The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-02
ENGLISH SCORES
GAS INSPECTOR
~---~-~----
DistLAIMs RESPONSIBILITY FOR
LACK OF JUDGMENT ON
PART or OTHERS.
THE BUDGET IS PASSED
VIRGINIA RAILWAY AND pOWER
tDNPANt ASKS COT NtIL FOR
PRIVILEGE OR RERUITING
CERTAIN LINES.

After long session of Common
Council last night, during the course
of which. there were several ripples.
that body adopted the appropriation
ordinance, As it came from the
Finance Committee, and the paper is
now up TO the Board of Aldermen,
which will meet next Tuesday night
There were several minor correc-
tons, mainly typogra phiCai, and with
every membvr present the budget
was approved. Some nice words
y ere expressed. and some compli-
meatary remarks made conct rning
the manner in which the Finance
Committee had handled the financial
situation, while Subcharman Fuller
was congratulated upon the manner
in which he explained the various
items.
The budget as printed in The Vir-
giniaE on last Saturday passed with
out the change of a figure.
Before tho budget was reached in
the course o' business. what is known
as the little budget which accom-
panies the regular document every
veal was presented by MIR Fuller.
One Of the ripples referred 10 stirred
the surface of the otherwise placid
meeting, during the reading OF this
supplemental paper.
The hftie Budget.
The little budget provides for a
bond issue of s345. 900, and gives the
city the right to borrow money for
emergencies until the incidentals lead
ing up to tine bond issue are perfect
ed
Another ripple was occasioned when
Mr.. English arose to a question of
personal privilege. He stated that
since the ordinance amending the gas
ordinances. by which property, owners
are relieved Of responsibility for un-
paid gas bills, he had been censured
and condemned by citizens all over the
city.
Indignant Councilman.
i have been charged with being re-
sponsihle for the arbitrary and auto
cratic manner in which the Gas In
spector has been conducting himself
since that ordinance became law
The present law is plain enough. II
provides that the inspector shah use
his discretion and common sense in
enforcing the gas measure lie is not
compelled to require deposits for un-
used gas. People who have been using
and paying for gas for many years
are now being called upon to make
deposits before the gas can be turned
on or continued. and they are being
threatened with a curtailment of their
privileges.
"All this is being laid at my door.
The ordinance was adopted BY the
City Council with but one dissenting
vote, that of Councilman Rogers I
am not wholly responsible for that. /
offered the resolution by request and
IL beiieve IL a just ordinance. But the
ordinance does not require the in
spector to impose hardships upon the
people of the community
and that this resolution be adopted:
That the Administrative Board be
requested 10 investigate the methods
being pursued by the Gas Department.
and to report to this body whether
or not they are commensurate with
the spirit of the ordinance which has
been upon the statute books since
1869 long before / saw the light OF
day"
Mr., Pollock agreed with Mr. Eng
lish that injustice had been done ana
that the Gas ONCE had not been US
ing its good Judgment, and s1e hoped
the resolution offered by Mr.. English
would be adopted The rules were
suspended and the resolution was
adoptd unanimously.
For New Hospital.
A resolution from the Administra-
tive Board to the Mayor and from
him to Council, asking that an ap-
prpriation of s350.000 be made for
the purpose OF erecting a suitable
city hospital upon q site to be here
after chosen. was sent to the Com
mttee on Utilities, and the bill for
toll charges over the First and Fifth
Street viaducts. sent the Administra-
tive Board, was referred TO the Com
mittee on Claims.
Council concurred in the ordinance
appropriatins $3.50 for the City Plan
ming exhibit, and an ordinance ap-
propriating s2,2l4 for improvements
along Shockoe Creek, at Dinneen and
Hospital Streets was also agreed to.
The ordinance acquiring the sewer
and water plant from Woodland
Heights the amount necessary to be
taken from the bond issue for an
nexed territory. was adopted
Resolutions from the Finance Com
mittee raising the salary of the deputy
clerk of Hastings Court. Part III, to
5000. and the deputy sergeant to 81 900.
were adopted.
MFR. English made a brisk skirmish
to have the number of health fnspec-
tors In the Health Department raised
from seven to nine. but his fight wac
unavailing. as 1t was shown by Mr..
Fuller that the city was spending all
that later the extra men would be
engaged.
The ordinance providing for the es-
Establishment of Juvenile and Domestic
Relations Court was sent to the FL
nance Committee.
Ordinances providing for the pay
ment OF the city of three per cent to
all persons who have funds deposited
with the Gas Department. and for city
payment for leakage and repairs to
water connections, were referred to
the Ordinance Committee.
Mr.. FERGUSON introduced resoiu-
ton asking the COMMITTEES on Streets
to look into the advisability of the
purchase of the First Fifth and Mar
shall Street viaducts by the city, for
free traffic, which was sent to the
Committee on streets.
The report OF the Special Commit
tee on New Municipal Building. ask
ing for an appropriation of $500 for
the prosecution of the work, and ac-
cepting the plans as presented by Car
neal & Johnston. was referred to the
Finance Committee.
The report OF the special Com
mittee on Redistricting the city was
adopted. The report gives the city
thirty-one precincts--seven in Jeffer-
son and Clay Wards each. nine in
Madison Ward and eight In Lee.
Al