The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-16
|. BOARD : |! ! / II: VIOLATED
RULE OF COUNCIL
Gould Not Add Bond Issue Rider
Il Without Previous Commit
tee Approval.
SPECIAL MEETING CALLED
Aldermen to Hold Session Mon
day Night to Pass Finally
Oh Question.

= . b q X. +. 1 + Il l.
In written opinion rendered to
the Council Committee on Finance
last night, City Attorney Pollard holds
mat The action of the Board of Alder
men last Tuesday night In adding d
siooo'ooo rider for grading and paw
ing streets to a general bond issue
ordinance recommended by the Finance
committee and adopted by the Com
mon Council was Illegal. the amend :
meht practically: appropriating ST.
oVo,O0O and placing that debt on tho
city having been passed on the night
~ was introduced, contrary to the city
charter, and without having been re
terred to any Joint standing commit
tee. as required by the rules OF the
Council.
Inc Finance Committee was called
In special session last night to con-
sider what steps should be taken in
Aldermen In adopting the Gunst
amendment without recommends
ton from any committee. and without
any definite plan as to how and where
the money was to be expended.
Special Session Chilled.
AFTER nearing the opinion OF City
Attorney Pollard, a number OF mem
oers of the Board OF Aldermen joined
in written request to President Rob
the Board for Monday night at S
o'clock. when the vote adopting the
amendment can be reconsidercd and
the bond issue ma tier taken up In a
legal manner
All of the items In the original bond
ordinance, eggregating $4,000 900, and
including the cost OF the new Mayo
Bridge and its site; three new pub
lie school buildings and sites In the
hoe -
Hotel block; sewers. gas and water
for South Richmond. and the retire
ment OF large block of per cent.
ponds, had alrendy been passed upon.
the adoption of the bond Issue orii-
nance being merely the financing OF
plans already approved by both
branches OF the Council and for
which the city is obligated by duly
executed contracts ,t
In the Board of Aldermen the ordt
nance was amended by Mr. Gunst by
the addition Of 100000 for grading
and paving streets" making the whole
ordinance, in view OF the CITY Attor
ney. Illegal
It is expected that the Board Will
reconsider Its vote in adopting the
amendment, and concur In the original
ordinance. after which the issuance OF
ponds for street improvements may
II.
Opposed to Blanket PInn.
Councilman Powers Of CLAY Ward
said last night that his ward was the
largest and most in need OF street i'm
provements of any In the city. but
that he would not vote for a general
blanket bond Issue until the city En-
s1neer or Committee on Streets had
compiled a list of the streets TO he
graded or paved, with an estimate of
the cost. He did not propose to turn
sl'ooo,ooO over to the Street Commit
tee for a general ward grab after the
manner OF the annual street appro-
prlation, regardless OF the needs or the
various sections. AS existing laws
make ii practically impossible to grade
streets without innumerable damage
suits. and excessive costs, the greater
part of such a bond Issue would be
spent, he said. for smooth paving. and
like the general smooth paving an
organizations years ago. he feared IL
would degenerate into a general grah
game. and that without any definite
scheme or plan in view, odd blocks
here and there would be improved for
those who got in first. three or four
wards, as usual. combining to get tho
lions share despite the protests OF all
others .IIii