The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-08
A Modification OF UIcbmond nuiIdi,r
Inv Is Much

To the Editor Of The Times Dispatch:
sir-Thtriy-one of Eichmonds
real estate agents. as well as a num-
Der of attorneys and business men, are
signers TO petition asking for the
passage OF tho bill before n I.p.s-
lhturc allowing the right - appeal
from the Police Court on the par; 81
owners OF condemned buildings
IL was recently argued ocfure the
senate committee, By parties iavo:in.,
this act. that tho present conditions
give too much power TO ono man; that
~ is the common practice II the Po-
lice Court TO confirm the orders q:
,he Hullding Inspector 1t IS claimed
by the Rev. John G.. scott that n great
number of houses owned by III, estate
represented By him have been recent
~ condemned. and that in one "a SO the
Police Court refused to hear exper:
builders. who were present for the
purpose OF testifying that the building
was safe and should not be condemn
ed, and that in answer to :. noe Of
appeal he was told that no right y:
appeal existed. Attention Is cniicI to
the inc fact that in other cases before tie
Police Court ii the amount involved
is more than $50. the sufferer has The
right Of appeal. while in the case of
condemned buildings there is no right
the property in question
Mr.. II. Il. Pollard Jr., chairman of
the Finance Committee and senior
member OF the firm Of Pollard & Ba.by
appears to he the only agent actively
opposing the passage OF this act but
Is ably backed up by Mr.. ". r. Pollard
city Attorney and the Building In
spector. The City Attorney is reported
by Richmond papers as having stated
that n right OF appeal existed under
the present law. provided that par
| ties who wished 10 appeal would give
| bond, since which time he has stated
that nc did not intend to convey the
! Idea which might be deducted from
this article that the present law in
"a a al i,ft !,
| person asgrivcdN by arbitrary or UNI
lawful action on the part of the Build
/ ing Inspector. sustained by the Police
Justice. might obtain an injunction
| in court of equity by giving bond
etc. The parties favorng tbs bill
prefer not discussing whether the de-
cisions of the Building Inspector are
or are NOT arbitrary or unlawful. feel
| ing that the members of the present
| Assembly should realize that it is con-
| trary TO an enlightened idea of good
government to leave as much power
in the hands OF ono man.
| Before the House committee it is
| reported that the City Attorney stated
that the Monticello Hall COLLAPSED OF
| it,; own motion while the matter was
being fought over In pniice Court
This, IL Is admitted by the contractor
| who wrecked this building. is mis-
take; that the same did not fall of its
own accord. In this connection II Will
| be recalled that the owner of Month
cello Hall wished to build for the
signing lease agreeing to deliver
| the property. the building was CON
dcmncd on the following day. In this
| case the owner of tho property con-
dcmncd engaged an attorney. who as
! sisted the Assistant City Attorney in
| obtaining confirmation Of the In
spcctor's condemnation II is II matter
| OF court record. sworn TO by the owner
OF Monticello IIall. that the building
Inspector indulgcd him while n tenant
! was being negotiated for, and that he