Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-02
Investigation OF GAS
DEPARTMENT PROPOSED
council Votes Unanimously for Eng
fish Resolution, Directing
Such Inquiry.
GROWS OUT OF DEPOSIT RULE
tlny Ward Councilman Says He Has
heen OutrageoiisIy Misrepresented
10y CITY Department, Which Cross
~ Abused Discretion Vested I'm II

Rising to n question of personal
privilege late in the session OF the
common Council last night Councilman
Edgar Il. English, OF Clay Ward, de-
lircrcd passionate Indictment against
the Gas Departments conduct with re-
spect to requiring advance deposits
from gas users. and charged II with
nelhE responsible in large part for
me circulation Of rumors, in which
nc and his motives have been cont
rageously misrepresentation"
rs patron of the ordinance recently
passed which relieved propcrty-owncrs
from liability for the delinquent gas
bills of their tenants, he said. rumors
nave bccn circulated that he was re-
spohsRle Tor the proceedings of the
Nas department In the matter of safe
guarding the payment OF gas bills.
introduced the ordinance relieving
property owners and voted for It, Just
MS this Council voted for it. because
regarded II Just and moral meas
urc' declared Mr.. English Had
forcseen. however. how the Gas De-
hartmcnt would retaliate by a gross
abuse or the discretion in the matter
OF requiring deposits which Is re-
posed In IT by an ordinance which was
passed before | was born: had know
that the Gas Department would proce cd
III the arbitrary ana autocratic man
ner that IT has. should never have
introduced the ordinance
SAYS Ill: HAS nEEN ouTRaGEors,y
"iNhEPRESENT'i:D ny DEP RT'MENr
nave been outraEeously misrepro-
ce"'cu as being responsible for the
las departments new proceedings
Rumors have been circulated ana m.,,,
OF them have reached my cars th,,
was me patron OF an ordinance re
p"IF'HS the Gas Department To demand
a deposit from every user of yas In
Inspection or the ordinance under
Mhlch inc department IS acting shows
t"'t the law was passed in lS69--beforc
! was born. This law merely nuthor-
res the inspector of gas in his dlscro-
non |" require an advance dcposit n
circumstances warrant IT.
instead OF exercising this discreet ion
:, WA 'mei't has deliberately abused
~, aho the odium of this abuse has becn
"'ttcted towards me rs patron of an
ordinance which should have had no,h
me 10 DO with it. have becn n,,J
me victim OF outrageous mlsreproson,a
.ioh, most of 1t, as understand
,n .i,S from the Gas Dcpa cnt
anu VIII not sit supinely by ana nor.
mt myself TO be made a scanorooi"
RULES SUSPENDED AND
RESOLUTION ADOPTED
AS an act designed TO correct the in
Justicc done him. Mr.. English asked the
'ouhcil 10 suspend the rules and mass
a resolution calling for an investiro-
tioh INTO the procedure adopted bv In.
Gas department with reference to de-
POST requirements The resolution
which was adopted by a unanirnou.
vote. follows:
lie II resolved by the Common Conn
Gil. the Board Of Alderman concurring
mat the Administrative Board H.. ana
IL is hereby requested 10 inyestirote
ana examine into the nature of the
pohcy now being pursued by the Gas
department in the requirement Of de-
poS!ts IN advance, or other security. to
secure payment of gas bills, and to as
certain II the said department is re-
nulrihS deposits. or other security, from
consumers in instances wherein such
precaution is not necessary or nroper
or Is otherwise abusing the discretion
prescribed III section % Of chapter 30
OF the Richmond City Code I9lO) And
said Board is further requested to
make report OF the result of said In
VestiGation TO this body.
councilman Pollock Joined Mr. Eng
llsh IN appealing TO the Council to pass
the resolution denouncing the rumors
ana reports to which exception had
been taken by the Councilman from
Gay Ward. rs an ''unwarranted abuse"
OF Mr. English He called the Gas
Departments procedure "a Wholesale
and outrageous abuse OF the discretion
that was expected of IT"