Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-02
'COunCiImen on Warpath
Against Manager Butler.
DISCUSSION IS POSTPONED
Matter of Alleged inadequate Car
Service Laid over to Next Meet.
ing--City Engineer Scoops Re
trenchment Committee.

City Engineer r. +. Pearse has
"scooped" the councils retrench'
ment committee AT its first sitting
two weeks ago, the retrenchment com
mittee recommended that two labor
ers be dropped from the sewer de-
rartment next year. and last night
MIR. Pearse reported to the council
committee on highways and sewers
that he already has dropped one Of
the laborers in question. This means
a saving OF something like $3.50 for
this department for the remainder OF
the present fiscal year.
The city engineer also reported to
the committee that the pay roll OF
the street department is far exceeding
the appropriation for that purpose
and that more money is necessary to
carry the department for the rest OF
the fiscal year. The committee de-
cided to draw from the pay roll OF
the sewer department and from the
incidental fund of the department TO
meet the street department pay roll.
Sewer Giving Trouble.
The committee on highways and
sewers held a lengthy and busy SEES
sion last night. The city engineer
was given authority to cut into the
trunk sewer line on Twenty-fiftb
street between West and Washing
ton avenues to ascertain the trouble
with the sewer. The main pipe Is
said to be partially stopped up, either
by the caving of one section of the
piping or the partial stopping up OF
the sewer.
BY unanimous vote, the commit
tee recommended that the bid of the
Powell Trust Company, at 500 for
connecting the city sewer system with
the Ivyton sewer system be accepted.
The committee also recommended an
appropriation of $3.50 TO make the
necessary connections. The law re-
quireS that before any new sewer
main shall be laid at least ten con
nections must be secured and already
this number has been secured for the
Ivyton connection and the work will
have to be done.
Wants to "Cuss Him Out"
The matter of the alleged made
Cuate car service of the street rail
way system. which was referred to
this committee at the last meeting of
the council, was laid over by motion
OF Mr. West. He stated that he de-
sired to get General Manager w. w.
). Butler before the committee to
give him a good "cussing out" about
the service. w. G. Harris also ex-
pressed a keen desire to go into this
matter when the committee could de-
vote an entire eyning to it.
City Engineer Pearse was given au-
tnority to bring the unpaved side
walks on Chestnut avenue to grade.
Some sections of this sidewalk, the
engineer reported, are as much as
eighteen inches above grade.
On motion of Mr.. West, the city
engineer was directed to take the
machinery out of the old sewer pump
house and give it a general overhaul
ing and cleaning Mr. Pearse favored
selling the machinery, but Mr.. West
opposed any such action.
Laid Over Again.
The matter of settling with Con-
tractor J. w. Davis for the yitrified
brick paving and the purchase of the
bricks which Mr.. Davis has left on
hand was again laid over. Mr.. West
refused point blank to act on the
matter unless and until he was told
by the city attorney that the council
must pay the balance due Mr.. Davis
aud purchase the bricks that were
left over.
The committee directed Mr. Pearse
to advertise for bids on two cars of
sewer pipe which is needed for GER
tain improvements and repairs to the
hssNrf =
a pump for use in cleaning out the
sewers was laid over until a future
meeting.
Other Committees.
The. health and almshouse and poor
COMMITTEES also had brief sessions last
night. each transacting considerable
routine business. At the meeting of
the health committee. Supcrinten-
dent of Garbage Harris brought up
the matter OF the keeper Of the
stables maintaining a henery at the
city stables. He said that there had
been considerable criticism from the
public about the matter and he want
cd the committee to take coSnizance
of II. After hearing his statement.
the committee voted TO allow the
chickens 10 remain AZ the stables.
A. the meeting OF the almsbOuse
and poor committee. City Physician
]. W. Ayler brought up the matter Of
building a room on the aimshouse
property to take care OF paupcr con
sumptives. but the committee took
no action. Dr. Aylcr reported that he
had one consumptiyc case on his
hands that he knew not what 70 do
with. The patient has been kept by
q negro family on Warwick avenue.
but now the family demands that the
patient be removed and Dr. Ayier has
no place 10 put her.
Supf. Wright. Of the slrnshouse.
farncd in s. received from The sale
II eggs from the ~hennery- al the
simshousc. the total cost Of main
.aininc the almshouse during the