Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-04
C0UNC|LMEN ENGAGE
IN PERSONAL COMBAT
They Arc Quickly Separated by by.
ISLANDERS, and Neither Suf-
fcrs Injury.
EXCITING SCENE IN CHAMBER
Argument Over Orders Given to City
Engineer Grows So Heated That
Encounter Results - Differences
Finally Are Smoothcd Over.
Especial to The Times Dispatch. ]

Especial TO The Times Dispatch.1
PETERSBURG. VA. February g.
shortly before the adjournment OF the
council. about midnight last night, an
exciting and somewhat personal dis
cussion was sprung on the question OF
the ccrt!ication Of warrants sent by
The city engineer TO the street COM
mittec. In December two vouchers.
certified By the engineer az 20. *"
with the bills attached. indorscd in
pencil, were refused payment by the
chairman of the street committee and
returned to the city engineer to be
certified i'm ink, with the Endorsement
that the work i'm question had been
measured. examined and accepted" by
him. Engineer Budd declined to COM
ply with the request. and I'm eNplana-
Ton stated that in signing the vouch-
.rs he had followed Il custom in vogue
Tor many years, and that inasmuch as
hc was a bonded officer OF the city. he
deemed II proper that his orders should
come from the Council In the form OF
an ordinance. and not in the nature Of
q demand from the street committee
y motion that In the future all vouch-
crs and bills certified by the city en-
gincer should show on their face that
the work in question had been "meas-
nred. examined and accepted" yave
rise TO heated discussion. In which
At times much feeling was shown.
Cooler heads IN the Council. foresceing
trouble, tried to calm the excitement
Finally matters became 80 personal
hall leading to tho chamber between
two Councilmen. The parties were
quickly separated, however. and no in
jury was sustained. After quiet had
been restored n motion was made and
adopted that the city engineer In fu
turo should certify his vouchers as
20. X" In ink. but he is not required
To state that he has measured, eX
am'ned and accepted the particular
work In question. Last nights incl
dent was a marked exception to the
general rule OF Council proceedings,
which are ordinarily calm and digniiied.
The Council transacted the usual
routine business. receiving the reports
OF the various city officers. and making
appropriations TO meet the expenses
Of the several municipal departments.
on recommendation OF the finance com
m!ttee appropriations were made Of
$1,000 for a clearing alum Alter, 1000
TO pay the assessors OF real estate, $500
for the purchase OF wood for the poor
and $500 for tn. purchase OF rock
crusher for the city. The sum OF Si.2So
was appropriated to pay a bill due on
the new incinerator. and s625 for the
purchase Of AN additional safe for the
treasurcrs Office and $500 TO pay for
numbering the houses OF the city as
per contract
Councilman Mckinney offered an or
dinance. which was adopted. reducing
tho wharfage rates on stone and gran
IL. from Is cents TO ; cents per ton
II was explained that In the early
future n large granite quarry Is to be
he opened in D!nwiddic County, and
that the concern To operate 1t Is
bidding on contract for l.500,-
900 tons OF granite for the erection
"f bulk head on the coast OF North
Carolina, and that the wharfage
charges OF - cents per ton on the
shipments would be onerous. IL not pro-
hihitivc. Much, other business OF minor
Importance was transacted By the
council.