The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-29
City Attorney Upsets
Plan to Prevent Sale
of Water to Suburbs.
OPINION CLEARLY
DEFINES POWERS
Administrative Board Notified
That Ordinance Authorizing
Use of Water for Laburnum
Tract and w O d land
Heights Is Valid, Bind
ing Contract.

Efforts on the part Of the Adm;ns-
fativ0 Board to nullify two ordinances
OF the city Council granting the use
ol city water 10 suburban corpora
tons at nonresident rates were
checked yesterday. when City Attorney
Pollard rendered written opinion 10
the board to the effect that il was
the province of the city Council TO
make such contracts that the ADMIN
lStratiVe Board has no authority 10 re-
view and reverse the actions Of the
Council. and must proceed TO supply
the water called for by the contracts
embodied in the ordinance approved
April H.
At the office Of the Administrative
Board 2 request for a copy OF the CITY
Attorneys opinion was refused. on the
ground that il has not yet been for
mally presented TO the board the mem.
bers having been out riding IL, the
afternoon "hen the paper was received.
Cannot Reverse City Council
At meeting OF the Council Commit
tee on Streets yesterday afternoon
Councilman Mills. who. under the old
FORM OF government, Was for many
Years chairman OF the Committee on
Water asked city Attorney Pollard
whether the Administrative Board had
any right to reverse the action OF the
Council in granting the use OF city
water To nonrcsidents. Mr. Pollard
replied that 1t had not. and that he
mad delivered written opinion to the
board TO that effect The CITY Charter
gives the Administrative Board super
vision and control OF the Water Works
subject To the ordinances OF the citv
OF lsichniond. The supervision of the
Administrative Board does not extend
beyond In" corporate limits. and the
city Attorney holds that the CITY
Council may, If il sees fit, enter into
proper contract for the sale OF water
10 nonrcsideniS at rates established by
ordinance.
Tbc Two ordinances.
some weeks ago the CITY Council
nn report of the Committee on Drdi-
nances. adopted two ordinances. one
SrantinS to Jonathan Bryan and others
the right TO usc city water in the La
hurnum tract, in Henrico County con
hection TO be made to the Fair Grounds
main already laid in the HERMITAGE
ltcad, the companion ordinance grant
Ing the right TO use city water TO the
Southside Water and Sewerage Cor
poration in Woodland Heights. CON
nection 10 be made with the Sout n
Richmond supply In Semmes street.
both ordinances were approved by tn.
Mayor April IL
The distributing mains have already
heen laid in Woodland lieiShts which
has partial supply from artcslan
wells, ana desired 10 buy city water
as supplementary service Owners
Of the Laburnum tract bought pipe
from the Virginia Equip pment and sup
ply Co. and proceeded 10 lay il on
their own property in anticipation or
the connection
Ilirschberx Holds III Permits.
On Friday last Superintendent Davis.
~ the Water Works, laid tho two or
dinances before tho Administrative
Hoard and asked for Instructions The
supply Was held up on motion OF Mr.
liirschberc, aud the superintendent in
structed 10 furnish the board with a
report on the available supply OF
wa'er, as TO tho quality, size and make.
OF the equipment bought or contrac =
cd for to be used on the Laburnum
tract, together with the reasons there =
for. Further motions provided tina;
: the prohlcs- and grades OF pipe lines
III the I.aburnum tract must be ap-
proved by the Administrative BOARD
and hpally thc City Attorney was re-
aueete1 TO furnish an opinion on the
risht$of the CITY Council TO pass any
such ordinance. This opinion MIR. Pol
lard has furnished. upholding the right
OF the Council at every point, hold
ing that the board has no supervision
beyond the corporate limits. and tina {
CONTINUED on Tenth PagcD