The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-15
Branch Offers to Give
City Free Bath House
in West End.
MANN ELECTED
TO FIRE BOARD
Aldermen Concur in Pollock
Resolution to Change Form OF
Government and in Measure
to Make Beck Boss Of City
Hall Janitors-Othcr
Matters.

Deteat Tor the music In parky an
propriaiion, a proposition from John T..
Hranch to present the city q new pub-
nc path building in the western part
OF the city, ana the refusal or the
Board OF Police onmissioncrs to a,,-
prove the retirement OF Policeman w
J. Parkinson OH full pay, were features
o! the meeting OF tho Board or Alder
men last night
Ihe meeting Immediately followed a
Joint session Of the two branches OF
Council Al which by close bnlio,
former Alderman John Mann Jr, was
elected TO he Board Of Fire Com
missioners from Marshall Ward over
Joseph L. Sorg.
Among the important ordinances
concurred in by the Aldermen, ana
which nov so 10 the Mayor for ap-
proral. are the Pollock resolution TOR
appointment OF specia! committee
cn changes in the methods OF city gov
crnment. an Increase OF the police
force OF thirty men. and a resolution
placing All jan,tors of tho City Hail
directly under the Building Inspector
as custodian without the right OF ap-
peal 70 the Grounds and Buildings
COMMITTEES.
Mr. Branch's oner.
The offer OF Mr.. Branch made In
letter 10 Mayor Ric harrison, was trans
mitted TO the Council in special mes
sage. The Mayor stated that AIR.
Branch expended about $4,000 In
erecting and equippins a hathhouse al
Eighteenth and Broad Streets. which
he decided to the city The baths are
increasing in popularity and useful
ness. and tho Mayor recommended the
acceptance OF the offer the terms
as heretofore. the city TO maintain the
baths through ii special board OF truS-
toes. Mr. Branch's letter stated that
the present public baths had been
opancd February 4, 1903; that The re-
pnrnl showed during the first year ILL.,
Sc baths. and during the second Year
bo,?io baths. an increase of 3,nii Mr..
Branch said that, feeling assured OF
the success OF tile undertaking. ne
would now offer erect in the west
crn part OF the city another bath
house on the same terms and condi-
lions as heretofore. The comEnunica-
lions We're referred TO the Committee
on Finance.
No Music In Parks.
From the Common Council came over
for concurrence a resolution directing
the Committee on Finance to Include
In the annual budget an item OF $4,000
for music in the parks. the plan being
,c engage a band Of TWENTY-FIVE must
clans FOR ten weeks in the summer
Mr. Ciunst moved TO table until the
budget was presented. prefcrring to
wait and see whether the Finance
Committee had been able to provide
for more urgent necessities.
Lets Kill it right here" said Col
onel CITundy. The City Attorney has
ruled that il Is out Of the power of
The Council TO appropriate money for
any such purpose, and il is against
good sound public policy besides. II
is an Anticipated amusement. II we
would put 1t to the vote the people
generally would rather have free base
ball games. and it would be Just as
legal for this Council To approximate
money for that purpose"
Less Mud, Not More Music.
Mr. Don Lcavy said he had formerly
been an advocate OF music but tie
was now opposed to any unnecessary
appropriation for luxury until the
city streets are made passable. He
drew a vivid pic ture OF some OF the
streets In Clay Ward. and said that
the appropriation to that ward for
streets was Jar too small. Mr.. Hobson
favored the music. He thought the
people even in Clay Ward were de-
handing IL. More people had come to
him urging it. he said, than for any
proposition save for smooth paving.
mir. Don Leavy said his ward has sew
eral parks. but the people had to wade
through mud to get to them. Mr. Pow
ers came TO the defense OF the item,
expressing surprise that the question
OF legality had been raised, when the
same reason would apply TO appropria-
tions for entertainment of the Presi-
dent and for aid to conventions. He
thought 1t was no more Illegal than
what the Council is doing right along.
Mr.. Don Leavy, persisted that ms peo-
pie would rather have the money
spent in cinders spread along side
walks and crossings
How They Voted.
The roll call stood Il TO II, as fol-
lows
Ayes-Messrs Atkinson, Bennett.
Blilcy. Donnhoe, Hobson. Kahn, Melton.
Moore Nelson, Patram. Powers and
Whittet-12.
Noes-Messrs: Adams. Butler. Co
wardin, Don Leavy. Gilman. Grimes,
Grundy Gunst Mitchell, Moncure and
Perdue-1i.
Mr.. Powers changed from aye to no.
seeing that the measure had failed
OF two-thirds, and moved to recon
aider in order to table.
Lets kill 1t right here" said Mr..
Grimes. 1T is a shame to waste money
this way when the streets and parks
are In the condition they are Marshall
Ward has been trying for thirty-fye
years TO get money to finish Libby
Hill. 1t would only take $4,000 to
finish Oft that unsigItly old hillside
now viewed BY every one coming to
and from the boat landings"
I8 Mr.. Powers thought courtesy 10 his
aide demanded a reconsideration, hut
the Board didn't see IT that way, tho
motion TO reconsider receiving exact
~ the same vote, IL to III, and was de-
olared lost, not having two thirds.
ETr (Continiled on Second z I3ara1 ------t