The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-21
mo TRAFFIC LAW
BY POLICE BOARD.
Ordinance Committee Rejects
Measure on Strength OF City
Attorneys Opinion.
COUNCIL is THE LAWMAKER
Request for an Increased Force
acknowledgements
of Damages.

/
Of Damages.
Advised by City Attorney Pollard
that 1t was extremely doubtful wheth-
err the Council had the power to dele-
gate to the Board of Police Comihis-
sioners the right to make regulations
1 in control of traffic which carried pen
alties, the Council Committee on orai.
nance, Charter and Reform last nlsht
4 recommended for rejection an ordl-
| nance proposed by the Police Board
intended to systematic all street trai-
! tic. Mr.. Pollard said he had serious
| doubts as to the validity of the oral
nance. the Council being the only poaE
which could make laws or impose pen
alttes. explaining that 1t could dele-
gate ministerial or executive fuhctlohs'
but not those of a legislative charac-
ter. He offered to defend the ordi-
nance in the courts If the Council sees
tit to adopt it. but was frank to say
that he did not believe 1t would stand
a test
Several members of the Police Board
explained the need for additional men
on the police force which now numbers
1873. Offering an ordinance increasing
the number by twenty-five men. Mr..
Thomas, of the board explained that
at present there were but forty-four
men on duty in the entire city at night
and to illustrate the size of the beats,
explained that one officer now had to
cover all of the city lying north of
Broad Street. between seventh and
Eighteenth, to the corporate limits.
the adjoining beat being all of the
city north of Broad Street from
Eighteenth to Thirtyfourth Street
The committee debated the matter
later in executive session, and finally
referred 1t to subcommittee consist
ing of Messrs. Mitchell, Lumsden and
Moore.
Assessment of Damages.
City Attorney Pollard appeared in
support of the ordinance creating the
office of Assessor of Damages, explain
ing that large street Improvement is
being held up by the necessity of con-
forming to State laws, which require
such an assessment in advance of grad
ing streets. 1t was explained that at
ter the first rush the work will not
take all of mans time-in fact, but
few days in the month-and the COM
pensation Is fixed al $500 year. A
motion to make 1t $1,000 a year was
rejected after much debate, and the
for adoption.
Chairman II. R. Pollard, of the FL
nance Committee. appeared in support
of the ordinance reducing the commits J
sions of the Collector of City Taxes
from IS to Is of i per cent, explain
ing that the office paid last year in ex-
cess of $4,000, and that, under the
new assessment, it would pay more
than $4,000, which he held to be ex-
cessive. Further discussion was cut off
by motion to table until Collector
Cunningham can be present.
Amend Building Code.
An amendment to the Building Code
was recommended for adoption allow
Ing the erection in the section north
of Cary Street and west of Gilmer of
four family tenements on cross streets
without complying with regulations
which otherwise affect apartment
houses. The committee recommended
for rejection a second amendment to
the Building Code prohibiting the
erection or repair of any dwelling
fronting on an alley less than twenty
five feet in width.
The ordinance creating the position
OF second assistant superintendent OF
the water Department at a salary of
Si'ouO year was returned to the
Water Committee without recommen-
The ordinance redistrictine the city
into school districts after being amend
ed SO as to include South Richmond in
the First District, was recommended
for adoption.
Chairman Batkins, Of the Brounds
and Buildings Committee, urged action
on the ordinance creating the position
OF Keeper Of Joseph Bryan Park, and
protested against the evident naction
OF the city in improving that property,
action q g M rrt-
t ttoh r having yet been recommended by
such an officer could, be paid.
oppOses Executive Sessions.
MI Gunst led vigorous fight
against the. policy Of the committee
In considering salary matters in eX-
ecutive session, claiming that he want
ed al city business to be open to
as there We're not as many members
present as when the rule of the COM
mlttee was adopted, but the later ex-
eecutlVe session was not stricly en-
for 70 abortion an increase in the pay
or the custodian Of the City Audito-
rum from $500 to 5000 per year; also
an ordinance to receive from the
Hustings Court the property and rights
Of the James River Free Bridge Com
pany and turn the bridge over to the
control of the City Engineer and the
street Committee as public thor
ouSHlaTe. An ordinance increasing the
salary of the bookkeeper and clerk
IN the office of the City Engineer from
$3.50 to $500 was amended to read
$1,000, after 1t became known that
the official also draws salary as clerk
OF the Committee on Streets. An orr
dinance providing the position Of male
nurse at the City Jail at a salary of
$500 was referred to a subcommittee
consisting of Messrs. Vonderlehr. Pol
lock and Mitchell.
Continue Annexed Territory Committee.
An ordinance affecting street cars
at transfer points was tabled to find
whether the point was not fully COW
cred in existing laws. The ordinance
increasing the pay Of the market
clerks to $1,000 each was returned
without recommendation to go first
to the Market Committee. The or
dinance to abolish the Committee on
Apportonment Of Funds of the Annex
ed Territory, and for the use of the
residue Of the fund. said to be about
10000, on West Main Street was rec
commended for rejection, it being held
that 1t was necessary for the COM
mittee to reapportion the fund until
exhausted. The salary Of the clerk
to the Auditor was recommended to
be increased from $1,000 to $500, and
Of two office clerks from 500 to 500
per month each.