The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-12
TRAFFIC LAW TO
UPPER BR AN Gil.
Council Sends Measure There to
Have It's Heart Put
Back Again. 4.
RENEW FIGHT ON THEATRE
Both Sides Still Claim Victory
in Matter Of Playhouse
Near Church.
RENEW FIGHT ON THEATRE

Although the Common Council did
| comparatively little last Monday night
except to pass the anti-theatre law,
1t made up for lost time at the adj
journed meeting Thursday night, trans
acting a large volume Of business.
which has been put In order for con
BideratioE of the Board of Aldermen
, tomorrow night. The docket includes
an issue of s1.i00.00o in Improvement
bonds, award OF many contracts and
concurrence in q number OF ordinances.
The Aldermen will have another
chance to discuss the traffic law. w hich,
partly in Joke and partly in earnest,
of tho forty-eight provisions for using
the streets being eliminated. The
Council una pimously refused to concur
In any such amendment and. as a sub
stitute, sent practically the original
ordinance back TO the Board OF Alder
men The only important change from
the original draft is n provision for
protection of passengers alighting from
street cars, who are at present In dam
ger of being run down before they can
reach the curbstone
Both Claim Victory.
Both sides are claiming victory in
the matter of concurrence In the anti
theatre law. with the chances for Its
adoption materially strengthened by
the elimination of features which were
held to be Unconstitutional. There
seems no doubt but that the law as
adopted by the Common Council will
stand the test OF the courts-that II is
within the province of the Council to
enact such law. Some members or
the Board however, are doubtful of
the policy of such step. seeing little
actual objection to the operation of "a
theatre on the corner projected. The
Board may consider amendments re
1ccted by the lower branch, making the
new law not apply to any theatre con-
tract for the erection of which or the
building permit for which had been
issued previous to approval of the or
dinance as the situation stands
Henry Wallerstein. owner of the lot
at Eighth and Grace Streets. has per-
nit to build on II n theatre 10 cost
s65.0oo. according to plans approved
by the Building Inspector Complete
drawings have been prepared, and a
lease has been executed for a term OF
years to q theatrical syndicate. headed
BY Jake Wells, which proposes to oper-
ate the playhouse.
II the act passed by the Common
Council is concurred IN and signed by
the Mayor, prohibiting the issuance TO
any theatre located within $50 feet of
church of license to operate as n
theatre Mr.. Wells and his associates
which the law prohibits their. operating.
though all the forms of the law have
been complied with in regard 10 it's
erection.
Bond Issue.
There is no objection. apparently. 10
the bond issue, which is merely the
financing of certain undertakings al
ready voted on and approved BY the
Council, the carrying out of certain OF
s. <af tn,, =
for the cost OF the new Mayo Bridge
and site and for the purchase Of the
Ford Hotel block at the price agreed
upon. The only danger OF the bond
issue ordinance falling TO meet ap-
proval is in the event that efforts are
made to add riders to the form pro-
posed by the Committee on Finance
The lower branch rejected the amend
ment to Issue BONDS for a city hospital
until some plan had been prepared for
the erection ana maintenance Of such
institutions The lower branch also
rejected street bond Issue ordinance.
holding that the way was not omen for
such a step at this time. or, In fact.
until the State Legislature provides
some simpler method of AIS ,ssing
damages TO abutting property where
streets are graded. AT present any
bond issue for streets would be used
principally for smooth paving and OIL
MS. Inc annual budget carried more
| than one third OF million dollars for
Streets. which the Finance COMMITTEES
thinks is a. much as can be wisely ex-
pended while the Engineers ONCE is
i otherwise overloaded.
other meetings at the City Hall this
week are the Committee on Water. wed :
nesday night; the Committees on Light.
Markets and Grounds and Buildings,
Thursday night. and the Committees on
Streets. Cemeteries and Street Cleaning
on Friday night $500 =