Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-11
Aldermen Vote Unanimously
to Take Proceedings to
Supreme Court.
AMENDMENT TO METER
DEPOSIT ORDINANCE
N Money is Taken From Consumers
CT Light and Water as Advance
. Payment, Interest Must be Paid ~
Amount Of Bill Does Not Equal
Deposit.

BY unanimous vote the board OF
aldermen last night instructed City
| Attorney Massie TO prosecute an ap
/ peal from Judge Shackelford's decis'
| ion on the city's annexation motion.
| The boards resolution will go TO the
common council at its next meeting
and in all probability ii will be con
Cured in, as a considerable majority
CT the councilmen are strong in the
belief that at least part of the ter
ritory proposed 10 be annexed should
be taken into the city limits.
| Mr.. West brought this matter to the
attention of the board Just before the
regular meeting adjourned last night.
There was practically no discussion,
the members apparently being of one
mind on the subject. The rules were
suspended and Mr.. Vests resolution
adopted.
Meter Deposit Ordinance Amended.
| The aldermen held a busy regular
meeting with President Robinson and
Messrs West, Longan, Kellum and
Weston present.
1 VIC VI tuC o~t
&c. upon was the ordinance adopted
by the common council providing that
all gas electric light and water COM
panies requiring their patrons to
make deposits on meters shall pay
interest on the deposits. This ordi-
nance was passed after 1t had been
omended, at the suggestion of City
Attorney Massie, so as to provide that
where companies require an advance
payment on light or water, interest
shall be paid upon any amount depos-
tied in excess of the monthly bill.
Mr.. Braxton Protests.
| Mr.. l.. NJ. Braxton, counsel for the
Citizens Railway Light and Power
Company, asked for permission TO ad
dress the council in regard to this
measure. He made an earnest argu
ment against the ordinance, declaring
that It is illegal and unnecessary. He
insisted that the deposits required by
his company are demanded only from
new customers and that the deposit Is
nothing more nor less than an ad
vance payment on the consumer
bill. Authority was cited to prove
that the action of the company in re
Touring deposit as an advance pay
ment is not unreasonable. Mr. Brax
ton said that his company wanted
10 continue on friendly terms with
the council and with the public: that
it did not do now many things done
by other corporations similarly stu
atei. Continuing, he said that even
should the council be able 20 enforce
this ordinance the company could as
sess a meter rent charge against its
patrons and make back the money
paid out In interest many times over
Mr. kcllum spoke in favor of con
Touring in the action of the common
jcouncil. After some informal dis
cussioa, Mr.. Massie's suggestion was
Iadopted and the ordinance was passed
in amended form.
Mr.. Harwoods Resignation.
The clerk read communication
from Mayor Jones, enclosing the
resignation of S. J. Harwood as super
intendent of streets. The resignation
was dated April 30, and the mayor
and council were requested to accept
it TO take effect Immediately. In his
lletter 10 the mayor, Mr.. Harwood ex
planned that he had intended sendinG
IN his resignation on the aay 1t was
written. but that he had been asked
10 hold IL by several OF his friends
He explained further that he moi
started the construction of the ad
Icttion TO the East End fire house be
cause he knew he was going TO re
sign, and did not expect to receive
any salary from the city after April
President Robinson ruled that this
} resignation could be acted upon only
oy both branches OF the council In
JOINT session. as the superintendent OF
streets IS elected by the Joint ses
sion. City Engineer pearse was ask
cd whether or not he Is now perform
ing duties OF the superintendent ot
streets. ana when he replied in the
affirmative there wss no further dis
cusion Of the matter. u is probabi.
that joint meeting OF the two
branches TO act Upon the resignation
VIII be called in the near future.
No Ground For Action.
| The special committee appointed n
investigate Alderman's Ke.ium's com
plant that the CitIzens A. Marin.
bank had Illegally purchased cts
bonds. President ID. s. JoreS. Of the
common council. being a director O,
the bank. made a report. submitting
correspondence between fhe commit.
Tee ana Commonwealth Attorney &
= Berkeley. In substance. Captain
berkeley advised the committee shs,
no wrong against the commonwealth
TAD been committed By Mr.. Jones OF
ne Citizens 4 Marine bank. and fka.
tnere was any ground Tor action
sgsint Nr. Jones Or the bank land n.
Old not believe there was anyD s.ch