The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-31
WINS
ANOT HER TERM
Is Reelected City Electrician
by Vote of Three to
Two.
REORGANIZATION PLANNED
Three Electrical Departments
of City May Be Brought
Under One Head.

Plans for reorganization of the city
electrical departments were temporarily
defeated by the Administrative Board
yesterday. when william II. Thomp-
son was reelected 9th Electrician by
a vote of 20 ,. Captain Mccarthy
placed Mr.. Thompson in nomination.
moving that the board 20 into an cleo
ton for the unexpired term Of two
years from July /. 1912. There was no
other nomination. and the roll caii
stood Ayes-Messrs. Folkes. Whlttet
and Mccarthy. Noes-Messrs. Beck
and Hirschberg. Tho opponents ex-
planned that their votes were not on
personal grounds. but that they would
have preferred deferring action untl a
more thorough study could be given 20
reorganization plans.
Mr.. Thorn pson il one of the few city
officials who enjoys the unique dlstinc-
ton of holding two positions and draw
ing two salaries. Originally eiected do
Superintendent OF Fire Alarm and Po-
lice Telegraph. under the Board of Flre
Commissioners. he draws sl,seO n that
position. while as City Electrivian ne is
paid 500. making his position pay S'SOO
per annun.
Not Antagonistic TO Thompson.
The plan for reorganization and uni
fcation of the various electrical de-
partments was not antagonistic 10 MI
i
together under one head three cleo
trical departments now working more
or less independently-the City Eiec-
trio Plant of which Mr.. Tranord 10
superintendent; the Department OF
Electrical Inspection, over which MT
Thompson has a nominal supervision,
but which is practically operated Dy
INSPECTORS Speights and Bowry, and
the Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph
systems directed by Mr.. Thompson,
with the aid OF Assistant Superintend-
ent Randolph While not yet definitely
outlined, the general plan has been 10
make Mr.. Trafford Superintendent or
Electricity for the city. having gem
eral supervision of all departments
and giving to all his expert knowledge
and training, leaving Mr.. Thompson
with practically the same duties ana
salary as at present to direct the nre
alarm work. Mr.. Thompson does not
claim to be a electrical engineer. hav-
ing acquired by practice a knowledge
of iow-grade currents which enables
him satisfactorily to direct the nre
alarm, private telephone and call Dell
systems of the city.
Not an Electrical Engineer.
He does not claim an expert know
ledge of high-voItage lighting and
mower currents such as are used at
the Electric Plant or in such wiring
as the Electrical Inspectors are daily
required to pass upon Seeing IN tine
tentative plan an effort to reduce his
position. Mr.. Thompson has been Tor
some days a daily attendant on the
sessions OF the Administrative Board
and was able yesterday to carry his
point without a vote to spare The
Board still has the power to effect
the proposed consolidation, should
il deem it wise. the chief objection
raised up to this time being the division
of authority between the Admins
trative Board and the Board OF Fire
Commissioners. To meet this an
alternative suggestion was to leave
Mr.. Thompson entirely as an IN
dependent official of the Fire Alarm
Department, elected by the Fire
Board, and to have the superintendent
of the Electric Plant made ex -ofncio
the City Electrician