The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-26
BURGLAR ALARM /
REJECTED AGAIN
Ordinance Committee Refused to
Grant Franchise After
Long Fight.
BUILDING CODE is ADOPTED
Recommends That Assistant
Water Superintendent Be
Dropped from Roll.

Adopting the building code as rec
commended by commission OF archl-
tects and engineers with onlyga few
minor verbal amendments. and reject
ing the franchise ordinance for n bur-
glar alarm system. the Council Com
nittee on Ordinance. Charter and RE-
form cleared two big docket PROPOSE
tions last night The code met with
no opposition in the committee. mem
bers expressing in the highest terms
their appreciation OF the work OF the
commission, which has had 1t in prep
aration.
Fight on burglar 4Alnrn,.
The ordinance granting a franchise
to the Automatic Burglar Alarm Com
pany. OF Maine, to operate burglar
alarm and fire protection system. was
for rejection, only two
members supporting 1t. Mr.. i. w.
Miner again appeared In support OF
the ordinance, and vehemently denied
that the concern was controlled by the
Western Union Telegraph Company.
city Electrician Thompson explained
the working Of such system as was
proposed. and said that the fire depart
ment would welcome any assistance In
It's signal service which would enable
IT to locate fires promptly. In his re-
marks Mr. Thompson explained the re-
lations of the two telegraph companies
to the city, saying that in addition to
their main lines, each operates a sys-
TEN of messenger ctll wires and a time
clock service. Neither company had
put these wires underground, the Pos
tai having complied with the ordinance
only SO far as its main wires are con-
cerned. He said he had been led to
believe that the Western Union or some
allied company operating the messen-
ger and alarm service was interested
in the franchise.
Denies Western Union Ownership.
Mr. Miner denied such connection,
branding the published statements as
entirely false. Mr.. Elicit expressed
the view that IL the Western Union
Company was not associated with the
franchise, 1t would perhaps acquire a
control when the franchise was issued.
Later, In executive session. the com-
nittee concluded to recommend the
rejection of the franchise.
Two companion ordinances regulat-
ing plumbing were recommended, the
first amending the present law to re-
quire master plumbers to give bond in
the sum of $4,000 for faithful service,
and prescribing certain grades of ma
terial to be used, and the second. rec
commended by the Board of Health. reg
ulating the water and sewer connec-
tons of houses on sewer lines In new
territory.
An ordinance regulating the distri-
button of circulars, samples. etc. was
recommended to the Council, providing
that literature must be slipped under
the door or left In the vestibule, so as
not to blow on the streets.
An ordinance regulating riding, drfv-
ing and automobiling on certain roads
in William Byrd Park on Sundays and
holidays, between the hours of and
Z o'clock. was recommended.
Mr.. Elicit secured the approval OF
an ordinance appropriating $1,000 for
the treatment Of confirmed drunkards
committed to the city Jail.
Changing Water Salaries.
The fight of the evening came or
the ordinance fixing the salary OF the
superintendent and assistant superin-
tendent of the water department. II
provided that the salary of the super.
intendent, now $4,000, be reduced tt
$500. and the salary of the assistant
row $3.50. be made $500 The com
mittee rejected this. and prepared {
substitute ordinance, which was recon-
| mended to the Council providing tina
the superintendent salary remain a!
at present and the position of assist
ant be abolished. It was pointed on
that the position of assistant has bee,
vacant for five months. and that there
was no apparent necessity for the Of
| flee. Singularly. the Water Commit
! tee, sitting In another room, postponed
employees until the July meeting.