The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-23
Startling Discovery Made by
Committee Last Night.
CITY ITSELF AN OFFENDER
Hundreds Of Manufacturers Have
Broken the Law.
THE POLICE MAY INVESTIGATE.
Ordinance Relating to Glass of Fuel to
Be Used for Stea,ning Purposes
Has N3t Been Enforced for
Twelve Ycars-The OHend>
ers Arc Many and They
Are Prominent.
THE POLICE MAY INVESTIGATE

Somewhat of a sensation was sprung
In the meeting of the Council Committee
On Ordinances. Charter and Reform last
nicht, when a petition and ordinance
from the Common Council was pre-
sented granting privilege to Mil
Ter and Miller. Allegheny Box
Company. and ". j. Whitehurst, all well
known manufacturers. to burn soft coal
and shavings in their engine furnaces.
Ii developed that although an ordinance
requiring that only anthracite coai lie
used in the city OF Richmond ior steam
ing purposes was passed over t"aLEe
years ago and which has never been
repealed. the city itself and nearly every
manufacturer here has been a constant
yioiator. using in their furnaces bitunii-
nous coal.
As a result Of this discovery by The
committee it is not at al improbable
that Chief-of-Police Howard will iasce
I'm order Immediately calling upon the
officers of the department To report cN-
rry manufa. .tureit Including sthe City
Coancfl. for breaking the law. in which
event most deploratle state of affairs
VIII present itself TO Justice John when
the cases are called. :nasntra as at this
time it is next TO impossible TO secure
anthracite coal.
LIABLE TO HEAVY FINE.
According TO the ordinance which was
was passed some twelve years ago, any
one using other than anthracite coal for
EtcaIning purposes is liable to a heavy
fine at the hands of the Police Court JUS
tice, but in the ordinance there is a pro
vision which gives a manufacturer the
right to use soft coal in case he is grant
hi permission from the City Council. af-
that body.
Regardless of this provision, however.
the manufacturers and the city authori-
ties have been violating the ordinance.
Ie1y few, If any OF them having been
granted the necessary permission from
Tie City Council. and it was through a
desire on the part of the three above
mentioned firms TO abide by the ortli-
Rance that the wholesale and fragrant vi
nlotion of the law was discovered. Their
nttcI7ley, Mr. r. l.. Montague, called the
attention of the committee to the exist
ence of the ordinance.
1t seems that some time ago one of
the three firms was reported by some
Dne, and upon being brought into the
Police Court a heavy fine was imposed,
this being their first intimation of the
existence Of the ordinance.
Desiring to be guaranteed immunity
from further fines in Police Court th.
three firms employed Attorney Montague
and short time ago he prepared an or
dinance, which was submitted to Coun-
ell at its last meeting. in which he asked
burning either soft coal or shavings for
burning either soft coal or shaving for
steaming purposes. The matter was re-
ferred to the Committee on Ordinance.
Charter and Reform without reading
PERMIT WAS GRANTED.
When the matter was taken up in the
committee last night. under a suspension
of the rules. MIR. Montague made a brief
talk in which he asked that the desired
permission be granted. stating that at
the present rates it would be disastrous
to use anthracite coal, even in the event
1t could he secured at all. He said fur
ther that the city itself had been
openly violating the ordinance for years.
while every manufacturer in Richmond
was practically unaware of the existence
OF such a law.
The talk Of Mr.. Notague brought forth
debate from the committee members, sew
eral favoring the recommendation to
Council that the ancient ordinance be re-
pealed In whole, while others simply IA
vored granting the request of the three
manufacturers in regard TO their places,
stating all other Siolators of the law
could be given a similar relief.
II was finally decided to recommend to
Council that the permission asked by the
three firms be granted, and in the mean
time the result of the disclosure on the
part of Mr.. Montague VIII be awaited
with interest, as it is not at all improb-
able that the police will take the matter