The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-04
Commissioners Declare
That Present Force.
IsNot Adequate.
GROW TIL OF CITY
DEMANDS INCREASE

= ~
to Report Plan for Reliev-
ing Congestion at
City Jail.
Twenty-Five additional patrolrnen
were asked for by the Board of Police
in q communication
presented to the Common Council last
night, in which 1t was represented that
Richmond As without adequate police
protection. The paper was referred
to the Finance Committee for consitl-
Grafton in connection with the budget
for tho year 1910.
The board reported that the present
force Is doing it's full duty, hit that
owing to the greatly enlarged area
and population, and the changed con-
ditions of city life. 1T Is impossible
for the small number OF. men now ar,
the force to furnish that measure III
protection to life and property to which
tax payers and residents are entitled.
Under the order OF the Henrico Circuit
Court Tor the annexation of OUTLYING
territory In 1906 provision was made
for policing the new area wifi, ter,
mounted men. Much of that area is
now built up. requiring the assigns
ment OF constantly increasing num-
per OF men and the continual enlarge
ment of tho size of the beats
Many New Demands.
street traffic is represented as max.
ing new demands on the work of the
depa rtment, Congestcd streets have
to be kept clear by the use of mountc,1
men, and patrolmen have to be assisn-
ed constantly to guard pedestrians at
busy corners.
congestion about theatres and p1lh-
lie places. and other measures for Pfc
serving the safety of the public which
have accumulated with the growth OF
the city, make 1t necessary in the opfrl-5
ion of the Board of Police comnis-s
sioners that the force be augmented nv
twenty-five patrolmen. The present
force consists OF 125 men, made un
as follows: One chief. three office en,-
ployes. six detectives. two signal ope-
rators, two captains, six desk SER
geants, eight street sergeants, seven
ty-one patrolmen. ten mounted men
and sixteen bicycle officers.
Under suspension of the rules. Mr..
Batktns, OF the Grounds and Buildings
Committee, secured the adoption by
the Council of a deed prepared by the
City Attorney transferring to the city
Cl'5 oOluil VI AhI ebcllt Bryan and
sons 262 6-10 acres, including YounE,s
Pond, or Rosewood" to be used as a
public park In perpetuity In memory OF
Joseph Bryan.
.Investisntc Congestion at Jail.
Under a further suspension, Mr..
tfobson secured the adoption of a reso-
luton instructins the Committees on
Streets. Street Cleaning and Grounds
and Buildings, sitting In Joint session.
TO investigate the reported conges-
ton at the City jail. and at the sta-
bles of the Streets and Street Cleaning
Deparements. and to report to the Feb
ruary meeting OF the Council a plan
for relief. Chairman Pollard, OF the
Finance Committee. secured the adop
tion OF a resolution authorizing the
City Auditor to pay the salaries OF
city employees, regularly employed at
the fixed rate. pending the adoption
of the annual budget for 1910.
On the roll-call, Mr.. Umlauf offered
q resolution for the smooth paving OF
Pine. Cherry. and other streets in Clay
Ward. to be included in the budget.
Mr.. Mills wanted the smooth paving
OF Marshall Street from Twenty-first
70 rhirty-fourth. Both requests went
to the Finance Committee. Mr., Mills
IAAshk oIHCC EduhilU and
Grace Streets are paved, with Capitol
Street, to Twelfth. that the connection
by the proposed Marshall Street Via
duct to Twenty-flrst and the smooth
paving of Marshall Street to Thirty
fourth. which has already been paved
to OakWood Avenue, would give con
itinuous driveway from one end OF the
city to the other.
Mayors Veto Not Sustained.
E Mayor Richardson submitted a veto
message declining TO approve the
granting to Murphy's Hotel permission
to erect barber shop sign post. Tile
Mayor stated in his veto message that
the city had recently been called on to
defend many suits for damages by
reason OF distinctions in the streets,
and In some instances had been forced
to pay Judgment. He quoted de-
cision of the Virginia Supreme Court.
which held In the case of the city of
Norfolk that the Council had no au-
thority to grant permission for the OBJ
struction OF public highway to an
The Mayor held that the
ordinance transcended the power con-
lferred on the Council by the city char
ter.
Mr.. Umlauf contended that 1t was
small thing to veto and refuse per-
mission to erect a barber pole. and
then to allow stores to erect show
cases projecting three or four feet ON
the sidewalk. He said he would cheer
fully vote to clear Broad Street Of all 4
obstructions back to the property line,
hut that this was neither the time nor
the place to begin.
s Mr.. Pollock. for the Street Commit
tee, said that such permission had
never been refused, and that 1nnun-
erable showcase and sign permits had
been given, the majority OF them more
of an obstruction than was proposed
In this Instance. Mr.. Mills said thatit
would finally lead to the widening Of
the sidewalk on Broad street several
feet. an Improvement already greatly
needed. The permission was granted
the objection or the
Mayor by vote OF rs to = Messrs.
Pollard and Mitchell voting TO sustain
the Mayor. 85 5i5s
4 The Mayor also vetoed for the same
reason an ordinance granting a Ike
permit to Alice %, iWllliams, trustee