Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-16

mittee. and the $4,000 for streets gene
rally was TO be used only with the per-
mission OF the Council. II shall vote"
said Mr.. Bloomberg with emphasis
against using a single penny OF the
fund to the credit OF streets generally
/ can't vote for II unless We have the
opinion Of the City Attorney, for | do
not think we have a right TO touch this
money"
THE CITY ATTORNEYS VIEW.
Mr.. Carter contended that the Council
did not require the committee to go TO
II on a question like that which con-
fronted the committee. but only In event
that money was proposed 10 be ex-
pended in paving streets. and curbing
cutters. That. he said. was the ruling
Of the City Attorney on this question.
MIR. J. NJ. King moved that 5000 OF
the fund standing to the credit Of streets
generally should be used for the pay
roll OF hands and carts. The motion
was not seconded. and was declared lost
by the chairman.
Mr.. Carter then moved that $500 be
appropriated from the amount to the
credit Of streets generally, and trans
ferred to meet the payroll Of hands and
carts TO repair the streets. Mr.. Pollock
opposed the motion, while Mr.. Ebel se-
conded IL.
Mr.. King said he did not see why. if
s.. 600 was needed TO carry the hands and
carts until July 1st. the sum Of
S1.5C0 should be appropriated. IF you
are going TO discharge the hands and
carts. let us do so tonight and not keep
tampering with It," Mr. King added.
Mr.. Carter said the reason he had
moved the transfer of $500 only. was
L., 10
the legality OF the action and he
thought it would give time to test the
legality Of the question Mr.. Ebel said
the $3.50 would carry the hands and
carts for a month At that time a
similar sum could be again appropriated.
II was merely test case.
The chairman stated that the City At
torney had already given an opinion on
a similar question. and had decided that
such action was Illegal, and would not
hold.
WOULD BE PERSONALLY LIABLE.
Mr.. Pollock asked if the committee eX-
pended a sum in excess Of the appro-
priation, were the individual members
liable for the amount. The chairman
said the members would certainly be
personally liable.
Mr.. Foster said the Council would
surely uphold the committee in the per-
Torrance OF their duty. He said if the
hands and carts were discharged. it
would certainly indicate bad manage
ment. and would entail considerable loss
upon the city.
Mr. John King moved as a substitute
that the motion be referred to the City
Attorney for an opinion, and that he
be requested 10 return an answer TO the
committee by o'clock Saturday after
noon. and that the hands and carts be
continued until the answer was received.
The substitute was lost by a vote Of
to ).
WANTED TO BE EXCUSED.
The ORIGINAL motion was then put. Mr..
Bahen asked to be excused from voting.
He said he remembered that once "A suit
was entered against the Street Commit
tee years ago. and he didn't propose 10
put himself in any such position as to be
sued. The chairman said he deemed IL
to be the duty of every member Of the
committee to vote.
Mr.. Pollock moved that Mr.. Bahen
should record his vote. Mr.. Ebel said
he thought Mr.. Bahen was laboring un-
der a misapprehenson. The suit TO which
he referred was brought against the
members of the Street Committee be-
cause they had taken action not as
body. but as individuals. The motion as
to whether Mr.. Bahen should be excused
or not was then put, and lost by a vote
Of to 4.
Mr. Bloomberg moved az substitute
to the original motion that the city
Engineer should be instructed to keep
as many men as necessary at work i'm
order to protect the interests of the
city by caring for the mules and that
the president of the Council be asked
to call n special meeting of that body.
The substitute was adopted by a vote Of
6 to >.
THE CHAIRMAN'S EXPLANATION.
Mr.. Allen then arose and said he had
refrained from saying anything hitherto,
but he desired to say that before the
Finance Committee and before the COun-
ell he had stated that the appropria-
ton for the Street Committee was quite
inadequate. The Council was aware Of
the facts of the case, and had been In
formed that the amount at the disposal
of the committee would not carry the
payroll much beyond the 1st of April.
II was moved and seconded that the
payroll should be paid pro rata. accord
ing to the funds in the hands Of the COM
mittee.
Mr. Bfoomberg moved that the City
Attorney DC given full particulars Of the
opinion on the subject and submit the
same TO the chairman. who would call
special meeting of the committee TO lay
it before them. The motion was adopted.
1t was moved that the sum OF 5000
should be set aside for repairs to streets
generally Adopted by vote of to 3.
MUST TAKE Up THE CROsS-ONEK
Colonel Cutshaw stated that the Trac-
tion Company, I'm their first street con-
nection. had put I'm a double cross-over.
in violation Of the ordinance. Mr.. Bahen
moved that the company be made TO take
il up.
Mr.. Allen said the cross-over was an
undoubted convenience to the company.
He did not think it made any difference
to any one In event of any congested
state Of travel, it would be found Of great
convenience to the public,
Mr.. Bloomberg said he thought the com
pany should not have undertaken to
lay the cross-over without application for
permission TO the committee.
Mr.. Pollock thought the company had
exceeded all limits. 1t had never been
the intention of the committee 20 allow
two curves from Broad To First street.
The motion was adopted by vote Of
G TO 5.
Mr.. Pollock then moved that a COM
mittee Of three be appointed TO look into
the franchise granted the company to
see if there was any authority for the
construction of the double curves. The
motion was adopted by a vote of 7 to l.
and the Chair appointed Messrs. Pollock.
Foster, and Ebel.
The committee adjourned at 10 having
been In session six hours.
The Light Committees Meeting.
The Committee on Light met last night
with Nessrs Hardwicke. Tanner. Starke.
Vaughan. Witte, and Wallersten pre-
sent.
The ordinance exemptins military com
panies from paying gas bills was laid
on the table but the Gas Inspector was