The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-11
COMMITTEE WANTS
MORE ! AUTHORITY A 0 Ri
will Ask the Council to Give.
Them More Duties.
OBLIGATIONS INSUFFICIENT
Council! Committee on Electricity Dis
covers That it Has Nothing to DO.
Want All Electrical Matters
Referred to It.
OBLIGATIONS INSUFFICIENT

After having been in existence for near
" two year, the Electricity Committee
has at last discovered that it has very
few duties and practically no powers. as
result of which n accommodation will
probably be forwarded to the Council,
asking that it reappportion part of the
work assigned to committees, and clothe
them with more authority, and make
their obligations a little more arduous-
Action was taken at n meeting last night
with this end in view
Although is was created in April, 1901,
no matters of Importance have ever been
brought to the attention of the Electricity
Committee and outside OF expendtns 5000
of the city's money and some Sl.eoo Tor
liberal hearted citizens in entertaining the
International Order of Municipal Electrl-a
Clans little or nothing has ever been ac-.
scomplished by the members, all OF whom
seem willing and anxious to attend to their
portion of the governments burden. IL
may be stated, however. that great good
will no doubt result from the magnificent
manner in which the visiting electricians
We're entertained, for Richmond has re-
ceived no end of advertising in conse-
8quence. The committee spent the money
with becoming grace.
TO LEARN. THEIR DUTY.
At the meeting last night Mr.. MARI
9Gunst and Captain Cunningham Hall call.
ed attention to the lack of duties of the
committee. and Mr.. John 3. Minor offered
a resolution, which was adopted, appoints
ing subcommittee of three to investi-s
gate the ordinances of the, city relating to
electrical matters and report same to the
committee Of the whole, after which the
Council will proba bly, be asked to vest in
them the authority to consider and pass
upon such matters as may be covered by
the ordinances.
This motion was the result of a state
ment by City Electrician ". II. Thump-
son to the effect that under existing
ordinances numbers of matters pertaining
to the electrical equipment of the
city were referred to the Com
nittee On Streets and Shockoe
Creek for action and recommendation. II
was his opinion that such duties should
devolve upon the Electrical Committee.
The subcommittee was appointed by the
chairman. the following gentlemen being
named to investigate. the ordinances and
report at the next meeting: Messrs.
Minor Hall and Bossieux. and there is
no doubt but the report they formulate
will be sent to the Council with recon-
mendation that it be adopted.
RAILWAY AND TELEPHONE RIGHTS.
Just what the nature of the report Of
the subcommittee VIII be is much
in doubt. but it seems probable
that they will recommend that matters
pertaining to both street railway and
telephone grants be sent to the Electrical
Committee. These now occupy the at
.ention of the Committees on Streets and
Shocl1oe Greek. and at nearly every meet
ing require hours Of time for consldera-
ton.
It may be stated that members of the
Street Committee will 4orptse decreasing
their authority and duties by taking these
matters from their jurisdiction. as it
would decrease their Importance to no
small degree. The comm ttee. which now
enjoys tho distinction of being probably
the most important of any. would soon
be placed in a class With the second and
third rate bodies.
The only other business to come before
the Electricity Committee was ordering
the payment of the salary account of
Electrical Inspector Minor. which
amounts to s75.