Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-10
City Councilmen Talk About it at
Some Length.
BUT TAKE NO ACTION.
MIR. Munden Said tho Hebrews Have One
Sabbath. the Gentilcs Another, and the
Saloon Keepers None ut All "a Number
ofordinanccs Adopted The City Col
lcctor Heard From.

The City Council last night tackled
the question of Sunday observance. 1t
came up on Il report of the Ordinance
Committee. and was productive of
much discussion which resulted i'm
nothing. The Ordinance Committee
made somewhat lengthy report. two
clauses of which related TO the sale of
Boous on Sunday. and to some provis-
ION making IL unlawful for Junk deal
ers 70 buy gas fixtures. lead pipe and
similar material. Both questions. the
committee reported. were freely covered
by State law
Mr.. Murden called upon the City At
torney for an explanation. which WAS
IN effect that the State law allows He
DrewS who observe Saturday as their
Sabbath, to keep their places of bust
ness open on Sunday and dispose of
their goods as on any other day of
the week, The Cit Attorney said he
believed the Legislature has the power
to pass law preventing anyone from
doing business on Sunday and he had
gone the length of preparing such n
law, which was presented to the Lcgis-
lature. but not passed. He advised. il
the city fathers want to stop Sunday
selling, that the next representative in
the Legislature be instructed to press
for the passage of a law To that end
MIR. Glover late i'm tho discussion.
raised the point that the business was
out of order but Mr.. Murdcn said the
point had no point. and held out for his
privilege to catcchiSe the City Attorney
to his hearts content
He said: II want to find out where
we are in regard to our Sabbath. The
Jews observe one Sabbath, the Gcntilcs
another Sabbath and the saloon keepers
observe none at all"
On the recommendation of the Ordi-
nance Committee. the Council adopted
rule that no bills against the city he
received after II m. on the day of tile
regular meeting OF the Council in each
month for settlement at that meeting.
Bills received later than the time speCi-
fled will go over to the next month. EN-
cepton was made Of the city officers,
The Council also adopted \ recommen
dation of the Ordinance Committee re-
questing the Sanitary Plumber 10 make
an annual report of sewerage conncc-
tiOnS made.
The Public Property Committee sub
United plans for Council chamber inn
provcments, which include desks for the
Councilmen and a lot of plumbing and
calcimininE, the cost to he about 5000.
Consideration was postponed until No
vembcr.
The committee also asked authority
TO get bids for repaintng the cupola
of the city hail. This was granted, and
on the recommendation Of the commit
tee Nathaniel Journey WAS appointed
city hail at Il salary of spa per month.
The contract of the Portsmouth Gas
Company for lighting the city for Il
period of five years was adopted on
the recommendation of the Committee
on Lamps and Gas. Through some
means the contract did not come be,
fore the Council for ratification until
last night. although il went into effect
in September.
Permission was granted w. :. Nor
ton TO erect house on Middle street,
w. II. Dashell TO erect a frame build
ing on Middle street. l.. G. Codd to
erect a similar structure on Middle
street and to w. q. Maupin To build a
shed on County street.
The Sewerage Committee recon-
niended that certain property owners
on the west side of Chestnut street. in
the county, he allowed TO connect with
the city sewers, the cost 10 them 10 be
S350 for each connection annually us
rental The report was amended. re-
uuiring the rental To be paid in ad
vance. An effort was made to have
the cost of connection paid by the
property owners. but this amendment,
which was offered by Mr.. Bronson, WAS
lost
The City Attorney reported that he
had taken every step possible in re-
gard to bringing the Atlantic and Dam
willie railway tax suits into court. and
that the matter would have come NJ
in the Circuit Court at its last session
but for the illness OF Mr.. y. i. Thorn
attorney for the railway. In regard Ia
keeping drain ways open in Gander
Creek. that under recent act of the
Legislature both he ana the Mayor
were powerless to act The law re-
ouires five citizens to sign a petition 10
the judge complaining OF the drains as
n nuisance and asking him to call n
special grand Jury To investigate tic
matter complained of.
On motion of Mr.. Brinson. the Street
Committee WAS empowered to take this
action.
City Collector Hutchins addressed The
Council In the matter of being called
upon for a detailed report of uncol-
lected back taxes for the past twenty
six years. He said it would take SIX
months to prepare the report. and that
he felt it was not q part Of his duty to
do so. He presented, however, n par
tial report on the subject. which WAS
referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Crimson discussed the distribu-
tion of the electric lights. He sand
there were three on Wythc street il,
one and n half blocks. while other parts
of the city We're in the dark. He moved
that the electro light at Second and
Nyythe streets be moved 10 sixth and
Lincoln streets.
The members present last night were
j. j. King, president: ID. w. Ballen-
tine. vice president. and NIcssrs. Brin-
son. Walker Codd. Palmer. Johnson
Deans. Muroien, Glover, Gricc. Overton
Hume and Browne.
COMPLIMENT TO A PORTSMOUTH
ROY.
AS to military affairs. Captain Luke
Is rapidly rounding the boys into shape