The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-15
|. 10 MEN
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The Board of Aldermen Al,
lowed Them to Appeal.
TRANSFERM ATTERTABLED1'
Mr.. James e. Gordon Against Allowing
Appeal and MI. w. M. Turpin In
Favor of lt-A5fvery
Busy Session.

| 'si4 5ia
After a lengthy and certainly q most ''
interesting debate, the Board OF aust
men last night took such action as prac-
tically amounts to rcopening the liquor y -
license fight, which, hns wagcd 80 per-
sistently for the past three weeks or 9
month";. Fully one hundred and lily Pc
titons for d decrease In license tax -We y .
admitted, after a fight, aid was referred re co
to the Finance Committee, with lnstruc- .
tions to report to either branch OF inc
Council. Among the applications were
represented quite number Of businesses sNs.e
other than saloons.
Mr.. Robert Whittet, Jr., who was vas act
Ing chairman, ruled that 1t was competent
for the Board to consider applications I for
n relief from the license tax imposed "a OF y
the merchants $of the city, whereup .
Mr.. James r. Gordon, chairman Of the
Finance Committee, appealed from the
decision Of the chair. The result showed
that the ruling had been sustained by q
vote Of II to s., as follows:
CHAIR SUSTAINED. II N
Aye Sustaining the chair)-Bahen, t.ot-
trell, Donohoe, Gunst, Mann, Satterfteld,
Washer Whittet, Wood, Zimmerman.
Turpin-11. S5i
Noes Sustaining the appeal adams
Gilman, Gordon, Minor, sheppard-5
Barring the fight over the ndmissib!nty
Of the petitions from the merchants IN
regard to the license taxation, the meet
ing last night was really notable for Its
lack Of Interest, and the prevailing dispo-a
sition OF the members to attend to affairs
of the city without any unnecessary de-
lay.
The liquor question was not reached
until the tail OF the session, when Presi-
dent Turpin, who had quit the chair In
favor Of Mr. sWhittet, introduced. under
the head Of roll-call, a number Of petit
lions from liquor dealers. Mr. Gordon
objected, but before the matter was dis
cussed at any length. acting President
Whittet ruled that the petitions were adj
,missable and'swould be referred to the
Committee on Finance for consideration
and report. z545S &
Mr.. Gordon said that although he never
before had taken such q step, he would
be compelled to appeal from the decision
of the chair, 6whereupon the question was
open to debate, and It was Forthcoming.
Mr.. Gordon arose from his chair with a
copy Of the City Code in his hand. He
read the ordinance, giving aggrieved mer-
chants the right to appeal, but insisted
that the appeal had already been taken.
1t was not competent for the Board to
admit applications, and he used an able
argument to impress this point upon his
fellow members.
MR.. TURPIN'ss ATTITUDE
Mr.. 1'urpin took Issue with Mr. Gordon,
1t appearing that the gentlemen enter
tained vastly different idea as to the
wording Of the ordinance. Mr.. Minor and
Mr. Gunst along with several other 4
members. participated in the, debate,
which by this time had become general,
and the consensus seemed that the
wording was deceptive. The ordinance
plainly stipulates that any appeal from
the finding Of the Finance Committee
shall be made to the first regular meet
ing Of the City Council in Apr'C The
ono side contended that the City Coun-
ell meant either branch. while the other
took 1t to mean the Common Council
any appeal being q concurrent measure
& Probably an hour and half was spent
In hearing the arguments, after which tho
vote was taken, and the chair sustained
Clerk August was flooded with petitions
from complaining merchants, chiefly IL
qour men. Altogether. something over
two hundred were received and referred
As stated, this means a practical reopen
ing or the license tax arrangement and
more work for tho Finance 9C,ommittee
Without debate the Board concurred In /
the action Of the Council IN laying the
street car transfer recommendations on
the table. f5}g n a s5 AZ z, Z '55
POSTING BILLS.
An ordinance from the Committee on
Ordinances, Charter and Reform. making
1t unlawful for any person to post any
matter on any posts or on
the sidewalks of the city, and prohibiting
the distribution OF hand bills or dodgers
on the streets, was read By the clerk.
Mr.. Whlttet moved that 1t be referred
to the Committee on & Street, but Mr..
Minor opposed, stating the question had
been we'll considered. Flo said the meas
ure had been recommended for the pur-
pose OF improving the appearance ofsthe
streets. which are now Uttered with hand
bills, There was much general discuss
sion. but the motion Of Mr.. WhIttet was
lost 5ll Is },y @s
Final vote showed the ordinance had
been passed by vote of nine to seven.
1t follows: Ayes-CottreIl, Gilman, Cor
don, Gunst, Minor. satterfleld, Sheppard,
Wood-9 nov hi ri. IA
Noes-Adams, Bnhen, Mann. Washer,
Whittet Zimmerman, Turpin--7.
In the event the Common Council con-
cures In the action Of the board, the
sI'S'e' WIZ pe CAcdkS4 ~ ~ '4'tA'i bouIuS
that now grace the uptown districts of
Richmond, mainly affecting the theatres,
Regular bll-boards will remain Intact,
the owners Of these being required to
keep tho surrounding premises clean.
Ordinances from the Common Council
authorizing the construction OF many
sewers were concurred in.
An ordinance from the lower branch. re-
curing In the future that all water and
gas mains be placed in alleys In prefer
ence to tho streets wherever practicable.
was concurred init will become a law
Just as soon as the Mayor approves.
IN BAD CONDITION.
a resolution from Mr., zimmerman,
setting forth that the citizens of Sixth
Street west of Leigh are unduly annoyed
and Inconvenience by the present depor-
able condition of the thoroughfare. and
instructing the city engineer to push the
work Of grading as rapidly as possible,
For some time past Sixth street has
bene torn UP, and the recent rains have
created horrible state OF affairs, the
avenue being nearly impossible,
An ordinance from the Common coun-