The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-13
MAY INVESTIGATE
iPHOnE SERVICE
Resolution for Inquiry Comes
Before Street Committee
This Afternoon.
CONSIDERING ANNEXATION
Aldermen Will Concur in APP
pointment of Committee With
Broad Powers.

whether the City Council will UNI
dertake formal investigation of the
telephone service in Richmond will
be determined at meeting OF the
Council Committee on Streets, to be
held at IS O'Clock this afternoon. A
resolution looking to such an investi-
CATION was offered at the last meet
ing of the Common Council by Mr..
Vonoerlehr and referred to the Street
Committee for report. The patron
states that he has received many COM
plants of the character of service be-
ing rendered, and it is desired also that
the committee inquire whether the
rates charged are in all instances in
accordance with the agreement made
with the city at the time the fran
chise was granted
1t is probable that before deciding
for or against formal Investigation
the committee will announce date
for a public hearing when citizens and
patrons of the company, as well as
its officers may be heard.
Several other papers of interest have
been referred TO the Street Committee.
this afternoon.
Alderman to Vote on Annexation.
The Board of Aldermen will meet to-
morrow night at O'Clock in regular
monthly session, when number OF
papers will come from the Common
Council for concurrence, including the
resolution rernitting the rent due by
the Virginia State Fair Association.
the money to be used in permanent
Probably the most important paper
coming from the Council for concur
renee is that PRO providing ,, f9s atppo non.
slider all matters relating TO annexa-
ton. The resolution gives the com
ntsee broad powsrs ana . aarri sor " tbe
necessary expenses incident to gather
ing information and compiling stats
T1s be soes Of asd
other factors which enter into the
complex problem Of annexing outly-
intention OF the Council. after making
careful study of the situation, TO
undertake a considerable annexation
of surrounding suburbs
VIII Take Some Time
The necessary negotiations with
each of the various suburbs viii take
time. especially as some or the small
Incorporated townships near the city
seem to have an exaggerated IDEA OF
what the city will do for them imme-
neer Boiling is already making some
preliminary Investigations as to levels
drainage and other problems which
underlie the making of permanent
improvements.
Provisions will probably be made
for extending the harbor limits OF the
city by carrying the annexation lower
down the river on both sides, and in
order to gain city control of the upper
river the annexation may include the
actual bed OF the stream with the many
small islands west of the present city
line, beside the suburb known as Rlv-
erview and the pump house. to the
western corporate limits.
May Revive Old Board.
For the first time in years il is pro-
posed to have meeting of the Board
of Local Interests This board made up
partly of citizens and partly of Council
men, was once useful factor IN the
city government, being required to
nominate men for the Fire and Ponce
Boards and for various other city posi-
tions filed by election of the City
Council. In recent years the board has
been allowed TO become dead letter,
though appointments to membership
have been regularly made in compliance
with the charter. A meeting IS called
for Wednesday night to discuss the
situation and see whether the board
may not be revived and again made d
useful cog in the Citys machinery
On Thursday night the new Com
mittee on Ordinances viii hold Its ini-
tial meeting. Among the papers re-
ferred is the Mills ordinance creating
city employees. fund. authority for which
is given in the revised charter Mr. Mills
proposes 10 set apart specific sum IN
each annual budget TO be invested by
the sinking fund commissioners In city
bonds the interest to be used for re-
tirement of aged or infrm employees
who have been in the citys service FOR
a specified number of years The pen
sion plan is said to be drafted very
much after the manner of those recently
adopted by the United States steel.
the American Bell Telephone. and sew
eral other large corporations.