The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-18
Members Finally Side
Step Vote on Double
Overhead Trolley.
SENT BACK TO
SUBCOM MITTEE
Tilibustering Tactics Kept Ur
Until After Midnight, satter-
field Threatening to Resign.
Scrappy and Wrangling
Scenes Behind Closed
Doors.


In stormy executive session last
ing from s o'clock last night until
1890 o'clock this morning. the coun-
ell Joint Committee on Water and
Electricity side.steppcd the Anal vote
on the question rs to whether or not
the Virginia Passenger and Power
Company should be required to In
stall double overhead trolley sys-
tenn. After dozen motions to i'd
5ourn were lost on roll-call. the whole
matter was referred to subcommit-
tee.
Members declined to give any de-
tailed account OF what happened, al
though 1t is known that Alderman
Rennolds offered q substitute, look
the city's claim for damages against
the street car companies. and declar-
ing that It was inexpedient to force
the latter to put In the system, which
the companies allege will cost $780,
900. and which, according to the city's
experts, will cost not more than 3225.-
600.
Councilman David Meade White
moved to strike out the preamble OF
the Rennolds resolution as to the mex
pediency. the understanding being that
Member Thrcatena to Quit
Between 1870 o'clock and midnight
the storm broke. Chairman Mann beat
dents into the table with his gaveI,
which was constantly rattling for or
der and parliamentary procedure. AT
11:3b there was roll call on the ques-
tion OF adjournment It was killed,
same question was put to the commit
tee again. to be voted down as rapidly
as the names could be sung out by tn Q
clerk.
Something was said which riled AL
derman Satter6eld. He denounced the
methods OF certain members In scatt-
ing tones, declaring that he would re-
sign from the committee II they We're
repeated. The voice OF Alderman Rem
nolds could be heard, demanding proper
consideration OF the matters before the
committee.
Councilman Morgan Mills shouted
that never in his entire experience had
he seen a committee so anxious to
shove upon a few members a question
years. and which ought to and could
be promptly settled.
When one member was excused
about 10 o'clock, he said on leaving
that the meeting would probably be
over in ten minutes. An hour later
another member said 1t would keep
going an hour longer. City Attorney
Pollard went home at 1880 o'clock.
Just at the moment when the corrluors
of the City Hall resounded with the
oratorical efforts and biting remarks
of those who had strong ideas one
way or the other. There were con-
stant calls for order: there were nu-
1nerous demands for personal privi-
1ege remarks. Chairman Mann was
apparently disguised at the filibuster-
ing TACTICS. and he said so. for he gem
orally speaks out in meeting.
Alderman Dabney's strong voice
drifted to the street. Just how he
stood was not apparent. but he was
evidently not on the voting end with
Alderman Satterfeld.
Chairman Mann DisKusted.
The sergeant-at-arms was sent out
Tor the rules OF the Council, but that
did not act in the nature OF a soothing
syrup. When everybody was weary
the ordinance recommended by the Wa
ter Committee and passed by the Com
mon Council was dumped. Chairman
Mann said he did not know when the
seem to care, for he has been dealing
with the problem OF electrolysis for
eight years. The ordinance was rc-
ferred to the Joint committee by the
Board of Aldermen, but It will be some
time before that body gets grip on
1t again.
Superintendent Boiling. OF the Water
Department.. found out eight or ten
years ago that the wasted current from
the street car wires was destroying the
water pipes.
lie has made deep study OF the
problem, has consulted some Of the
most experienced engineers In the
country. has visited many cities and
has explained fully to the commits
tee the, Importance of protecting the
city's property.
Suits for damages amounting to
Sl7O000 were instituted, but the.court
required the city to show how the
damage spread; thmtf is to say, how
much was caused by the Richmond
Passenger and Power Company, and
Company. This, 1t appears, is an inn
possibility. The two concerns main
tained al separate organization, oper-
ating under different charters. but the
expense. 1t is explained. will fall upon
the Virginia Passenger and Power
Company, which is resisting the effort
to demand the double overhead system.
1T was announced last night that
this company had agreed to settle the
claim OF the city blythe payment OF
+ $4,000 for damages heretofore caused,
with the provision that this double
overhead arrangement shall not be
required by ordinance. M
why Secret sessionf
Just why the joint committee held
n secret meeting was not made clear,
hut from what happened 1t was clear
that the members preferred that to the
publication in detail OF the stormy
scenes. The factions, however, are
very far apart,
Recover stolen Goods,
James Johnson and George Turner we've
arrested last night by Detectiva-S Sergeant
Gibson and Policemen Folkes and Wiley,
charged With being susplc cous chara cters