Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-19
Administrative BOARD
IS SHARPLY CRITICIZED
Failure to Return Gas Lease Papers
Requested to DO SO Brings
Comment.
APPEAL MADE TO CITY COUNCIL
Committee on Public Utilities Asks
Aid In Getting Papers Back Into
It's PosscSSion-BOnrtl Shining
Failure, Says Councilman BatIkins.

Failure on the part OF the Admins
trative Board to return last night to
the Council Pubic Utilities Commit
tee the papers bearing on the gas
lease matter. caused the committee to
adopt tart resolution appealing to
tho Council for assistance In getting
the leasing offer and all accompany
Ing papers back into the committees
possession.
The resolution was adopted 10y a
vote of TO .. after members had given
pointed expression to their impatiencc
at the Administrative Boards lack OF
consideration for the committees
specific request. made At its last rcgu-
lar meeting, that the papers accom-
panied by Il detailed report from tho
board, 10 returned to il In time for
last nights meeting.
Clerk of Council Committee. Nc
Dowell. told OF appearing before the
board ut yesterdays session and re-
mindinC Commissioner Beck OF the
fact that the committee would meet
at night in the expectation OF rccciv-
Ing the boards report. Mr.. Beck. IL
is stated, brought the matter to tho
boards attention but that body failed
10 enter an order and the report was
not sent over.
BATT<INS SHARP IN
CRITICISM or HOARD
Councilman Batkins was particular
ly sharp In his criticism. He was
getting tired rs n committeeman" lie
said, "of requesting tho board to do
things which II is paid to do, and did
not intend TO do any moro begging
AS body created to expedite tho
transaction of the city's business" no
said, the board, in this instance AZ
least, has proved to be shining fill
ure."
City Attorney Pollard was consulted
over the telephone as to the procedure
that was open TO the committee. lie
Informed II that II was powerless to
tho papers dealing with the matter
are returned by tho board and are
once more In its possession.
For tho purpose of reinforcing it's
request for the return OF the papers.
said Mr.. Pollard. two courses were
open. The committee could appeal TO
the Council laying the circumstances
before that body. or 1t could appoint
a subcommittee to wait on the board
and stand by until the request was
complied with or denied.
Clerk Mcdowell read the letter adj
dressed by him to the board specific
ally requesting the return Of tho
papers, accompanied by n detailed re-
port, in time for the meeting last night.
Councilman Pitcher was In favor OF
making still one more request. ex-
pressing his belief that the matter
had not Intentionally been delayed by
the Administrative Board.
COUNCIL INFORMED
OF BOARDS DELAY
Councilman Atkinson offered a sub
stltute motion informing the Council
OF the situation with regard to the
Withholding Of the papers bearing on
the gas lease question, and asking 1t
to demand their return, accompanied
with detailed report. of the consid-
erations that led the board 10 recon-
mend the unqualified rejection of the
leasing offer of the Southern Gas and
Electric Corporation. Tho motion was
adopted by tho following vote:
Ayes-Councilmen jefferson C. Pow
ers, Batkins and Atkinson and Alder
men Joseph e. Powers and Mitchell. ;.
Noes-Councilman Pitcher and Chris
tian.
The committee took from the table
the communication from the boa rd ~
directors OF the Chamber OF Commerce
recommending the abandonment OF the
project to erect a new municipal build
Ing on the Ford Hotel site and favor
ing the sale of this property TO the
State, and voted to send II back to tho
Council with the recommendation that
1T be sent to the Finance Committee.
A report from Fire Chief Jovnee
complaining Of poor water pressure en-
countered at several recent fres. was
ordered sent to the Administrative
Board as the proper body to deal with
questions affecting pressure and water
supply.