The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-04
GZgA52gG0
-4Rz&s & aQZ5,9ZZzzzzzz2s~

announced that the opponc hts OF the
abattoir ordinance We're content with
what had been so well said by citizens
and property-owners. and SO the attorneys
representing did not consider that 1t was
necessary to say anything further. Law
ycrs were paid to talk but these citizens
were speaking for themselves and their
own protection. The opponents here rested
their case
Mr.. Charles Y. Meredith closed the
argument for the abattoir in an incisive
and powerful review of the question IN
all its phases. He began by twtting his
brother for bluffing, and slyly remarked
that his brother had an advantage of him
there. He attributed THE bluff of resting
the case without argument to the weak
ness of the cause OF the opponents. Mr..
Meredith then took up the ordinance and
analysed 1t. reiterated the safeguards, and
replied To the legal arguments presented.
His most striking utterance was the as
sertion with profound emphasis that Tie
men who would agree 10 saddle upon
people who were poor what they We're
themselves unwilling to accept. had little
Of. the spirit OF Christ in their compost
ton. This statement was In connection
with the Willingness of the opponents 10
have the abattor located elsewhere. Mr..
Meredith devoted some time to descrip-
ton OF the transmission of odors lie
closed with an impressive appeal for the
permission asked asserting that it had
been demonstrated that the opponents
were governed by their fears rather than
by their reason.
Preceding Mr.. Meredith and immedi-
diately following DR. Mcclure. MIR.
John p. Branch made charac-
teristic speech. in which he I'M
pressed aud amused his audience at will
by his pithy way of stating what lie had
to say and by digressions, which were
sometimes more effective than the line
of argument upon which he had started.
Mr.. Harry NJ Smith. Jr.. speaking as
citizen and property-owner and not as
lawyer made a ringing protest against
the abattor. citing many fears and dam
gers which influenced him and his asso-
ciates.
Mr. L. Mex. .Judkins secretary of the
Civic Improvement League. read a care
fuly-prepared argument against the abat-
toir, and appealed to the committee to
report 1t unfavorably.
Then 1t was that Mr. Meredith closed
the debate, as stated above, or rather
was supposed TO close 1t.
DR.. Levy Makes Statement.
Mr.. Meredith was subjected to
! catechisn by members of the commit
| tee, and somehow in the course Of it. DR..
statement of his position in the matter
He was neither opponent nor advocate,
and reported on the matter purely as
sanitary officer and not because ne
| favored or opposed abattoirs. He agreed
with DR.. Mcclure in discrediting the
value of expert testimony. In conclud-
ing and defending himself from certain
criticisms as he regarded them, by Mr..
Judkins, he INDUCED in some quiet, but
easily perceptibe satire Mt the expense
of the Civic Improvement League. rep
resented by Mr. Judlins
An informal question and answer pro-
cedure consumed nearly an hour more,
the committee proceeding as If it had no
special care when 1t concluded.
Somehow the questioning brought AIR
Frank w. Christian to his feet to answer
delays in enforcing the proposed ordi-
nance. Mr. Christian and Mr.. Charles
V, Meredith became involved in a COL
loquY as to the power of the abattolr
step their operation. and out OF M
grew II speech by Mr., Christian which
was, without disparagement OF others,
the speech of the evening. 1t was not an
argument but merely the legal opinion
of the speaker as to the right of pro-
ponents of the ordinance to delay ohed-
fence to the mandate of an inferior court
through the processes of appeal to the
Appellate Courts of the State. and finally
TO the Federal Supreme Court If p.
| In the nature of n Federal question could
he injected on which to hang an appeal.
He admitted that the appeal would In
all probability finally go against the ap.
| pellant in such a case, but contended
4 That there was the possibility of long
delay in the enforcement of a court
ORDER He cited the interstate COM
merce act as one means by which a
/ Federal question could be raised. not
| withstanding the waiver of appeal by
/ the advocates OF the ordinance Mr..
| Christian cited the telephone case where
/ In n delay of seven years had ensued
4 as n result of introducing Federal
| question finally decided adversely to the
| appellant.
The Vote Taken.
Another speaker who addressed the
committee in the very informal manner
in which 1t was proceeding was Mr.. John