The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-22
|9AT over. LIGHT
PLANT ORDINANCE
COMES TONIGHT
Effort May Be Made to Pass
Measure Over the Mayors
Veto; Repaving of
Main Street.

At the city Hall this week interest
centres in the special meeting of the
Common Council called for tonight,
TO receive and act upon the message
OF the Mayor votoing the electric plant
bond ordinance.
Though tile Mayor has not made
public the text of his message, he has
prepared and published substitute
ordinance which meets with his views
and which he will seek to have intro
duccd in lieu of the measure vetoed
Comparison of the two papers clearly
indicates the position of Captain Nc
Carthy, who strongly favors special
bonds charged against the plant
rather than an addition to the gem
eral bonded debt of the city, now dan
gerously near the limit. In order to
carry out the Mayors suggestion and
have these special bonds outside the
bond limit, it would he necessary to
have their issuance ordered in a popu-
lar election, and in the substitute or
dinance it is suggested that the vote
be taken on July 18th. Even If the
revised measure passes the Council 1t
cannot be acted on by the Board
of Aldermen. except under suspension
of the rules, before Tuesday night
July 14th. which would not leave time
for arousng interest among the peo-
pie in bond issue election.
striking Differences.
Striking differences between the
Mayors substitute and the original
ordinance are found in the text, the
new measure aiming to be much more
explicit in it's details. The original
ordinance provided for the issuance
of s350.000 of bonds, of which amount
S250.000 was to be expended under
direction of the Committee on Elec-
tricity, in building dams forebays,
End the electric light and power plant
on the site of the Old Pump House, and
for a system of poles. wires and street
lamps throughout the city. The 9TH
er 100000 was to constitute n sepa-
rate fund to be expended under the
direction of the Committee on Water
for pumping machinery, with house
to cover same. adjoining the New
Pump House, for the necessary mains
to carry the pumped water from the
pump house to the New Reservoir, and
for the electric cable to convey the
power from one plant to lie other.
In order to avoid this seeming con-
fusion and the danger OF having the
account drawn on by different COM
mittees, the Mayor proposes in his
substitute ordinance that the work
shall be done under the direction of a
special joint committee from the Coun-
ell, composed of three members of the
Committee on Electricity and three
members of the Committee on Water,
and one other member of the Council
The Mayor in his ordinance dominates
the following special committee: Rob
ert G. Rennolds, e. Douglas Richard
al,
e. A. Barber Jr. T. Francis Green
and ". j. Gilman.
May Pass II, Anyhow
Among those members of Council not
in the Mayors confidence, there is a
decided disposition to pass the original
measure as prepared by the Finance
Committee over the veto. Especially
is this view taken by those who fear
that further delay Will Kill the whole
proposition, as it cannot be denied that
pressure is being brought to bear to
delay Indefinitely the erection of the
plant. The Mayor, however has sue-
sested TO friends in the Council his
Willingness to take the floor tonight
IL invited, TO explain the advantages of
his ordinance over the measure recon-
mended by the Finance COMMITTEES
In the call for the Council meeting is
also included the proposition to repave
Main Street, from Seventh to Twelfth,
With the present stone blocks relaid
in concrete. at the same time the
street car compenp is relaying its rails
on that portion of the street.
Other Meetings. :.
Following the Council session the
Committee on Grounds and Buildings
will meet TO take up the report of a
subcommittee on Blues Armory plans
The subcommittee, with the Engineer
Building Inspector and commandant of
the H'ues. is unanimous in it's first
choice--the plans submitted by Messrs
Averlll * Hall, of Washington-but
there IS said to be one dissenting voice
as TO the winners of the second and
third prizes. II has been suggested
that the outside elevations of the prin-
cipal plans be opened and placed on
exhibition in the Council chamber be.
fore The committee meets
The Committee on Electricity viii
meet on Tuesday night to take up the
election OF Inspector of electricity
There 4 considerable opposition TO tn,
re-electon of the present inspector
Mr.. William H Minor, and there are
number of applicants for the posi-.
ton.