Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-13

The adjourned meeting Of the Common
Council opened last night with tug of
war over the city's irrepressible little
vessel. the Thomas Cunningham which.
apparently. having nothing to do pend.
ing the construction Of the city's new
dredging outfit, certainly succeeds admir-
ably in keeping members of the James
River Improvement Committee and the
Council busy discussing the pros and
cons of keeping her and her crew on the
public pay roll to the tune of s3l5 per
month.
The ordinance authorizing the commit
tee to charter her, while otherwise idle.
reported by the James River Improve
ment Committee occupied nearly an hour
Of Councils time last night. the drbate
branching off principally on the question
Of Keeping her in commission.
President Bloomherg, resigned the chair
temporarily to Councilman Spence in or
der to reopen the fight on the tug un-
successfully made by him in the commit
tee on the floor of the Council.
The tug had just been overhauled and
painted up at considerable expense and
he did not see why she should be hired
out for few days without profit to the
city. Better lay her up. 1t was poor
business for the city hiring its tug In
competition with private individuals who
owned tugs for the purpose of hire.
Mr.. Crenshaw said those We hired her
to might give US some points on the pro-
per management.
I'VE would not learn retorted Mr..
Bloomberg.
Mr.. Curtis said in his opinion II she
was chartered 1t would not result in a
dollars revenue TO the city.
Mr.. Morton thought it was bold busi-
ness proposition. If it cost the city money
to keep her in commission. and resulted
in no revenue, she ought to be put out OF
commission.
Mr.. Pollock advocated keeping her in
commission. He said she would be Of
use in the cases of an ice gorge, fires. or
freshets.
Mr.. Curtis said he had been on the
river thirty-fve years. and he never knew
the tug to break through an ice gorge in
the river. He did not see what use she
would be in freshet, and when the fire
at the Richmond Chemical Works oc-
CURED the other night Captain Cunning
ham did not get to it until o'clock in the
morning. and the tug proved of no use.
He did not think the city should main
tain the tug for the protection Of private
property.
After some further discussion the ques-
tion came back to the ordinance author
izing the tug to be chartered. and it was
adopted. the Council. like the committee,
seeming disposed to stand by the tug,
with or without reason.
Striking nj yadics, Hats.
The next, subject that produced any
considerable heat was an ordinance Of
fered by Councilman Allen, striking at
the ileadgear Of ladies worn in thea tres.
Mr.. Pollock quickly called for sus-
pension of the rules. in ordel for Coun-
ell to put the stamp of disapproval iu..on
this ungallant measure at once and for
ever. Our ladies'" he said. did not need
q law to make them take off their heats"
But the patron Of the ordinance asked
that it be referred to the Committee on
Ordinances, etc, and it took this course.
The ordinance is as follows:
whereas. there are numbers OF women
in the city-patrons Of the theatres-who
insist on wearing their hats or bonnets
IN the play-houses during the hours In
which the performance is in progress
much to the discomforture Of other pa
irons Of the theatre: and. whereas, the
removal of hats in the theatres of the
city of Richmond is optional with the
women, therefore
"Be 1t ordained by the Council of the
City of Richmond
II That il shall be unlawful for any
person to keep their hats on in any the-
atre or other place Of amusement in the
city, other than under the canvas OF
circus tent, during the progress Of any
play or exhibition.
50 That no theatre proprietor
or manager shall allow any lady or
nan. boy. or girl, to wear their hats in
their theatres or halls. and such proprie-
tor or manager shall be held equally ac-S
.ountable and a1nenable to the law as
the person wearing the hat or bonnet
..3. That a violation of this ordinance
shall be punishable by fine Of not less
than So nor more than s.
Electric Light Plant.
a resolution was adopted instructing
the Committee on Electricity to examine
into the cost of installing an electric,
light plant in the City Hall. and report
an estimate Of the cost as soon as prac-
,icab!e.
Mr.. H c. Glenn offered an ordinance
.epealing the ordinance requiring the
Chief Of Police to instruct his men to
watch for violations OF the street-railway
schedules. He said the ordinance had been
presented in accordance with the wishes
of the department because it was waste
OF time of the members of the force to
REQUIRE them to stand on corners for an
hour at the time to look out for such VI
diations to the neglect Of more important
iuties. The ordinance was referred to the
p