Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-12
Majority Allows Vote to be Taken
and Necessary "Ages"
are Lacking.
Mr.. READ MAKES STRIKING SPEECH
Member From the Fourth Ward Ex-
plains and Defends Attitude He and
His Colleague Occupied In connee-
ton With Measure-capt. Weston
Has New plan.

Following a logical and strikingly
forceful statement by Mr.. Read III
explanation and defense of the at
titude of the members from the Sec
ond. Third and Fourth wards in con-
rection with the measure, the much
discussed crematory fund division or
ainance died before the board OF al
ermen last night. motion TO pass
il over the mayors veto falling TO re-
ceive the necessary tbree-fourths ar
firmative VOC.
Since Alderman Weston, OF the
Second ward, recently announced his
intention OF voting to sustain Mayor
Jones' veto. IL had been known that
there was no possibility OF carrying
The measure through. Hence the ma
iority made no effort TO postpone a
vote last night, although DR.. Hos
kins' resignation had been accepted
and only Eve of the required six votes
could have been mustered even had
Captain Weston stood firm.
Mr.. Read moved tina. the mayors
veto be taken from the table and act
ed upon. and later moved that the
measure be passed Notwithstanding
the veto Speaking to his motion,
Mr.. Read said that he was sick OF
this senseless twaddle about grab
and conspiracy, and proceeded TO
discuss the subject at considerable
length. He declared that ne, with
otter members, believing that the
First ward had had more than its
share of the paving in the past. and
tina, for this reason they had voted
TO expend this crematory money in
other parts of the city. This was done
eonscientiously. he said and he be-
lieyed the members from the First
ward were fair enough TO grant their
colleague the right of holding diff
ferent opinion from them. Concluding
his speech. which apparently Impress
ed every one present. not excluding
the members from the First ward. Mr..
Read expressed the belief that 95 per
cent. of the voting population of the
city concurs with him In the opinion
that this crematory money should be
spent in other parts of the city rather
than in the Fat ward.
Mr.. Kellum spoke briefly in support
of Mr. Reads motion, referring par
tieularly 20 the taxes paid In his, the
Second ward.
Mr.. Nelms Replies.
Mr.. helms. of the First ward, re-
piled briefly to Mr.. Read. He said
that everybody had right to his own
opinion. and that in his opinion some
of the crematory money should be
spent In the First ward He went on
to saw that he was not asked in the
first place to vote for the division or
~. sa4A cd NIL
went ahead and passed the ordinance.
and then laughed at the First ward
members.
Mr.. West called attention TO the
fact that Mayor Jones. who vetoed the
ordinance. voted when a member oil
the heard of aldermen TO spend a
portion OF the crematory fund for
improvements in the Thi-d ward.
When .. vote was taken Messrs.
Read, Kellum ana West and DR.. Lon
can voted aye" and President Rob-
inson and Messrs. helms and Weston
voted nav" This killed the measure.
as six affirmative votes were required
10 pass II.
Capt. Weston Has New Plan.
later in the evening Captain wes-
ton introduced a resolution proyid.
ing that $500 Of the crematory fund.
which amounts to abo1t $4,000. shall
be spent in the First ward for street
improvements. and that the remainder
shall be divided equally between the
Second. Third and Fourth wards. The
captain wanted this acted upon un-
der a suspension Of the rules. but
was unable to ret seco~d 20 his
motion. and the measure was referred
TO the highways and sewers commit
tee
The members from the Frs: ward,
after the meeting. seemed to be as
much opposed 10 this proposed owls
ion as they were to the original or
dinance.