The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-11
CLASH IMMINENT
OVER new PLANT
COUNCIL TO TACKLE PROBLEM TO-
NIGHT, WITH OPPOSING FORCES
READY FOR COMBAT.
MAY DECIDE TO PROBE
Dir HOBsON, or WATER COMMIT
TEE REGARDS THE sITUATION
AS TEMPEST IN A
TEAPOT.
MAY DECIDE TO PROBE

While ruslors of a compromise are
In the air, those on the INSIDE sus-
pect that there will he much hriiis
ana cross firing at the meeting ot tho
Common Council tonight In conneGtioii
with the fight over the electric pla"e
ordnance which has been hanging hre
Tor the past year.
The matter may come up IN several
different Shapes. The water commit
tee, headed Ny Captain Mills, may
spring 2. surprise ny reporting the or
oinance with the recommendation that
ii do pass. But Ii this surprise -
not forthcoming, the electricity COM
mittee. headed by Captain Lyncn, VIII
insist that the body adopt resoin-
ton discharsng the water committee
from further consideration of the or
4.aance.
In which event, MIR. Cease viii be al
most sure to Insist upon an investiga-
tion OF the water and electrical depart
ments so that the tax payers ana cIts-
Gems generally may ascertain the rsas
source OF the trouble. And 1t is safe I"
venture that council VIII heartily APP
prove such q move, provided bona
tide probe IS guaranteed, regardless OF
approaching elections.
Objects to Rates.
So far as the average layman mas
been able to observe. Captain Mills
objects tn the ordinance in its present
shape because IL fixes charges for.
electric current. to he furnished the
water pumping station, somewhat In
excess of what they ought to be. Cap
tain Mills-~!s== -EasAE4-ta--tae
effect that the electric plant Is far
from being IN need OF a regular super
inter dent. as the ordinance provides
Meanwhile, Consulting Engineer Tfaf-
fz IAjrHPrirC the
plant at a stated salary while he re-
ceives ] per cent commission on all
new work. Though this contract ea-
PRED last December. Mr.. Trafford
holds over. as IL We're, pending settle
ment Of the much Inooted ordinance
question.
The ordinance is now in tho hands
of "a subcommittee on water consist
Ing OF Aessrs. Gunst. liobson &c. 3D.
and GIL,
Tempest in Teapot
Mr. Hofscn said last night that so
far as he knew no report would BIS
ready for the council tonight Person
ally, he regarded the situation as a
tempest in teapot,
AIR. tiobson inclines 10 the opinion
tina, II might be Well 10 name tenn
porary superintendent OF the electric
plant until the administrative board
q
there would be no need for a super!n-
tsndent.
The session tonight ~ives promise
ct being very busy nne. the meet
ing last week having disposed of moth
ing but the hudgct,
Tomorrow night. the Board 81 Alder
iHen IL scheduled TO meet for eunsid
Grafton of the budget. No other hnsi-
!. ness viii he transacted. In oil proba-
billy.
Viii Meet Later.
I;sjs likely that the aldermen VIII
faaet the latter part Of the week to
tackle business which the councilinen
Transact tonight.
Ii all reports be true, the aldermen
VIII concur with the lower branch tn
giving the white elementary women
teachers the entire S275oo set apart
ii the budget fer increasing the pay
OF all the teachers.
Ii If understood. however. that a
resolution will he offered making a
special APPROPRIATION for those in the
ether divisions.
II lis practically certain that the BODY
will concur with the other branch
in striking cut S.7,5ee. fer widening
Eoscneath road.