The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-31
'GASF|XTUREL LAW
NOW SAFE AND SANE
Subcommittee Strikes Out Com
pulsory Feature and Pen
atty Provision.
NEW EQUIPMENT OPTIONAL
Users May Modernizc Interior
Fittings or Not, as They
Choose.
NEW EQUIPMENT OPTIONAL

and it's penalty provision. the much
discussed gas nxturo ordinance was
ycsSterday reported for adoption by a
subcommittee from the Council Com
mittcc on Public Buildings, Properties
ana an Utilities. In its amended form it
expected
! AS originally drawn and recommend
/ ed by the Administrative Board. the
ordinance clothed gas inspectors with
power TO order gas consumers. when
necessary for the good of the service. 10
replace ANTICIPATED interior fixtures with
appliances of a more modern type. Non
m,nctE Gays aiter notice was made
punishable by Il fnc Of from So to $40.
rMr,t IN the department. was di-
supply until the order was complied
with
opposes Compuisory Feature.
The compulsory feature and the at
tached fine aroused a storm OF protest
from consumers. who saw in the pro
their personal liberty and of their
right TO use any kind OF interior fix
tnrS that suited them. az long rs they
paid for their gas and brought no in
convenience to other users 1t was
charged. furthermore. that the real
purpose of the ordinance was to Great @
a few more Inspectors positions, and
the law appeared TO he i'm serious dan
ger OF being laughed out OF court
.ain RECOMMENDATION made TO the Ad-
illustrative Board by Arthur Glas-
COW, the noted London gas en-
OF the. Gas Works last fail.
Much of his criticism was directed
against the distributing system. II
was his opinion that modern nxturcs
in the home would add to the efficiency
or tne system. and the ordinance was
equipment
makes The city responsible for the CON
dltlon OF the pipes leading from the
MAINS 10 the meter. ana leaves the con-
Suhlcr TO take care of the fixture prob
lem between the meter and the tip.
Ihcre is no CompulSion. and tho gas
user may install modern fixtures or not.
The Amendment
The ordinance is drawn as an amend
lu"nt TO chapter 80. section 20. OF the
CITY Code. and the new section reads
as follows:
"a consumer whether he be tenant or
owner OF The premises. discovering any
amy escapes OF gas or deficiency OF
!lEht on mis- premises, or any iuspccto tor
having reason to believe that such de-
itct or uci'cIcncy exists on any prem
Uses. shall give immediate notice there
OF TO the Inspectors Office that the de-
feet may be promptly remedied. and.
should 1t hc necessary, the INSPECTOR
shall rcpair or enlarge the conncc-
tlon from the street TO the meter. re-
I'NIi VI 'UitISc tic meter, fenalr
enlarge the exposed piping around ana
about Tho. meter, and unstop the house
pipes a far as this can be done with
out injury 10 the property. said worl.
To be completed within n REASONABLE
period Of time; provided. however. that
in amy case where il appears TINT the
defect or deficiency so reported is
caused by AN antiquatcd, inefficient or
lnadcquato system, through which gas
is distributed on the premises. It shall
be the duty of the inspector OF gas
forthwith 10 notify in writing the
owner OF the property OF such Condi :
ton. and, II the premises are occupied
by a tenant, II similar notice shall be
given him
The tenant or owner desiring to
remedy The defects mentioned in such
written notice. may, ut his option, make.
application in the same manner as f
gas had never been introduced into his
premises, ana the gas inspector shall
act thereon as provided by sections 10
ana 16 of This chapter"
The amended ordinance will be re-
ported. with the recommendation of
the subcommittee To the full commit
tee, which Will meet at O'Clock on
Thursday evening.