The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-16
new OFFICIAL FOR
CITY GOVERNMENT
Light Committee Makes Recon-
mendation for Foreman Tappers
occAsIoHED A LONG DEBATE.
Result of Fight is Something of Backset
to Salary Reform Instituted by Or
dinance Committee-Lights of
the City to Be Improved.

Should the Common Council and Board
Of Aldermen concur in the action of
the Light Committee, which was taken
at meeting last night the ends Of the
recently passed ordinance, which refers
all matters OF increase in salary Of city
employees and officials to the Committee
on Charter, Ordinance and Reform. will,
to certain degree be defeated, and the
city o. Richmond will have another sal
AIRED officer, whose title will be Super
intendent of Foreman Of Tappers in the
Gas Department He will receive orders
from Superintendent Knowles, working
directly u1dar him.
It was only after much debate and a
long fight between Councilman E. W.
Miner and Councilman Winston, patron
Of tbs resolution. that the Light Com
mittee finally made the recommendation.
The motion came In the nature OF q. sur
prise to several OF the committeeman.
ASKED FOR INCREASE.
Shortly after the committee was called
to order by Chairman Wood a petition
for an increase in salary from So to $3.50
day was read by the clerk The petit
toner was II. j. Burknan, at present
Taper at the upper gas works. and i'm
mediately after it was read Mr.. Winston
stated that should that committee simply
recommend the increase to Council 1t
would BIS referred to the Committee on
Ordinance. Charter and Reform, and
would be lost in the general nix-up with
the numerous other applica tons for in
crease that have before been sent UP by
various committees.
Mr.. Winston stated that Mr.. Burkman
was ono Of the Oldest employees in the
service Of the city, having been connect
ed with the gas works for forty-flve
years or more. His services. so Mr.. Win
ston said, were worth more than So
day. and he thought an increase should
be granted him. He was borne out in
this statement by Superintendent
Knowles, who said that Mr.. Burkman
was one Of the most valuable men in
the employ of the city. He understood
his business thoroughly. and his services
were worth over 50 q day to the city.
Mr.. CARRIER endorsed all that had been
said by Mr.. Winston, and Mr.. Washer
concurred in all of the statement. They
were all in favor of an immediate in
crease and entertained the same motion
about the recommendation that Mr.. Win
ston had.
MOTION PREVAILED.
After all Of this talk Mr.. Winston said
he was of the opinion that the committee
should recommend to Council resolu-
ton asking for authority to create the
Office Of superintendent or foreman OF
the tappers, and this suggestion met
with the favor OF the other two commit
teemen, and motion to this effect was
put. Whereupon Mr.. E. ". Miner took
hand In tho debate, opposing each &C
ton. favoring simply the recommends
ton of an increase. He thought the re-
COMMUNICATION should go in the batch
which has already been forwarded TO
the Committee on Ordinances. Charter
and Reform, saying that if Mr.. Burkman
meritcd more money by his services he
might receive 1t from this source. Chair
man Wood was Of the same opinion as
Mr.. Miner, but when the motion was
finally put it prevailed by a vote of six
to two.
In answer to certain complaints made
about the electric lights Of the city, Su
perntendent Trafford, Of the lighting de-
partment OF the Passenger and Power
Company. appeared before the committee.
He admitted that some of the lights were
little off, but added that by installing