Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-07

$500
The City Attorney submittA the fol-
lowing opinion as to the electric ordi-
nance:
To the Common Council Of the City OF
Richmond.
Gentlemen.-Replylng 70 your resolution
adopted February 6, 1899. referring 10 me
an ordinance as 10 the erection. construc-
tiOn. and inspection OF wires and appli-
ances used for electrical purposes, ETC., /
beg to INFORM your honorable body that
/ am Of opinion that the Council has the
| authority TO pass such an ordinance, ana
TO impose on the Board OF Fire Commis-
siOners the duty OF the Inspection and
supervision OF wires and appliances used
for electrical purposes In the city, ana
the additional duty Of reporting a viola
ton Of the provisions Of said ordinance.
Very respectfully, ii. ."1LlARD,
lf21s City Attorney.
PLACE FOR 4 COt.Du.MAA.
The ordinance then came UP upon its
passage. and was opposed by Mr.. Marx.
Gunst. who offered as an amendment
that a committee on electricity shoul-
have charge Of the wires OF the city. He
charged that the ordinance had been
drawn will "A view to creating a position
for "a member Of the Council. He stated
further that he had heard that op-
position had been organized to pre-
vent any gentleman not a member or
the Council from enjoying the privilege
Of the floor on this question. lie was EN-
phatically opposed 10 delegating power
10 the Board OF Fire Commission
ers. which should be. he thought, held
bv the City Council. Mr.. Wallerstein
urged that the ordinance should be lald
upon the table. lie did this, he said, De-
cause he had been led to believe thai con-
Quits could be built by the city and would
WELD 10 to j. per cent. interest on the III
vestment. lie was in favor OF issuing
city bonds at 3 IL per cent. for an invest
meut which would yield so large a return.
Under these circumstances he thought
the matter should be laid upon the taDle
until some action was taken In this re
gard. Mr.. Ebel moved that IL should be
referred TO the Committee on Streets,
which was already considering the con-
duit ordinances. Mr.. Wallerstein accept
ed this amendment.
Mr.. Bloomberg made a lengthy argu-
ment I'm favor OF the passage Of the ordl-
nance. without amendment. He contend
ed that II did not interfere in any way
with the conduit ordinances now before
the mmitt on Streets. and gave the
board no p~rerogative mat was hUt enJoi ,
ed at the present time, except the right
TO enter houses. If the measure did not
work satisfactorily, he said it could be
easily repaired.
There was some further argument, ana
a motion to grant President F~rischkoin
the privilege Of the floor was voted DOWN
Mr.. Gunst said he would accept the ordl-
nance if it included a clause providing
for the appointment of an electrical com-
mittee. He asked That me oruilanc'
should be adopted or rejected.
WOULD NOT REFER TT.
The motion 10 refer the ordinance 10
the Committee on Streets was defeated
bv q. vote Of 70 to Il. as follows;
Aves-Messrs. Bloombcrg. Camp, Ebel
Gibson. Grimes, HARRISON, hQDsoh1
Miner. Pollock, Wallerstein, Nillahls
apG W OVcyssrs. Cottrell. Curtis, Fergus
SON Gunst. Mccarthy, Mills, Peters, shea
Tanner. Teefey, West, winston ah'
Caskie-l3.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Guns
was then adopted,
SHOWER OF MOTIONS.
The ordnance was taken up section 10y
section. and Mr.. Gurst onered seNeia'
amendments Mr.. Wallerstein trled o
stop the passage OF the ordinance on tn'
eronnd that its adoption would materially
affect future legislation in regard to Inc
conduit ordinances. He moved ina sec
tion : should be laid on the table unit
the next meeting. The Chair ruled TINS
motion out Of order, and a hVely DEBATE
followed on parliamentary rules. Alf
moved to lay Mr. Guhst
amendment TO this section on the taple
but the motion was lost by a vote OF IL
to Is. A..
The amendment was adopted, ana Ar
Pollock moved that the ordinance snoul'
be laid upon the table, pending the re-
mort Of the Street Committee as 10 con
duits. The amendment was defeated by
the same vote. g.
Mr. Ebel moved an adjournment foi
tvrontv hours. Mr.. Wallerstein moVet
that the body adjourn hnaiy' lh's wa
voted down.
Mr. Pollock moved as an amendment
"a Mr. Fbel's motion that the Couhcl
take a recess until Friday hisht d..
o'clock. The amendment was lost. Ar
Wallerstein then moved as a suDslltu.'
that the ordinance should be reierIeu 1t
a committee Of three, with Instructions
10 report TO the next meeting. Mr.. duhs'
moved that the substitute should De ldl'
upon the table. Mr.. Gunst's motloh Wa
Tbe obstructive tactics OF the opposition
were kept up for some time. Inc deo1l'
grew quite spicy. and p~ersonallles %
"A mild sort We're freely pahuiSu-
majority at length yielded 70 the me-,
table. and the ordinance was sent ""0'
to the Committee on Ordinances
AIR Bloomberg presented an ORDINANCE
IN do away with the system or cohectli.i
fses I'm the office Of the Board OF Health
which was referred TO the committee o.
that department.
N-orIRY AS TO GAS BILLS.