The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-16
CENT GAS
STRIKES A .SNAG
LIGHT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
THAT CITY COUNCIL REJECT
CEASE PROPOSITION.
FIND LITTLE FAVOR
OPPONENTS SHOW THAT ABSOLUTE
LY NOTHING COULD DE DONE
UNTIL FEBRUARY OF ~
NEXT YEAR.

Eighty-cent gas mustered only two
votes last night at the meetin~ or
The council Committee on Light. Six
members of the committee voted
a~ainst it. The remaining four were
absent.
The proposition came up in the
shape of resolution which Mr. Cease
offered In Council several nights ago,
asking the city to supply gas TO its
consumers at the rate ri 50 cents per
present.
Addressing the committee, Mr.. Cease
took the ground that the time was
never more opportune than the pres
ent to give the people cheaper gas.
Cheaper the gas, the more will be
used. he insisted.
Mr.. Rogers was the only other mem
Der of the commItte who stood by
Mr.. Cease when the roll call came,
and even Mr.. Rogers did not take the
floor In advocacy of the measure.
1t appears that the city is now
earning something like 100000 on it's
gas plant. Half OF this amount, under
MIR. Ceases resolution, would be turn
ed into the lockets OF the people.
Margin insufficient.
Chairman Grimes did not think this
a sufficient margin. He thought the
department should be given wider
scope. especially IN the direction of
rehabilitating the plant at proper in
tervais.
II remained for AIR. Powers (Joseph
E) TO point cut that the Cease reso-
luton came too late. The budget had
already been made up. and this meant
that all avs>.able funds had been utn-
ICED the appropriations for 1917. In
other words. practically nothing could
be accomplished In the way OF cheap
err gas until February, 1913. at least
Then Mr.. Powers pointed out thai the
new administrative board would cost
tha CITY fully 800. 900 on the start.
and the committee had to bear in mind
that the rolling stock bill which re-
Gently became a law would take away
not less than $4,000 per year from
the city, Then there was the park
to-park boulevard and other ventures
which had to pc taken into account.
Superintendent Knowles, while re-
naming neutral during the discussion,
did not disguise the fact that he was
rather in favor Of spending all sur
plus funds Just now for Rehabilitation
and similar purposes.
Mr.. Hobson (Juliusp moved to de-
fer action until the next meeting, SO
that the members might better ac-
quaint themselves with the merits and
dement's of the proposition. He also
wanted to give the absent members d
show. But his motion WAS lost. only
Mr.. Radcliffe voting with him.
The committee finally recommend
ed the resolution for rejection by The
following vote:
Ayes-Grimes, Hobson. Mitchell.
Melton, Powers Radcliffe.
Noes--Cease and Rogers
Those absent were Moncure. Pfn-
ner, Wiltshire and Workman.
Increase Recommended.
The committee unanimously recon-
mended an increase Of 10 per cent. In
the wages Of thirty-eight employees of
the upper gas works. recorded
vote was taken, on motion OF Mr.
Grimes whose suggestion was re-
ceiyed most heartily. This means that
the said employees will he pleased 20
learn that the committee stood by
them to man.
They will also be pleased to learn
that Superintendent Knowles and
Chairman Grimes were designated a
special committee of two to press The
matter before the Ordinance Commit
tee.
The committee consumed half an
hour discussing the question whether
man injured In the employ Of the
city should be carried on its pay rolls
while thus incapacitated from duty.
The question was finally referred to
City Attorney.