The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-10

rrom the Committee on Ordinances
came lengthy report In regard to the re-
vision OF the city ordinances. which work
has been in the hands Of Captain Alexan-
der Coke since 1891. The report further
recites the inability OF the committee to
agree upcn terms with Captain Coke fer
the completion Of the work. his refusal 60
surrender the data in his hands, although
the opinion Of the city Attorney, which
accompanies the report declares tina,
such papers are the property OF the city.
CONVINCING. the report expresses the
opinion that the work would never be
completed under existing conditions, and
concludes with the following recommenda-
ton;
BE /. resolved By the Council Of the
I CITY Of Richmond uhe Common Council
| cOncurrlng) that the city Attorney pe,
and he is hereby Instructed 20 take such
stems as may hc necessary 10 recover from
/ Alexander Coke The papers now IN MS
/ hands pertaining TO the revision and re-
| codincatiOn OF the city ordinance. under
| his contract with the city bearing date
on the 10th day OF June. 1891. ana the
| City Attorney is further Instructed not
| TO plead the statute Of Imitation IN any
| suit that may be instituted by The re-
wiser Alexander Coke. against the city
for the recovery OF the amount that he
| claims 20 be duo him FOR services reu-
! cause upon its merits.
CAPTAIN COKE's CLAIMS
| Accompanying the report. also. was an
! itcmized statement from Captain Coke OF
| tho amount be claimed 10 be due him oy
! the city. amounting t0 SsSi5G also. long
reply from Captain Coke TO the opinion Of
| the CITY Attorney. 10 the effect that the
/ papers in his pOssesslon were the property
/ OF the city. ln conclusion Captain cOkc's
| paper proposes 10 submit the matter TO
arbitration
After the reading Of the voluminous
! papers in connection with the case the
| board unanimoasiy adopted the resOlu-
| ton presented by the ordinance instruct
ing the City Attorney TO take steps 10
/ recover from Captain Alexander Coke the
/ papers nov acid BY him and claimed by
! tho city.
The Board conourred IN the following
| measures passed by tho Common Council.
Authorizing the Collector OF Delinquent
/ Taxes 20 receive the sum OF SlS3 ~ from
/ the Finance Trading Company In full for
Granting q number Of frame building
permits
lnsiructing the Auditor to issue his war
rant in favor Of the Richmond Telephone
| Company for $50.
Tno resolution Gppr0priating $3.50 TO pay
Nessrs. j. p. Branch. J. T. Johnson. 9.
Kennedy. w N. Cole. and II. II. Ford,
the five men uniustly discharged from the
Health Department by Sanitary Oficer
! could have made had they not been so dis
/ missed. occupied nearly an hour OF the
{ Eo'rd's time. and was hnally defeated.
The vOtc-on motion OF Mr.. cutchins-
vas then reconsidcred. and that gentle
man moved that the matter be referred
| back to the Committee on Health. with
| Instructions 10 ascertain what time each
man could have made had he not been
discharged, and also 10 inquire whcthef
any of these men had been employed az
/ any other work during the time that they
We're not serving the city. The motion
! was adopted.
This nurn discussed matter having been
! disposed Of Mr. King moved that the or
dinance reducing the force OF employees
! of the city Hall. which had been report
| ed for concurrence by the Common cOun-
eli. and temporarily laid on the table, be
| taken up.
! The motion was strenuously opposed by
/ Messrs. Carter and Lawder who contend
/ ed that 20 -educc the force In the Han.
| while saving about Si5 a month would
! icopardize the expensive and handsome
/ building. The f4Cton. however finally
! prevailed. The ordinance was taken mp.
/ and. on motion Of Nj. King, Mr.. Marx
! Guns.. chairman Of the Grounds and
| Building Committee, was invited 10 adj
dress the Board.
MR GUNSrS EXPLANATIONS.
Mr. Gunst said that he was not advo-
/ eating the measure for the sake Of de-
/ Capitating any city employee, he looked
/ at measures. not men.
Mr.. Gunst then went on to give the
| history OF the measure from its birth,
| which b. the way, occurred many months
ago. the ordinance now being somewhat
| dccrcpit from age ana hard knocks. lie
| showed how the matter had been con-
| scientiously and faithfully investigated
| bv the Committee on Grounds and Build
| ings, and how they had found thar the
! cOal-nusscr. Oiltr ana one Waterman
could well Dc dispersed with. also how the
! scrgalnt-at-arns could without difficulty
/ perform the duties OF superintendent Of
/ the hall
The On,v reason that the Mayor had In
J vctoing the measure sad Mr.. Gunst. was
I because 10 became effective during the
/ terms of office of the men. and that this
| objection had been removed by the pres
I cnt ordinance.
vote was taken ON the ordinance, and II
! was passed. only Messrs Carter, King,
Lawder Noble. Smith and Snead yoins
| in the negative. -.
The Board then took up the report OF
| the Committee on Health, recommending
| that the charges against officer Johnson
| ]. Walton in connection with discharge Of
! the FIVE men from the Health Department
De- referred 90 the Board Of Health. The
/ report was adopted.
! electricity and defining its powers. as
| heretofore fully printed in The Times,
/ then came up Tor concurrence. but owing
! to It's importance and the late hour, the
measure was laid on the table.
J The Board c0ncurred In a resolution APP
| proprating s2UD5O 20 grade and pave the
J ROAD bed of Marshall street from Twenty
/ first 10 Tweliy-ihird streets.
| Appropriating 81 500 TO repair the Fourth
| street culvert recently broken. the money
| so be taken nom the $500 recently set
| aside for sewers.
! The resolution instructing the Auditor
! 10 transfer SsD from streets generally to
! the fund for paving sidewalks, the same
10 De expended IN Madison yard, was
Ar' Aner explained that the money
was to be expended In the much used bus
mess portion of the city, whore the side
] walks We're almost impossible the
| amount TO be- refunded by special ASSESS
ment, but .hc measure failed 20 get
through by "a vote OF TO 7.
TO PAVE NINTH STREET.
The Board concurrod in the resolution
| authorlzlng the street Committee TO hear
| ALLEGATIONS for the paving Of the side
! walk of Ninth street from Broad 10 Main.
On roll-call Mr.. =. NJ. Noble presented
the following resolution:
whereas 10 is uderstOod that II an
! additional appropriation is not made TO
| the public schools OF this city FOR The
| rresent fiscal year, that the session Of the
| schools will have TO De curtailed. which
| would he very much 10 the detriment OF
| the school system and 10 the disadvantage
| of the scholars; therefore be IT
"Resolved. BY the Council Of the city
! Of Richmond. the Common Council con-
/ currlng. that the sum Of s. 900 be- and the
same is hereby appropriated to the pay