Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-14

BOARD OF ALDERMEN ACCEPTS
AMENDMENTS WITHOUT DEBATE.
TO ENGAGE ASSOCIATE COUNSEL.
Mr.. c. v. Meredith VIII He Retained
by the City to Argue the He'll TeIe-
phone Case Before the Supreme
COurt-A Brief But Busy Session.


in every resolution-and in |
addition adopting several more or less inn |
portant measures. Not a single question |
was debated. The tramp ordinance pass
ed with one dissenting vote. and a resolu-
ton TO engage associate counsel-with |
the name of Mr.. c. V. Meredith mention !
ed in letter Of the present City Attor- |
ney. which was read as a rider to the |
resolution-in the case OF the city against |
the Southern Bell Telephone Company,
when 1t is argued before the Supreme
Court. was passed unanimously.
Members present at the session were:
Messrs. Turpin presidenD, Bahen, Bur-
ton, Cutchins, Donahoe, Drewry, Ferriter.
Hardwicke, King, Lawder, Montgomery,
Smith, Snead, Zimmerman. and Mosby.
FIREMEN'S PETITION PRACTICALLY
REFUSED.
The petition of L. r. Rogers and others,
permanent ladder and hosemen OF the
Fire Department, for an Increase Of their
salary from 500 TO $500 per annum, was
laid upon the table. The Finance Com
mttee recommended the rejection Of the
petition, but the negative action OF the
aldermen was taken upon motion intro
duced by Chairman Hardwcke, Of the
above committee. Amendments TO the
city ordinance prescribing rules for the
government of the gas-works, when IN
clude the division of the city into three
districts. rules for the inspection OF
meters and many minor changes came
from the Light Committee. Three mem
ters OF that body were present, but none
- Lot, n
the amendments. as they had not been
present at the meeting Of the committee
when they were adopted.
Mr. Cutchins asked to be excused from
voting. without more light on the subject,
and on motion of Mr.. Hardwicke, the
amended ordinance was referf1l TO the
committee.
An amendment to the ordinance gov
erning the appointment of four port war
dens, which proposes to release these oifl-
cials from the necessity of giving bond'
came from the Committee on James
River Improvement, to which 1t had been
referred by the board at the last meeting.
IT was presented with the endorsement
that II had apparently been referred in
advertently.
Mr.. Hardwicke made some severe strict
ures on the action of the committee. The
Board OF Aldermen, he said, was the mead
of the machine, and had a right TO refer
papers through any channel IL saw nt'
1t was the duty Of the committee TO
make a report, he said, and he moved
that the ordinance should be recommltteu
with those instructions. The motion was
lost. however, and the ordinance was
then adopted by large majority
MANY RESOLUTIONS CONQUERED IN
The Board concurred in the following
~, Council. u
propriating Si59 50 for paving the west
side of Morris street, between Floyd and
Grove avenue instructing the Water De-
pa rtment not to enforce payment or Dill
for water against the Street Department
until an appropriation should be mace tor
the purpose; appropriating $3.50 FOR sewer
on Main street, between Twenty-nlntn
and Thrtieth streets; approprauhs 900
for n sewer in the alley from Harrison
10 Rvland streets, between Franklin and
Grace. appropriating $4l6 for construct
ing sewer on Broad street from about
half way between Thirty-third ana
Thirty-fourth street to Thirty-tourth;
appropriating $500 for work done ana
10 be done in excavation made or the
raceway at Gallego Mills, and construct
ing sewer in Cary street pelWeeH
Eleventh and Twelfth streets, and in
Twelfth street: appropriating S257 to re-
set curb and lay gutter on the south side
Of Grace street, between Twenty-fourth
and Twenty-ffth streets; transferring the
sum of 1900 from the contingent iuho
TO the credit of the Committee on &C
counts and Printing TO meet the pills TOT
stationery, &C., during the remainder Oh
the current year; to visit the city jail on
September 18th at o'clock Tor the pur-
pose of inspecting that institution.
The amended tramp ordinance was con-
Cured I'm without debate and with only
one dissenting voice.
WANTS ASSOCIATE COUNSEL.
Mr.. Hardwicke introduced resolution
that the Finance Committee should be
authorized to employ associate counsel
with the City Attorney to appear In the
case of the city of Richmond against the
southern Bell Telephone Company. which
Is shortly to be argued in the Supreme
Court OF the United States, at a sum not
exceeding 500
The following letter was presented py
Mr.. Hardwicke and read In conjunction
with the resolution:
Mr.. Charles w. Hardwicke, city:
Dear Sir,-Referring to our several con-
versations i'm reference TO the case or the
city Of Richmond VS.. the southern Ben
Telephone and Telegraph Company, pend
ing in the Supreme Court or the united
states. and in reference to the employ
ment OF counsel to aid in the argument
OF the case in that court, i beg now 10
repeat TO you in more Iormal way "Hd'
| have said in substances:
m THE case is not only or great I'M
portance to this city, but also 10 every
other municipal corporation IN the Ianu,
and Is so recognized In this ana other
States. l., .ho oirnoet mil
,,oreaI inactive 10 have associate counsel
i'm the court of last resort. In q case re-
Gently argued in the Supreme Court ndu
tha honor 10 be employed by the Leglsla-
ture as associate counsel with the At'oi-
new General to represent the STATE
"a, I therefore feel fully Justined III re-
ooWnnaending that the Council Will provide
associate counsel, and l also recOinIli ,,,
tbat Mr.. c. V. Meredith, VINO Is ianli ii.,
With the case and has conducted the NJ, ~
CATION TO the present tiihe, oe o,,,r,snt ~
aid i'm the management ana argument Vi
The case IN the Supreme Court. o,,
~ taLa the liberty or enclosing you
loinsion which / think will suihclently
nrovide for some arrangement 20 DC iii"u0
with MI II. II. POLLARD.
THE rules were suspended, anu INC i0"0
luton was put upon It's passage
'D''V PRECEDENT QUOTED.
An enquiry as TO whether there was any
,racedent for this action ehclted the IN
| formation that in the case OF tiie cieS
agoinst the Richmond freuerioAs |,'i'
and Potomac Railroad company ony
Attorney A. NJ. Kelley mad hau as nis Sso as
| sociate when the case was als ,,'S 49,
l,e r. v. Meredith. The resolution
was adopted unanimously
srba BOARD then adjourned
contract for the City's Tar.
tr,k.f