The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-04
COUNCIL MEMBERS
IN PERSONAL CLASH
DIsCJ ssIoN OF DISAGREEMENT AS
TO STREET COMMITTEE MAT
TIERS CAUSES FRICTION.

petersburg Va Feb. 3.-The regular
monthly meeting OF the Common Coun-
ell. held last evening with all of the
twenty four members of the body pres
ent. wound up wtnth personal en-
counter between Councilman Reinach,
a member OF the Street Committee, and
Councilman q. W. MattoN, former
chairman Of the street Committee. in
which several blows were passed in
the corridor just outside the Coun-
ell Chamber. The difficulty arose over
a discussion OF difference which
exists between CITY Engineer Budd and
the street Committee, as To the manner
Of signing vouchers sent ny Mr.. Rudd
to the chairman Of the Street Com
mittee.
l., developed that voucher was sent
Chairman J. +. Jones. % the street
Committee. by the city Engineer
some time ia December Ia which was
attached three bills showing the pur-
pose for which the voucher was Is
sued The voucher was signed proper
IL. but the bills which bore the follow
ing marks 20. X, Il D. Budd." in
lead pencil, in the opinion of Chair
man Jones, was not properly certified
and they were promptly returned to
Mr. Budd with the request that he
mark them. Measured examined and
to which request the Ctty Engineer
refused to accede. Whereupon. Mr.
Jones refused to sign tho voucher and
the contractors who had done the work
went unpaid,
Not First tnpIeasantness-
From what can be learned this WAS
not the first unpleasantness that has
occurred between the street Commit
tee and Mr., Budd. and the City. En-
gineer asked the opinion Of the City
Attorney as TO whether the original
certification was sufficient. Being in
formed that it was sufficient he stoutly
refused to depart from the custom Of
certifying the bills which had been
in use for many years.
When II was evident last night that
discussion would arise over the mat
ter. which would not result to the
good OF any of the parties concerned.
Councilman Mckenney offered a motion
To adjourn. which was defeated and
the discussion was entered into.
After hearing the statement of the
City Engineer and hearing II discussed
by several members of the body it
was thought that the matter would
be settled amicably when Mr.. Rsinach
was recognized by the chair and in
the course OF his remarks made what
Mr. Mattox thought an unwarranted
statement with reference 10 the trans
actions of the old Street Committee.
Mr.. Mattox demanded an apology,
which was not made by Mr., Reinach.
and later the Two got together in
the corridor in a manner which might
have resulted seriously bat for the
prompt interference of members of the
Council and spectators.
A Compromise Recommendation.
A motion offered by Councilman
Prince TO sustain the recommends
ton of the Street Committee was
finally withdrawn and a substitute mo-
ton offered by MIR. Wheary requiring
the CITY Engineer in the future TO
certify his vouchers in ink as fol-
lows ri. Robert n Budd, city
Engineer was adopted II 10 3, Messrs.
Wells and Hargrave having left the
Council Chamber before the motion
was put to vote.
The view taken by MIR. Jones as To
the certification of the bills accom-
panying vouchers seems to have been
In his opinion to the interest of the
city, In which he was sustained by
Mckinney and several
others
The reports OF the several city Off
GERS were received and ordered filed.
and all departmental bills were ordered
paid.
A resolution for approprfa tfons
amounting to ts.6s5 for street Improve
ments was referred to the proper
S~vx, AnA orAfua ~A k.r