The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-05
MILLS MEASURE
IS LAID ON TABLE
ORDINANCE COMMITTEE REFUSES
TO STAND FOR HIS REFEREN-
DUN PROPOSITION.
BUT THE VOTE IS CLOSE
EFFORTS ON PART OF COUNCILMAN
TO ERECT STABLE IN RESI-
DENTAL DISTRICT
STARTS PROTEST.
BUT THE VOTE is CLOSE

Councilman Mills referendum
measure was sdetracked last night
when it received consideration at the
hands OF the ordinance charter and
reform committee. the resolution be-
ing tabled by a vote OF i've to four. .
mitts was on hand and
spoke in favor of the matter. He saw
no such harm or danger in the pro-
position as had been pictured in GER
tain quarters. he said. Councilman
Hirschherg, who is a member of the
committee, also urged favorable ac-
ton on the paper He did not pc
lieye 1t would act as club over the
heads of the Council, as some seemed
to believe, neither would 1t seriously
affect the operations of the proposed
new Administration Board.
Both he and Captain Mills insist
ed that the paper was being advo-
Gated In all sincerely. the chief OBJ
ject being to permit the citizens of
Richmond to pass on the question Of
adopting or rejecting large public
measures. rather than place all the
burden Of responsibility upon Coun-
ell.
Sees New Light.
Mr.. Pollock admitted that he saw
nothing objectionable In the meas
ure when 1t was passed by the Com
mon Council some weeks ago. but he
had seen something OF new light
since then. He was not quite ready
for the referendum policy In Rich
mond.
On motion of Mr.. Pollock. the
measure was finally tabled by the
following vote: Ayes-Butler. Gunst,
Moore, Pollock, Vonderlehr: noes--
Brown, Hirschberg, Lumsden. Umlauf.
The resolution provides that app1i-
~ ah a rms do q %
ture for proper charter amendment to
enable the City Council to refer such
matters to the people as it may see
fit. 1t was passed by the Common
Council under suspension of the rules
without argument or discussion. no
one except the author Of the paper
appearing to quite understand 1t at
that time.
stable Starts Trouble.
Whether Councilman ". fred Rich
ardson is to be allowed to erect sta
BILE in ali alley In the vicinity OF Grove
and Floyd avenues and LON pardy and
Plum streets was Il question which
provoked much unexpected discussion,
the matter being finally deferred un-
til special meeting of the commit
tee tonight a, $50 o'clock, when Mir.
Richardson himself. as well as other
parties concerned. Will be given an
opportunity to be heard. 1t seems that
MIR. Richardson succeeded nearly two
years ago in getting resolution
passed by Council authorizing him to
erect stable on the site in question,
but ii was not until two weeks ago
that he procured a formal permit from
Inspector Beck. Neishbors entered
! protest against erection OF the stable
when they learned OF the permit One
of them. MIR. Sidney James. was pres
ent last night, and said he had recent
fy failed to dispose of a piece OF prop
erty In that immediate locality be-
cause of the prospect of having a sta
bic tn close proximity to it.
Davis Feels Sighted.
The question OF merging the office
of chemist at the city settling basin
with that of the city chemist was re-
ferred to the subcommittee which orig
inally reported on the matter Super
lneadent= Davis of the water depart
ment said he had been given unfair
treatment In not being invited to i'm
part his vie VITO the subcommittee,
and he still desired to be heard. He
doubted whether it would be to the
best interest OF the department to
have the proposed merger into
effect Furthermore. he had already
made proposition to party To ic-
coed Mr.. Ezekiel. who recentlv re-
stoned the settlin~ basin position, and
r" was expecting an answer from him
within the next day Or two. However.
the committee could not see that such
action on his part had anything to do
with the committees treatment of the
matter.