The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-02
The Virginia Electric COmpany'S Appli-
cation Laid Over for a Month.
NO MONEY FOR The PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Council Decline to Make Any hPpro-
priation-The Ordinance Reducing the
CITY Han Torce Adopted-s Small
Appropriation for sewers.

Company of Baltimore, a franchise 10 90
business in Richmond was, under resolu-
ton on the statute books. laid on the Ia
bic for one month. in spite of an earnest
speech from Captain Charles L. Williams,
and a strong effort to have the rules sus-
pended.
There was great pressure brought TO
bear upon the Council to secure the APP
preparation Of 5000 additional for the
public schools during this fiscal year me
effort. however, failed after prolonged de-
liberation. the Council adopting the recon-
mendation Of the Finance Committee that
the school Boards petition be rejected.
The ordinance reducing the force IN the
City Hall. which was vetoed by the Mayor
and revived by the Grounds and Buildings
Committee. was unanimously adopted.
The ordinance is designed TO take effect
January /. lSsS
The Recommendation OF the Health Com
mittee that the five men discharged from
the Health Department be reinstated' ana
that Sanitary officer Walton be turned
over IN the Board Of Health for investiga-
tion. was adopted, after being amended
so that all the discharged men shall re-
ceiye full pay for the time of their en-
forced idieness.
An appropriation OF $500 was made
for sewers. In conformity with the re-
port of a conference committee from both
branches Of the Council, although lively
fight was made TO secure a larger sum.
The Council was called to order at the
regular hour by President James caskie,
there being present Messrs. Blanks.
Bloomberg. Briggs. Cottrell. Foster. Gunst'
Harrelson. H. A. Hawkins. HCbson. Jones,
King. Miller. MOsby. Neale Noble. Pol
lock. Rountrce. O. 4. Hawkins. Waller
stein Woody. Wake. Tanner, Whalen,
CARRIER. Ebol
VIRGINIA Electric COMPANY.
The first business taken up was re-
port from the Street Committee. accom-
panied by an ordinance granting IRAN
chise 10 tho Virginia Electric Company
recommending that the Council approve
the said ordinance.
After the Clerk had read the ordi-
nance. the purport Of which has here
tofore been printed I'm Tho Times. Mr..
Rountree called attention to resolution
heretofore adopted by the Council TO the
effect that "A franchise when recommend
cd bv a committee 10 the Council must
Tie ON the table until the next regular
meeting.
"Tho gentleman from Clay ward is
RIGHT said President Caskie. THE ordi-
nance must lie on the table a month un-
less the rules are suspended
"The gentlemen who are promoting this
movement" said Mr. Bloomberg. are
extremely anxious that the ordinance
shall be passed at this meeting Of inc
Council and I move, therefore that the
rules be suspended.
Pending vote on this notion Captain
Charles l.. Williams. attorney for the
companv was. on motion Of Mr.. Foster.
given the floor.
CAPTAIN williams. after pointing out
the great advantage which would re-
dound TO Richmond by allowing this en-
tornrise to enter the city, said that the
scheme had been sarted by graduates
of stevens College. practical engineers,
and that there were men behind them
with money waiting FOR the project to be
perfected 10 step forward and put their
wealth i'm it,
These men would not wait always. ne
said. they would become wearied and IN
vest their capital elsewhere. The COM
pany had been called insolvent before
the street Committee. said Captain VII
liams. This was not the case. The COM
many had paid all its debts. it had in
vested $4,000 in making a survey OF the
river. although only capitalized at $1,000.
Cantain williams earnestly urged the
Council to pass measure when would
be Of such great advantage to the city
and which would be so apparent wheh
tho regular assessment Of property two
years hence was made.
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
Nrr Wallerstcln spoke against suspend
ing the rules. The matter was most I'M
portant one. he said. and should De care
fullv considered. The Council should kno"
who the Virginia Electric Company was.
There might be among its promoters
some persons who had heretofore beeh
granted franchises and had not hFeo UP
to the terms Of the same.
Mr.. Rountree said that he mad not call
ed attention 10 the rule i'm order 10 defeat
tho ordinance. but he thought 1t was
most excellent provision In order that lhe
bofv might become thoroughly familiar
with such an important matter Rather
than defeat the ordinance. though. ne
said me would prefer TO vote on IT al
once.
Nfr WaIlerstoin then moved that the
motion to suspend the rules he laid on
the table. The motion was lost by rls-
ING vote OF thirteen to twelve. Ihe mouOh
to susnend tho rules was then put. bur
twenty votes I'm the affirmative could not
he secured and the ordinance was lald
ON the table until the next regular meet
Ing.
The recommendation ~ the street Com
mittee that Sl.iS Dee appropriated 10 pave
Nineteenth street from Main 10 Cary. was
laid on the table for month. despite the
EFFORT OF Mr. Bloomborg TO have II con-
sidored at once.
The street Committee returned To the
Council without recommendation the ap-
plication of tho Southern Bell Telephone
Company TO renew defective poles. 70 put
up new poles. ana 10 run wires. The mat
ter was laid on the table.
'rhe opinion OF the city Attorney, ac-
COMMANDED by information regarding the
| date OF expiration OF the various fran
| chises of the Richmond Railway and Elec-
tr,c Company which has been printed IN
The Times. was then read 20 the 'ouheh'
Mr.. Ebol said that the questions were
asked for the purpose or ascerlalnlhg
whether the franchises OF the company
we're a matter with which the present
Council had TO deal II turned out from
Mr.. Merediths reply that the present
| Council would have nothing 10 do with
anem lie moved, therefore. that the
naper be received and filed.
Air Rloomberg moved as an amendment
tina. the report be received and filed. and
| 100 copies printed The amendment was
adopted ..,.
A renort was then read from the Com
r,ittoe on Streets. calling attention 10 the
denlorah,e condition OF the citys sewers.
| ,rberc Is no money, said the report. TO un-
| enoLe stopped up sewers or to make con-
nections for new houses
nt4f goes