The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-13
No Redress When Com
planning Of Telephone
Service, Says Peters.
GAVE FRANCHISE;
NOW. STAND IT
Council Votes to Assume Judg-
mcnt Against Taliafcrro-O Ordi-
nance to Publish Milk
Scores Sent Back-Af-
ter Tardy Com
mittees.

mittees.
pirate the sum OF 500 to investigate
the service provided by the Southern
Bell Telephone and Telegraph Com.
papy, President Peters, at the meeting
OF the Common Council last night, left
the chair to condemn former Council
for granting to corporation an en-.
elusive franchise, under which II has
| run roughshop" over the peoSte OF
Richmond.
II am opposed he declared, "to
spending one dollar to find out II We
are getting the proper service. when
every subscriber knows that he is not
The city should not have granted any
such franchise. Our hands are tied, and
we must take what we can get. The
people gave the company exclusive
rights here, and the people must take
their medicine
Time to Call Halt.
Continuing, President Peters re-
minded his colleagues that he had
fought the franchise and that he had
been consistent. and incidentally re-
marked that 1t was time to call a halt
Il in the expenditure of public funds.
mittee on Electricity. which Is to con-
duct the Investigation. to have a
stenographer. III we can give relief.
to the public for that amount We should
do IT. he said. The Bell Company IS
not complying with franchise, which
should never have been granted. and
the service here would not be toler-
ated in a fourth-rate city
The resolution to Investigate was
occo3 cotnrp{ffaa a having "a
matter in charge will call witnesses.
including Alderman Bennett. Who
threw the first stone.
Some Vaudeville Features.
The meeting last night, the third
held this month, was long and tedious,
with long drawn out debate over ques-
tions which were settled later by al
most solid vote. AT times there was
/ a dash Of Vaudeville, SO mGch OF 1t, in
fact, that a member suggested ti1nt
tho lower branch might be ruled In
contempt by, Justice Gru.chileld for
trying to steal his record. President
Peters had no trouble with the noise
producers and he checked tho rag
time efforts which were really the re-
freshing spots Of the night. Before
llproceedinE with the calendar the presi-
dent read the rules, which require that
all lf committees shall report on every
ordinance or resolution at the next
meeting or ask for Indulgence. This
rule. however, has been q dead letter
though 1t was the cause of q recent
attack on the FiEance Committee TOR
It's delay in returning important legis-
lation.
shows Need of II Board.
On two occasions during the. evening
tho advocates of the Board OF Munich
lpal Control proposition found argu-
l.ment in support of that government
plan. The request from the Board OF
Health to place banner at Eroad and
Seventh Streets to advertise the tuber-
l5culosis exhibit had to be presented IN
| the shape OF a resolution. to be passed
/ by both branches ofyConnctl. The pett-i
Iition from pawnbroker to place three
.gjlded balls on an idle lamp post in
front of his shop was discussed for
\ ltwenty-two minutes by the watch. and
| then referred. to the Committee on
Light, the lalnp-post custodian. The
matter came fron1the Committee on
I Streets, and II the committees and the
two branches OF Council indorse 1t the
1 pawnbroker will secure his advertis-
ling Sign by special ordinance
Fight Over Judgment.
The recommendation from the Ri
nance Committee that the city return
Ito Assistant City Engineer Taliaferro
1 $50, that being the amount of q judg-
Iment against. him In the Law ana
Equity Court. was approved by a vote
Eofsa4 to l ! but only after a thirty-flve-5
minute discussion. The city. Colonel
\ Cntshaw and Mr.. Taliaferro were sued
4 for making a blunder in a street grade.
/ The jury put it up to Mr.. Taliaferro
1 The Supreme Court sustained the lower
/ court, and Council was asked to make
/ good. Mr.. David Meade White was the
single member who opposed this. Mr.
4 White and Mr.. Cary argued the case
at great length assisted by Alr. Don
stI4eary and some others. Mr.. Cannon
/ cut in toward the close with the state
lnent that II the city refused to reim-
Eburse Mr.. Taliaferro forEan honest mis-
take, IT should likewise hold every otti-
Icial responsible where the city is tile
/ loser. Az the conclusion&of the argu-
ment the case went to thecouncillnanic
Jury. and Mr.. Taliaferro received good
news for Christmas. ss
Two Health Propositions.
Two matters In which the Board yi
4 Health was active added greatly to
lIlthe length OF the session. The recon,
A nenda ton OF the Street tCommittee{that
la single II sewer conllectionsE on Sout.
i Laurel Street was opposed by Chief
4 Health officer Levy The effect, nc
4 said. would &nullify the present ordill-
5I3ance. Finally tie question was recorn-
4 lmitted. n ss 81 " 3ts
The ORDINANCE orig lnatlp 8 In the
i Board Of 4 Health pr6pid ing that an
milk scores be- published, ca me from
| tho Comn,lt ttee on Oral nance. Charta,
4 and he form with q sfaIvorl lie report
A Mr.. Unlaut,s request that y he sen,
5Eback started "a red ftot tight M yncl
|contending that this meant It's daatI
on IND eftniteI delay, nd tlle possible
4 deatllss ofS people, a. st n te!neIit Which
4 drought a smile from ths q ini IN del elega-
Il ton on the Council GhArnbe bleach
Flers, Mr. Jmlanr Srna,l resol lllt Ions dopt;
et by the oairynie,i - ION ask,
4 Ing that they no heard n hS, tlle olll.
I9mittee. s t,s a
4 l.ss III this poiut Mi, rbyr dad ito
ii say at hat With I lie lncl ettsstd eos ol
u Ifoodstutf ,ls sWns surprt sasl hat tllS
.|prlcsg { ami lk had not bee n i,eea "
il si0 cents a gal lon l y ear go,s q nd tlln!
v thers mi rlcyessae ~
a iC,nratinuedso on III TaRe,l HIM