Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-11-22
MAYORS M MESSAGE Nj <GEl
His Views Of Legislation Needed
for the City.
A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS
s.
recommends Largely Iocr+as.nr III,
Bodied E"dostedn.rs Of the Nun eli.
badly Tor the Pur pose Of Pub
~ tic Improve,nepts.
A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS

nlfotee, Mr.. "A. Il. Burcihcr
Inc mayor has crys'tl.izeu his views
on the subject and embOui II them n a
message which he sent 10 the Council!
Vast night.
Ihis document is an importanz one.
alrfnull of suggestions Whiah will evoke
7nucn discussion pro and con-
1t presents a n,lpr.brr vf pertinent
questions from His IIonors standpoint
At IS published below il full.
Inc rapid growth Of our city since its
cnarter was obtained: its great indus
trial progress and increase along all
progressive lines, have created cond:-
lions that did not exist several years
agN
It has been recognized by the
thoughtful that When the lesisl:.t ire
meets. the City would have to 60 be
gore thlat body and ask for certain
oranges in the charter. 1t las also
sessmert to which the city is entitled
next year, would have to be made Gil a
inherent and more rational plan than
was the case witch the OIL assessment.
Inc Council has devoted consilera Bile
ehought TO the matter in a ra,dpm way.
expecting to take it UP as s;;on as pos
sible.
Newport News. Va, Nov. 81, 1899
To the Honorable City Council:
Gent1emcn-As the legislature is
about to meet, and it is necessary, on
account of the rapid growth of oar city
winch brings many new expenses and
""titS lii'il we d!u nuC slTllcl-fstte, l
recommeE'l to your honorable body,
that you appoint Il Legislative commit
tee, OF whom the city attorney SHAH be
n member. TO 60 before she legislature
ana recommend such changes and re-
eulttions as YOU may deem best, for The
benefit of the city, in the charter Of
the said city.
| further recommend a few points
which | have talked over with some
members OF the Council which are as
follows:
TWO MORE SCHOOL HOUSES.
lst-Inat on account of our rapid
growth. our large ami ccnmodious
school houses which we have just fin
ished are overcrowded With pupils.
many hundreds being turned away be-
ing unable to gain admittance, thereby
causing. small buildings TO be rented
Tor their accommodation. Which are
totally unfit from a sanitary stand
point. to be used as school buildings.
1t mas become necessary ito erect $50
school houses Of the same class as the
one on Twenty-eighth street, one to be
located in East End the other in North
End. For the building and equipment
OF these TWO houses. including the rur-
chase of land. and the heating OF the
1'wo new school houses. already hui.t,
and for such furniture as is necessar:;-
70 make all the buildings ccmDlett. !
advise the issuing of $4,000 in bonds.
ADDITIONAL EiNGr N,T, HOUSES
2d-The amount Of water now cSn-
in Hampton, Phoebus and Old T,Jint,
has reduced the pressure fo:' fire pur-
poses in tIlis City. In order tn nrs,tect
our citizens from The ravagcs of a great
c0nlia era ton. which may occur at any
time, and also to induce the insurance
companies 10 give US a lower rate. I
advise the issuing of 100000 in bonds.
Tor the building and equipment of two
engine houses. including the purchase
OF the land. the equipments to be Il fire
engine, hose wagon. hose, hulses anc
such other furniture as is necessary TO
make each building complete. One OF
said engine houses to be located in the
North End, the other at some place
in the Third Ward. 4last End.
MORE PAVING BONDS.
Sd further recommend that as $4,000
the City, leaving Without pavement
some of our most prominent Thorough
fares that there be 81 bond ISSUE in .,l-
1rtion to the 100000 that we already
have for ravins purposes. of 100000
There is nothing 50 cccszary in g pro
Eressive city as good streets For the
accommodation CT its citizens. and it
viii enhance the value Ct its property
more in proportion than any other in
VestmeEt that can be mala.
l'A1F1l1CtVlt7D SANITATION.
4th-1 further recommend shat as the
low rate of valuation. as we'll Us the
low rate of taxation. is !nade,!uate to
keep up with :'le rapid adv.,n - Of the
city. that so'n:othng be done to help
the city cut until such time as we n.ly
get an increase of revenue under thu
new assessment Of la".l in 1900 and
would recommend for this and Other
purposes that we bond the city for $780,
0G0 part Il- the same to he used for i'm
provcNlcn;S such as extension of sewer,
garbage furnaces and Ecar house near
the city. Tor the increase OF the police
force ana for the better lighting Of the
streets.
SEPARATE THE OFFl'.Es.
5th-t.As the city has outgrown the
expectations of the Trainers OF the chn:-
ters. when it provided that the Offices
of city attorney and commonwealth S
attorney Should be united in one person.
the vast amount az business now ac-
cum1iiated in Tho Corporation court as
well rs the work that has accumuiat-
cd in all of the city departments, it is
impossible fer one man to fill both
places and to do justice to either. I
have consulted With the common
Weah:lh'S attorney and he agrees With
me that the time has cone when the
office of cornmonwe attorney shall
be filled by one person who shall hold
no other office, and he shall attend 10
the duties Of the courts as laid down
under the law. An'1 there should be
one city attorney who shall attend to
the business OF she city.
EXTENSION OFF CITY LIMITS. "a
6th-1 further recommend that the
city charter be extended and take in
such parts of the county as recon-
TneEdcd bv your honorable body, the
same to include all that part south Of
the city along the James river. Eamp-
ton Roal1s and SG,iter's Creek and ouch
other territory as You may deem best.
] advise this because during the time
of the smallpox last winter, as we'll as
the yellow fever scare this summer,
the city had to protect all this territory