The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-14
MUST SURRENDER PAPERS.
The City Attorneys Opinion as TO Ordi-
nanceS in Capt. COke'S Hands.
The HOTELS ASK FOR PROTECTION.
Their Proprietors Say They are overrun
with Bootblacks. Newsboys and Cab,
men-Important Meeting of the
Charter Changes Committee,

| ing, but q number OF important ques-
| tions were considered.
The most important matter that came
up was in regard 10 the revised city or
dinances which have been in the hands
| Of Captain Alexander Coke FOR some
| time past At "a meeting Of the Orul-
| nance Committee some weeks ago, Cap
| tain coke submitted proposition 20 the
| committee 10 complete the work of re-
| cOdifying and revising the city ordinances
! for q certain sum.
Captain Coke was asked what amount
OF money he would ask 10 rehnquish 10
! the city all papers bearing on the ordi-
| nances I'm order that the work might be
| completed by some one else. He named
| sum, after which q member Of the
committee raised the point that the pa
| pers were really the property Of the city,
| inasmuch as Captain Coke had been paid
| an that his contract demanded.
MUST GIVE THEM UP.
The committee being unwilling 10 settle
| this point itself referred the whole ques-
| tion to city Attorney Meredith. a re-
ply was received from that gentleman
| last night in which be held that the pa
! pers are the property of the city.
The committee. therefore, decided 20
| transmit copy of Mr.. Meredith's Lett
| ter TO Captain Coke by the Sergeant-at-
! Arms OF the Council ana request him 10
| relnquish the papers.
The committee met at o'clock. Chair
| man S. J.. Bloomborg presiding. ana
Mcssrs. Mosby, Pollock and Cutchins
| present
The committee first took mp the petit
ton Of Colonel John Murphy and others
! asking for the passage of an ordinance
| 10 prevent newsDoys. bootblacks. sample
! boys aad Cabmen from crowding IN mont
! Of the various hotels and selling their
! wares and soliciting trade.
Mr. =. NJ Fry. of The jefferson; Colo
| mel John Murphy Of Murphy Hotel
and Mrs A. ID. Atkinson. of Tho LeXing-
! ton. appeared before the committee ana
! advocated the passage of am ordinance To-
| protect the hotels.
Mr.. Fry said that there was no city the
size Of Richmond i'm the country where
! hotels were not protected from this nuis-
! ance.
PROTECT THE NEWsRoYS.
Mr.. Moshy moved that the city Atior-
| ncy be requested 20 prepare am ordinance
| excluding an the parties mentioned from
| tho hotels except the newsboys.
Mr.. BlOOmherg favored this motion.
! saying that he understood the new ldhds
| i'm some Of the hotels sold penny papers
| for five cents For this reason be did
! not think nowsboys should be excluded
! from the hotels.
The hotel proprietors present said that
they had no objection 10 the newsboys
provided others were excluded and MI
| Mosbys motion was adopted.
The committee then took mp petition
from citizens residing along Leigh street
between First and Ninth. protesting
! against the driving daily Of droves OF
cattle and sheep along that thoroushiare
| and begging for protection
on motion of Mr Cutchins the mat
! ter was referred 10 n Subcommittee OF
| two 20 ascertain the present ordinance
| on the subject and report NJ the next
! meeting The Chair appointed Messfs.
| Cutchins and Nfosby on the committee
An ordinance was then taken mp impos-
| ing a license tax Of so per year on all
! persons peddling goods from wagons or
| carts.
This ordinance was introduced TN the
| Common Council by Councilman CARRIER
| Of Marshall Ward and that gentleman
| appeared before the committee ana eA-
| planed that it, was necessary lot lhe
EprotCcti0n Of merchants.
| The matter was referred To a sun-com-
| mittee consistnps Of Messrs. MosDy ana
Pollock To examine rhc State law on the
| subject and report at the next meeting.
MIR. MEREDITH'S LETTER
In regard TO the papers now in inc
| hands Of Captain Alexander Coke per-
| tanning TO the codihcation of the city or
! dinancos the following opinion was read
from the city Attorney;
"In reply 10 your inquiry, ] report tnat
| I am of opinion that the papers now ih
| the hands OF Captain Alex. COKE per-
tanning TO the collation. or codihcation or
| the CITY ordinances. under his contract
win the city of the 10th day OF June.
| 1901 belong To the city of Richmond. as
he has been paid the amount agreed IN
| said contract. and they were. under the
contract. only intusted 70 him for safe
keeping. I am Of opinion that he should
surrender said papers 10 your committee.
"Tf he has any claims against me city
! for money he is well aware that the city
Is able TO pay any judgment that ne
may obtain. Hence. no alleged lnu,uD
| ness by the city can release MN ION '"o
| obligation TO surrender the papers "heh
called upon 10y your committee.
Nlr. Cutchins moved that th'
torncv's letter be transmitted 20 Captain
| coke through the Sergeant 90 Arms. y
tbot ne be requested 10 surrender said
r7ners TO the committee. The motion was
adorted. ..,.,.,.,,,o.>-
| A communication was also received from
Dr- Meredith I'm regard 10 the ordinance
| dealing with the tramp question Wili'h
he had been requested by the coIiiii''''e
Mr. Meredith wrote that at his request
| eit,. Cierk August had written 20 several
| l,.tl Al ascer.atn how their experience
! t,,.cbt thcro 10 meet the subject ana ihat
a.. sco, as he hal obtained that informal
20, tc would frame the ordinance as re-
! queaieU ,,-.....,, o, meet next
VI, ,edav evening az O'Clock.
A regular meeting OF the heal,h ON :
,,iftee will be held this evening az Z
o'clock. At that time the charges against
| sanitary Ohicer Walton OF discharging
e,,o street department employees without
n,,ee which was referred 20 the COM
r,ittee nv the Council. will come up.
Tbe ordinance creating a street-cloaning
denartment. referred 20 the committee by
the Board Of Abdomen. will also he
taken ND. II is probable. however, In
view OF tho Importance OF these matters
that action upon them viii be deferred 10
a special session 10 be held some time be-
fore the next meeting Of the Council and
Board.
CHARTER CHANGES.
The Committee on Charter Changes.
which is discussing important amend
ments 10 the city's charter. will meet At
S O'Clock tonight
| I'm pursuance Of the request of the COM
mittee al its last meeting. City Attorney
Meredith will present n plan for the for
nation Of a Finance Commission 10 take
the place OF the present Committee on FL
! nancp Mr. Mcrodith's nian il said IN he