Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-24
COMMITTEE FkV0Rs
GAS BILL ORDINANCE
Relieves Owner Of Property From
Liability for Defaulting
.t Tenant.
MCCARTHY OPPOSES CHANGE
Pizzini and Funsten Want Gas Works
TO Bear Its Own Business Risks
Like Other Public Service Cor
porations.

over the united opposition Of tho
Administrative Board and the authori-
ties Of the Gas Department, the Council
committee on Ordinances last night
voted unanimously to recommend for
passage the ordinance introduced by
councilman English. relieving owners
OF property from liability for unpaid
gas bills contracted by their tenants
me committee gave its approval to
inc measure after listening to two
hours or argument for and against It,
Several members OF the committee felt
that the ordinance as drawn was not
complete enough. and upon the mo-
tion OF Alderman Christian the meas
uro was referred to a subcommittee Of
-FOUR to be put into final shape
In Its instructions to the subcom-
mittee, the committee registered Its
approval of the main intent Of the ordi-
nance offered by Councilman English.
1t directed tho subcommittee to pre-
pare substitute ordinance relieving
the property owners from the burden
complained Of, and mt the same time
properly protecting the interests of tho
city as regards the collection of delin-
quent gas bills. The subcommittee
consists OF Alderman Christian, chair
man, and Alderman Gunst. Councilman
English and Councilman Welsh.
MCCARTHY STRONGLY
OPPOSES ANY CHANGE
Carlton Mccarthy, OF the Administra
tive Board, told the committee that
the board as unit opposed the repeal
OF the present law, which holds owners
or property liable for gas bills which
their tenants fail to pay It was the
only practical way, he said, to collect
delinquent gas bills, and the repeal
OF the ordinance would cause tho Gas
Department heavy annual loss.
Tho several departments of tho
city governments are repeatedly ac-
, coscd or lax business principles," said
MI. MCCARTHY. Here is an instance
IN which tho city Is extremely prac-
teal. 1t fixes the responsibility for
the payment of the delinquent gas hin
where there Is least likelihood of eva
sion.
Under the common law we have in
herited from England, real estate. rs
tne source or most OF our wealth. Is
given the greatest amount of protec-
ton. The law affords greater protec
ton to real estate than II does to
human life. In the opinion of the Adj
ministratfve Board, it is not imposing
an undue hardship on real estate TO
require of 1t this small return for the
great benefits 1t receives"
KNOWLES SAYS TT
WILL WORK HARDSHIP
deem the proposed amendment
70 this ordinance releasing property
or the delinquent without the payment
Oh inc Dill inadvisable said SuDerin
tendent W. l.. Knowles. Of the Gas
Department. ut would necessarily
cause n radical change in our pres
eht system for protecting tho city
from loss on account delinuuent IRA.
bills, inficting numerous hardshlps on
our consumers"
In the event that tho proposed ordi-
nance were passed, said Mr.. Knowles
the department would have to devise
new plans for the collection OF delin
quent Diiis This he said. meant either
the introduction OF prepayment meters
at q cost OF approximately $500. 600.
or the enforcement of rigid rules rc'
curing ample advance deposits from
all users that are not able TO furnish
satisfactory references. and refusing
to supply gas unless the references
or deposits are Forthcoming.
O. Fl. Funston, president Of the
Real Estate Exchange, made n ploa
for the passage of tho ordinance un-
der consideration on tho ground OF
common Justice to owners of property.
while the annual loss to property
owners because OF unpaid gas bills
which they are required to make good
vas not enormous the present ar
ranSement. no said, placed an unneccs-
sary burden upon real estate men, who
arc hamperod and embarrassed In the
rental of the properties placed In their
care.
William &. Plzzini told tho commit
tee that the present practice had no
basis In equity. and that any public
service corporation that attempted to
mako the same requirement of prop
erty owners would merely expose 1t
self to ridiculc. The city, lie said,
placed this liability upon property be-
cause II had an intrenched monopoly
1t was only just. he thought, that the
Gas Department, supplying com
modify at n profit. should assume its
own business risk and not Shift ii
to the shoulders OF persons not di-