Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-12
NEWPORT NEWS.
Mayor Moss vetoes the Street
Paving Ordinance.
Interest in tho Approaching Democratic
-nIudholes In tho Streets why
shipyard Employees wero Discharged
Brief Mention.
Especial to virglnIan-Pllot.y

Especial to virginian-P llot.y
Newport News, Va, April lit was
expected that Mayor Moss would veto
the ordinance awarding the contract
for paving the streets Of this city to
the Cleveland Trinadad Paving Com
pany, and hence, when his massage an
nouncing that he had done SO. was
placed in the hands of Mr.. Powell,
president Of the Council, not the least
surprise was felt by any one. Mr.
Moss. In n carefully prepared circular
sent out last week, presented q num-
Der of interesting facts bearing upon
the subject. The communication was
addressed to the leading business men
of the city and dealt mainly with the
cost of paving under the contract into
which it was proposed to enter with the
Cleveland company as compared with
the cost of paving with similar material
In other towns.
SIT is undoubtedly true" he said
that we need our streets paved, but as
Taxpayer are you prepared to pay
S2.S3 per yard for sheet asphalt when
Washington City and other cities are
having the same pavement laid for
1854 and $1.16 per yard?" Mr.. Moss
added that enough could be saved in
school houses and erect and equip the
engine-house needed by the city.
What effect the passage of the ordi-
nance over the Mayors veto will have
cannot be said, but 1t Is not unlikely
that MANY voters who have not been
IN sympathy with him on account of
his anti-corporation Views, will find it
easy to take their places under his
standard as a municipal rcformer, with
lower taxation and no jobs as his shib-
boeth.
The primary election will be held on
the 24th. but little more than a week
away, and the changes which are not
only possible. but probable within that
period. will be looked for with interest
Mr.. Stewart, who, as the opponent of
MIR. Moss. Is regarded as the corpora
ton CANDIDATE, despite the fact that he
Is doubtless running Independently OF
such influences, is leaving no stone I'M
turned which promises to aid him in
blocking the course on which his fleet
antagonist is sprlnting, while Mr. Pow
ell, who Is jogging along as the peoples
candidate. confidently expects his pole
to bring down the executive persim-
mon.
In the furry caused by the Mayoralty
contest the smaller offices are In dam
ger OIL being forgotten by the voters.
STREET AIUDHoLES.
During the rainy weather last weel,
the streets In the East End were al
most impossible. On two or three OF
them traffic was simply out of the
question. In some places wagons sank
into the mud up to the axles and in
other places drivers who were bold
enough to attempt to reach "the other
shore" found 1t necessary to alight and
literally put their shoulders to the
wheel. In order to avoid the muck and
mire of the citys neglected thorough
fares drivers of vehicles cut through
open lots or turned their teams onto the
sidewalks.
WHY THEY ARE TURNED OFF.
The statement that a number OF men
have lost their places at the shipyard
during the past fortnight has had the
effect of stimulatingthe tongue-wagging
propensities OF the few croalcrs in this
city, ana the usual stories which al
ways follow n slight diminution of the
force at the big establishment have
been going the rounds
The number of men recently dis
charged is small. and their services
were dispensed with simply because
they had finished the work which thew
were employed to PERFORM In other
words, the particular parts Of the ships
on which they were wolling having
been completed there was nothing fur
Their for them to do until another yes
sci could be advanced to the point at
which labor of the character perform
ed by them would be necessary.
AS 1t is reliably stated that the ward
has work enough ahead to keep 1t busy
for the next six years no one need feel
the least apprehension on account of
the discharges of the past week or two.
BREvIrIEs.
1t is said that several handsome brick
buildings Will hn ~ IT,
avenue during the coming summer.
Mr.. w. j. Bright. of the Franklin
Printing Company. VINO has been Ill
with grip for nearly week, is out
again.
Mr.. c. z. Thacker. editor and mana
ger of the Daily Press and Evening Te-
icsram, has added new MergenthaIer
type-settns machine to his Office and is
now Issuing one of the handsomest and
best paperS In the State