Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-06

The expected sometimes does not hap
pen. even when there Is the best ground
for the anticipation There was matter
enough in the business before the Com.
mon Council last night to have Furnished
several flrst-class sensa tons. and an rn-H
usually large crowd assembled IN The
chamber to see the fur fly, but for some
reason it was not good night Tor an .
exhibition, and while some OF the SCouns
cilmen worked hard to bring the meeting
up to the predicted mark. it resulted only
In accentuating the dat failure to pro
duce anything sensat tionaL And. yet. the
ttrec-hours', session. Notwithstanding
its apparently dragging nature. resulted
in the making OF the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings back water on
the Sunday racing at Reservoir Park.
the adoption. after hard fight OF tha
ordinance to remove screens from Ia
front of bars at such hours as tia liquor
traffic might be prohibited by law. and
the sending back to the Committee on
Ordinances, Charter and Reform. OF
their report on the deIinauences and short
comings Of the Hon. Richard III. Taylor.
Mayor Of Richmond, not to speak OF a
mild rebuke to the Water Committees
proposed expenditure of their balance on
hand from 1902 In a trip to various cities
to take a course in the study OF setrlInS
basins. ETC.. which some of the members
of the Council were ungenerous enough to
characterize as useless junket
When the Cats Are Away.
Among the crowd which lined the walls
Of sthe chamber were a number OF the
gentlemen of the cloth. and whether it
was that the members Of their 'foo-.s''
In the body did not feel so frfsky when
their monitors were present. or for some
other reason. the protests which theT
had caused to be handed up to Clerk
August were not allowed to be read even
In the haste OF some OF the jealous mem
.bers of the Grounds and Building Com
n.ittee TO get the objectionable Park or
dinance safely back into their possession
with the strongly implied promise OF eli
minating the sinful features thereof. The
unread protests are as follows:
Presbyterian Protest.
To the Council of the City OF Richmond.
The Presbyterian Ministers Association
of Richmond. Manchester and vicinity,
in the interest Of the public morals aud
Christian life OF the community, for
which the Council of the city should cer-
tainly be as deeply concerned as for the
encouragement Of horse-racing, hereby
solemnIy protests against the action pro-
posed by the Committee on Grounds and
Buildings. recommending the opening OF
the speedway at the Reservoir on Sunday
'.for trials of speed and racing" and
NEST earnestly petition the Council not to
adopt any ordinance allowing such desc
Grafton of the Christian Sabbath We
would call attention to the wel1-known
and incontrovertible fact that such action
would be directly contrary to the long
established customs and deeply ground
ed sentiment of the community. which
have given to this city It's acknowledged
reputation In the past as law-abtdins
people with distinctly Christian char
acter. In a word, we most emphattcallr
protest against the introduction OF hea-.
then custom into q Christian community.
BY order Of the Presbyterian Ministers
Associa ton.
WILLIAM E. CAMPBELL.
RUSSELL CECIL.
COMMITTEES.
To the Honorable Council OF the City OF
Richmond:
Gentlemen.-We, the undersigned, a
COMMITTEES appointed py the MstHoeuSt
preachers meeting of the city. respect
fully present the following paper:
Whereas. a committee OF your honor
able body has recommended the passage
of an ordinance granting permission to
use the speedway for racing on the Sab
bath. as well as other days.
Resolved. That VIC enter our solemn
protest against the action of the commit
tee, and respectfully request that the re-
port be not adopted
.sHENRY C. JOHNSON.
GEORGE H. SPoONER.
JOHN HANNON.
COMMITTEE
The subject was scarcely broached be-
fore Mr. Thomas Hicks, the stout cham
pion IN the committee of Sunday recrea-
tion for the people, and the revival OF the
old Virginia spirit Of racing. via the
speedway and It's Sunday exhibition. was
on his feet, crying the Council mercy
and the recommttta1 OF the ordinances 70
the committee in order to give 1t cnance
to mend the error of its way.
Methodist Protest
Mr.. Hicks said he wanted the uhoIs
matter referred back to the committee.
,rba,, bad r,rn into some thinS-he did not