The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-16
)nll'|| I1nITT[
TO NIKE PROBE
eouxchMIsN WIN INVESTIGATES
RECENT Bl4AzE in SCHOOL !.
BoARD QUARTERS
HARRY HUBER CHAIRMAN
..--.-4-
TRAFroRD SAYS 11rRorER IN
sunArlos MAX HAv,s BEEN
DIRECT CAUSE or CITY
HALn FIRE.
HARRY HUBER CHAIRMAN

To Investigate tina cause Of the re-
cent fire in the rooms OF the school
board In tfe city han, the council
COMMITTEES on electricity last night
named special ccmmittee of five
members Consisting Of Messrs. Huber.
Bowman. Nielsen. Bennett and Rat
taiife. This action wns taken follow
ing tho reading ct \ report from the
fife board setting forth The circnrn
stances or the blAxe, SO Tar az they
had been ascArtained,v
Later, Mr.. Bowman asked that the
vote be Reconstructed, SO az TO allow
the full committees 10 look into {. 4
mEuer, However,, he VAS votea
down. the majority opinion being
that 1t would be too diiIiel at to get
quorum 81 the full committee to-
Eether for such purpose, Where-
! upon, Mr.. bowman remarked that
was ALI the more q reflection upon
the committee. MIR. Ratclffe wanted
10 know II the stenpgrap her and
clerk whose employment was recent
" authorized by council could not
be called on to take q stenographic
report OF tho inyestigation. but one
seemed to know exActly what the
duties of the new clerk were. How
ever, he was assured b. Chairman
could be obtained. II 1t was desired,
No Dnto E1xc,i.
Chairman Huber ANNOUNCED that he
would call a meeting hi his commit
tee for next Tuesday night. This
brought forth a prutest from Con-
suiting Engineer TrAfford. OF the city
eiecfrie plant, Who wanted at least
q weeks time to preEsnre his side OF
the nase. Mr.. AubeA Their suggested
the latter part or next week. but Mr..
irafford insisted that no meeting be
held until some time the following
week. The COMMITTEES finally adjourn
ed without any date being deterrsned,
After the meeting, Mr. Trafford
stated that it was clear to him what
caused the fire. 1t was the crossing
OF two wires, as had been already
printed in the neWspApers He limited
that 1t might be shown at the In
vesiigation that improper Insulation
OF the switchboard In the school
boards quarters was perhaps more
directly responsible for the IRE. This
phase OF the city electrical work Is
said to be in charge Of Sir. Ernest
thompson, son OF the city electrician.
Richardson Laying Low"
special interest attaches to the in
Nestigation IN view of the effect it may
have on the election OF d sunerinten-
dent for the city electric plant. Ii the
blame Is laid strictly at the door OF
Mr.. Trafford, who IL candidate for
this position, 1t may seriously impair
| his chances. If MIR. Thompson Is
| charged with the responsibility, ii may
affect the chances ~ hls father, sue
city electrician, Mr.. VI. III. Thompson.
| who was reported last night to be a
In
superintendent. Mealwh nile, former
Alderman f, Douglas Richardson, son
of Mayor Richardson, who resigned his
position In Council last September so
rs TO be eligible for superintendent of
I the plant, is laying low and 1t may
| be that he will come under the wire a
! winner ii the situation becomes more
/ complicated.
! No One Seems to Know.
! AS TO when the new superintendent,
IS to be elected and what his salary
Is 10 be. no o.ie seems 10 know. AT
present. the electricity committee II
/ struggling with the skeleton Of an or
diiianee in hope of Strengthening Out
1 the situations However. enc thing II
certain, And that is that council viii
elect the superintendent, and Mr.
Trafford win no longer draw any more
1 commissions from the city after the
4 status of the superintendent has beer
detiniteiy fixed. AT present, Mr.. Traf-
ford. as consulting engineer, Ii draw
Ing a handsome revenue from the city
| In ths shape Of commissions, and there
are some who believe that ne IL II
reality not eager TO disturb the exist.
ing order or things
Trafford Urges Economy.
last night, Mr.. Trafrord presented q