The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-01-13
Committee Believes the City
Should Bear Expense of
Installing System.
ROBBINS AND BAVIS
WARN AGAINST HASTE
Club Seeks Greater Democ.
racy in Work of Norris
son-Reeves Library.

Commercial club nominating COM
tors for 1914 at the regular meeting
last night. The club unanimously
adopted the report of the cluster light
committee recommended the instaIIa-
ton Of the cluster lighting system in
tire business district, and authorizes
the education committee to cooperate
with the Morrission-Reeves library
beard to make the institution more
popular and democratic.
Mayor Robbins and Alfred Bavis.
president OF the board OF public works.
participated in the discussion of the
cluster light project. saying ii was the
intention of the administration TO i'm
prove Richmond's street lighting as
soon as the city's finances would per
nit the step.
Through f. NJ. Haas, chairman. the
Commercial club committee which
has been working out a plan for street
lighting. recommended the installation
OF cluster lights on Main street at pub
| lie expense. The report held that ade-
Quate lighting was just as much the
duty of the city as to provide fire and
police protection. The cost of installa-
tion was estimated al $1,000.
City To Pay Bill.
Main street. the committee said,
was used by and belonged to all the
people of the city. For this reason the
expense of installing the new lighting
system should not be borne by the bus
mess men or property owners on the
street but BY the entire city.
Mayor Robbins. representing the ad-
N iSr ~
which he was working out with the
board of public works and Superin-
tendent Kleinknecht of the municipal
! light plant was an adequate method
of lighting the city's streets. But the
condition of the city treasury. he said,
would compel the administration Ito
make haste slowly"
Questions Cost Plan.
! President Bavis of the board OF
! works heartily favored the cluster
| light system. but questioned the dis
| trtbution of the cost. He asked wheth-
er it would be right for the patrons OF
the city light plant to pay the entire
cost, which he said they would do, il
the cost OF installation came from the
! light plant funds. The question OF
bearing the expense he thought would
have to be worked out after careful
/ investigation.
! Charles Ssiveley opposed the plan
to place cluster lights on Main street
with funds taken from the city light
plant.
The problem of making the library
of more benefit TO the people OF the
| city and a more democratic institution
was brought before the club by W. X.
! Bradbury and w. p. Robinson. mem
| bers of the library board. Persons con
nected with the library. realize that il
is not reaching the people as il should,
they said. The city is not getting val
ne received for the $1,000 which it
| spends annually TO maintain the insti-
; tuition, II was argued.
Instructed To Cooperate.
The Commercial club committee on
education was instructed to work with
! the library board for making the r.
brary more popular.
! In the discussion suggestions were
offered by William Dudley Foulke. AL
| fred Bavis, and II. l.. Haywood. Meth
| Continued on Page Three.)