The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-31
Chairman Morton Submits Paper
at Special Session and It
Creates a Sensation.
NEEDS OF DEPARTMENT.
ARE PLAINLY POINTED OUT.

kllS ,A/SlSSlo 1lldl
Might Be Rene
died.
The lease of tho City Gas Works is
strongly recommended by the special
joint committee which, under the direc-
ition OF the Council has made a thorough
investigation of the works.
The only alternative In the judgment of
the committee, Is to practically rebuild
the works at a cost OF si94yO0o. of which
$4,000 would have to be available at
once.
meeting of the Council held last night to
consider the amendments of the Board
of Aldermen to the license tax ordinance
and created a profound sensation. The
filing of the report was a surprise. the
language and recommendations embodied
In the paper took councilmen and vis-.
tors almost off their feet.
What the Report Says.
These are the leading features of the
lengthy report;
Causes of trouble are insufficient
manufacturing capacity and holder
storage, lack of system II, maintain.
Ing mains, etc.
The management of the Works Is
bad and out of date.
Cost of labor is higher than In pri-
vate plants.
Low cost to city of distributing gas
has been at expense of consumers.
Men who regulate values which
control pressure do not know their
business.
No systematic record of metres is
kept.
Method of buying supplies not
economical.
Information obtained by records is
not made use Of.
Number of complaints in October
last were s46.
The apparatus is wornout and OBJ
soete.
There are but two courses for the
city to pursue-Iease the works out
or practically rebuild the entire works
at a cost OF $4,000 and $35400o of
that amount must be made avail
able at once.
A skilled gas engineer should be
temployed at once, who shall have
unlimited authority as to the en-
ploylng and dischargIne of men to
run the works
The committee thinks lease OF
the works Is the proper thing, and
believes lease can be effected that
Will pay the city more money than
the works are now earning, and at
the same time furnish better gas at
present cost and furnish the city and
charitable institutions free gas.
Recommends that the question of
lease be submitted to vote OF the
people at the June election.
Very few members of the Council knew
what was coming when Chairman Nor
ton, of the special Gas Investigation Com
mittee, which has been laboring over
the gas question for many months, arose
to submit the final report of the COM
mittee. Mr.. Morton r1erely made the
point of order that reports of special
committees We're in order at a called
meeting without suspension of rules,
and being sustained by the chair he
handed the document to Clerk August.
nit the final report of the special Gas
Committee
I Perfect quiet prevailed while tho report
was being read. The paper lies on tho
table until Il special session Is held to
consider it.
No Tax On Physicians.
The special session of tho Council WAS
held to consider tho Aldermen's amend
ments to tho tax ordinance. The most
important amendment was that exempt
ing the physicians of the city from all
license tax. There We're many physicians
present. DIR. j. Allison Hodges was their
spokesman, and presented their case very
strongly.
The Report Su,nbitted.
President Peters and Mr., Pollard
opposed concurrence In Tile Boards
amendment relieving the physicians of
the payment of license tax. Messrs. Allen.
Mills. Huber and Pollock spoke In favor
OF concurrence. The Council concurred
in all tho amendments, and the doctors
appauded vigorously.
The Council adopted resolutions TO fight
In tho Legislature Senator Caton's rail-
road tax bill and tile bar AssocIation's
court stenographer bill.
Report On the Gas Works.
The report ON tho gas works. which
was ordered to be printed, is as follows,
Richmond. Va, January Is, hpa.
To the Council OF the City of Richmond
Gentiemen,-, our special Joint CcnilSittea
on s,,I1 inSssiSstsa ,s q ,hs ssa Works rssrse.
Its findings and recommandati tions:
from the personal Investigation made by
your committee of the gas works OF this city
and those OF baltimore and Fbt,adeiphia. To-
geher with tho information brought our by
the report OF Mr., Bruce. The reply NJ Mr.
Knowles thereto, and Mr.. lirner's reIcipder,
sesntsnt and tho psrssaal tcs,,ngsy S,Ss y as.s IT,
Knowles aud certain employees Of tue light d.