Com
mittee 10 reassess the assets OF the city
Similar action was taken In regard 10
the ordinance letting the drill hall of the
Regimental Armory TO T. w. Tfgnors
Sons as a bicycle school.
when the resolution directing the Au-
ditor 70 furnish a list OF the members OF
the City Council and city officials wno
have furnished supplies to the city or
with the city since July i, 1884,
came up. Mr.. Blake offered as an amend
nent 10 substitute the. date OF July !,
lsso for July /, 1894. This was agreed
10. and the resolution adopted as amend
ID
Tre Board also concurred In a number
~ ,s-olutions making various small ap-
for street improvements.
the ordinance granting permission 10
the Manchester Railway and improve
ment Company to eiectrily ns nne
,rouna the loop from Fourteenth and
aoln nm Main TO Seventh. up Seventh to
down Marshall 10 College, and
Town College and Fourteenth 10 Main
,treet arose for consideration. The priyi-