Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-04
NEWPORT NEWS.
THE PAVING FIGHT COMMITTEES
APPOINTED-PAS Elk
AMINATIONS.

j
THE PAVING FIGHT COMMITTEES
APPOINTED-PASS EX-
AMINATIONS
Especial to Virglnian-Pilot.)
Newport News, Xa., Jan. 3.-There IS
another fight on between Mayor A.. A.
Moss and the City Council.
The controversy is over the appoint
ment of Mr.. T. Challley Hatton to the
position of consulting engineer on the
proposed paving.
When the question of paving first
came up after the bond issue was set
tied, the Council put everything into
the hands OF the Street Committee, in
structing them to employ an engineer,
should they see ut to do so. The COM
mittee employed Mr. Hatton on per-
centage basis and the Council ratified
the action,
The employment of Mr.. Hatton, the
committee claims, was part OF the
general paving scheme authorized by
the bond issue--part of a purpose for
wrich money had already been provd-
ed. It is claimed, moreover, that the In
structions of the Council the action of
the committee and the subsequent rat
lficnion by--t the Council constitute a
binding contract with Mr.. Hatton-a
contract that will hold in the courts.
The Mayor, on the other hand, claims
that The committee should have adver-
tised for thirty days, inasmuch as more
than $500 was to be expended; should
have, also, q written contract with MIR.
NHatton, to be signed for the city by the
Mayor and city clerk, and eealed with
the city's seal. He Declares therefore,
that the appointment of Mr.. Hatton
Is illegal, and has announced his in
tention of fighting Into finish.
The Council last night adopted an or
dlnunce authorizing the Street COM
mittee to advertise for bids on the
specifications and plans prepared by
Mr.. Hatton and accepted by the Coun-
ell. The Mayor to-day announced his
Intention of vetoing the ordinance, and
there Is no doubt that the Council at
the first opportunity will pass 1t over
his head
The Council at It's next meeting will
probably adopt an ordinance specially
designed to create the Office of con-
sulting engineer on paving work. The
Mayor Will veto 1t and the Council will
pass 1t over his head.
His Honor announces, however. that
IL there Is no other way out OF 1t, he
Will get out an Injunction preventing,
the employment OF Mr. Ha.ton. Ir
view of the fact that some OF the best
attorneys in the city hold that the
city now has n binding contract with
Mr.. Eatton, 1t would seem that this
proceeding on the part OF the Mayor
would involve considerable personal
risk. financially, on his part; but he
declares that he Is willing to take the
risk and abide by the result.
The Mayor further holds that under
Tho rhortnr ha 1tt
torney. who is now the City Attorney.
must represent the Mayor. It Is
| claimed by some on the Council that
the Commemorative Attorney can only
represent the Mayor upon instruction
from the Council; that his duty is pri.
| marily TO the Council.
At any rate, the people here, It is
probable, will soon he treated to the
af Mayor insti-
tuting proceedings in behalf OF the
people. opposed by the City Council Tin
behalf of the peoplc). both claiming the
services OF the Commemorative Attor.
ney, though by the time all this hap
pens there will be City Attorney. t,
whom the same conditions will apply.
COMMITTED sAPPoINTEE.
President Powell. of the Council, an.
nounced to-day the appointing OF the
Richmond in day or two with the
bills that are now being prepared by
Acting City Attorney Garrett provid.
ing for certain changes in the charter
OF the city. The committee is consti
tuted as follows: Councilmen Burch-
er, Ford, Hughes. Cory and Cooper.
SUCCESSFUL EXAMINATIONS
Captain George w Titchett. First
Lieutenant j. III. Glkerson and Sec.
ond Lieutenant John a. Moss, of the
Newport News Light Infantry, have
received from Captain Barrows, assist.
ant adjutant general, n notification to
The effect that they very successfully
passed their officers examination. held
recently at Hotel Warwick One hun
dred and twenty-six questions were
asked, and 1t Is understood that the
average of all three officers was in the
neighborhood of % per cent, an un
usually high average
1t is promised that the company shall
be mustered in within three weeks
and equipped as soon as possible after
that.