The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-09
WHEELMEN CAN
NOT BE TAXED.
The City Attorney Gives
His Opinion.
TO GET RID OFD0GS.
The Old Pound Law Revived by the
Ordinance Committee.
AN ACETYLINE GAS PLANT.
4 Movement on Foot TO Establish That
Business in This City, Headed bys
Captain Charles ". Williams.
An Ordinance for the
Protection of Tel
cphOncs.

They had up for consideration ordinances
which have aroused much interest in this
city; namely one imposing tax of 81
upon every owner OF a wheel, another
for The determination of worthless doss;
still another providing for safety cut
outs 10 protect telephones when the
wires shall become crossed with high
current wires, and fourth regulating
the handling and storage OF calcium car
bide. from which acetyhne gas Is made.
The ordinance imposing lax on wheel
men was read and promptly rejected ON
the strength Of the following opinion
from the city Attorney:
CITY ATTORNEY 5 OPINION.
To Mr. S. L. BloomDerg, Chairman OF
Committee Oh Ordinances.
Dear sir.-Repying to the request Of
the clerk OF your committee, Mr. Nc
Dowcll. 10 inform you as 10 whether the
city has the power, under its charter
or under the general law governing
cities and towns, 10 tax bicycles @or keep
ers Of Bicycles used on the streets Of the
city By its citizens, L beg 20 say as iol-
lows.
There can be no doubt that bicycle"
is carriage" as defined In the diction-
aries The question therefore, is 10 be
determined by "a construction Of section
1912 0f the code of 1857. which allows any
CITY TO require a license "for the privl-
lege of keeping IN the city or town for
hire any wheeled carriage" or OF sections
n and p OF the charter OF the city which
allows the city 20 grant or refuse H.
cense "to owners or keepers Of wagons
drays. carts hacks. and other wheeled
carriages. kept or employed I'm the city
for hire
am unable 10 find. and I am satisfied
there cannot be found, any legislative
authority allowing the city TO require
license Of owners OF bicycles or other
carriages not kept "for hire"
I am. therefore, OF opinion that the
city has no authority 10 require a license
for the keeping or riding OF bicycle
unless such bicycle Is kept FOR hire
I'm which case T am OF opinion that It
may prescribe n license 20 be required
of persons keeping for hiro bicycles IN
the city.
Very respectfully.
IT. r. POLLARD.
City Attorney.
There was but little discussion Of the
matter. and no move was made toward
taxing bicycles kept "for hire"
ACETYLINE GAS.
Some time ago the Board OF Fire Com
missioners. upon information which they
believed 10 he reliable, recommended 20
the Ordinance Committee. a measure i'm
posing stringent regulations upon the
handling and storage OF calcium car
b,de
Last evening Mcssrs Charles t. VIII
lams. Sheen e HazeB, and T. Brooks
Dow. an acetylne gas expert. Of CHI
cagO. appeared before the committee.
President John II. FrischkOrn. OF the
BOARD Of Fire Commissioners, was also
present
Captain Williams stated in compre-
henslve terms that he and others were
interested In a project 10 establish here
n factory for the manufacture Of calcium
carbide, generating machines, and burn
ers.
The object OF the promoters OF this
movement. he said. was not TO anita
g0nize the Gas Works. but 10 give the
residents Of the suburbs chance TO have
their houses lighted by acetyllne gas.
He numerated many prominent people
who reside outside the city. and who are
anxious 20 secure this gas.
He said further that as a test the
house Of Mr.. Warner Moore had been
lighted for eight days. and that the
Westmoreland Clubhouse would be light
ed for thirty days with this gas.
Captain williams showed that acetyline
gas. as his company proposes 20 handle
&c. Is by no means so dangerous as kero-
sene oil or coal gas while the nlumi-
mating power IS many times greater.
The gas and the oil men, he said were
doing an I'm their power 10 prevent It's
use. and had created the impression that
It was extremely dangerous. He pointed
out In refutatiOn that the agents or
prominent insurance companies here had
been instructed 10 sign permits for its
use in houses insured by them
PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATIONS.
Mr.. George schoen. Jr.. who is engaged
in the acetyline gas business. next gave
"a practical demonstration. showing the
carbide 10 be harmless In the form they
propose TO use il. which IS that Of
n solid. TO which It is reduced by intense
heat lis composition IS one part OF lime
and another Of coke. and when IL IS
moistoned the lime begins 10 slake and
the coke is consumed, giving of acety-
lire gas.
President Frischkorn said that he had
never made a close Investigation Of the
question. but had acted on Information
furnished him In making his recon-
mendation 10 the Ordinance Committee.
His only desire he said, was 10 throw
every safeguard around the city 10 pro-
tect II from free and dangerous explo-
sives
He added that he had written to
number OF cities to obtain Information
about this gas. and would write TO others
In thirty days he would be prepared to
make recommendation on the subject.
At his request the ordinance was re-
ferred back TO the Board Of Fire Com
missioners for investigation and report.
OLD POUND LAW.
The ordinance relating 70 licensing OF
dogs and goats and the establishment OF
a dog pound was then taken up. and IN
lieu Of the one referred 10 the commit
tee another was recommended providing
n license tax OF 81 for male aud 81 for
female dogs. and also softing forth that
no license shall permit the keeping OF
more thar one such animal.
A penalty OF $ is provided for failure
"a obtain such license Any person Is
authorized 70 make complaint OF parties
keeping an unlicensed dog. In which even,
n shall be the duty of the police 10 tn