Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-16
.DEFERs FINAL ACTION
ON HOSPITAL ORDINANCE
settlement Between DIR. Tucker
and His Neighbors.
OFFERS MADE AND WITHDRAWN
Property Owners May Buy Physicians
Holding at Madison and Franklin.
If Sale Is Consummated Ordinance
VIII Be Dropped.

Indications pointing to the possibil-
fly of an agreement between DR.. Rev-
erly r. Tucker and Franklin Street
property owners who oppose his sana-
torium at Madison and Franklin
Streets led the Board of Aldermen
last night to defer final action on the
hospital ordinance until Friday night.
in the hope that in the meantime both
sues may agree on private settle
ment. and thus allow the pending ordi-
nance TO die a decent death
Although the ordinance which pro-
htbits the establishment OF hospital
within 800 feet of q church. school or
hotel, is drawn in general terms. and
is ostensiDly n measure designed for
the general welfare. and. therefore,
presumably meritorious piece Of
legislation in itself, it was tacitly
assumed by the Board from the begin
ming that the sole issue was the prob
lem presented by the Tucker Sana-
torium.
OFFER TO BUY DIR. TUCKER
OUT AT COST OF INVESTMENT
When the ordinance was reported
city Clerk August read the numerous
letters and petitions from citizens ap-
proving or opposing the measure. In
this mass Of documentary evidence was
letter from Attorney Andrew Chris
tian, addressed to DR.. Tucker, Offering
on the part of responsible citizens to
take over the Harrison property for
.ooo-the price which DIR. Tucker is
reported to have contracted 10 pay
for it,
1t was explained in n letter from
DR.. Tucker that the time limit for
accepting this offer was fixed for 1880
o'clock last night DR.. Tucker claimed
that the matter was presented to him
at such short notice that he did not
have time to give it due consideration
berore the Board met half an hour
later.
Alderman Pullcr, upon the reading
or this correspondence, moved that the
vote on the pending ordinance be de-
ferred for one hour to afford to the
two sides an opportunity to hold con-
ference for the purpose OF settling the
hospital controversy privately by the
taking over of DR.. fuckers obligations.
The motion was carried unanimously.
WITHDRAW OFFER TO BUY
AFTER EXTENDED CONFERENCES
City Clerk August rendered the use
or his office. and the bclligercnts re-
tired for conference. which lasted
until after II o'clock In the mean
time, the Board disposed OF he rest
OF Its docket. AT ii O'Clock. with all
business disposed of, the Board sat
down to a period of watchful waiting
pending an announcement from the
committee room.
According to unofficial accounts OF
the conference. DR. Tucker held out at
first for n bonus of $500 to com
pensate him for heavy expenditures for
advertising and legal services. which
the other side refused to pay. Finally.
however, DR.. fuckers attorneys Of
fered fatty to accept the proposition
made in the letter sent to DR.. Tucker
by Andrew Christian.
Attorney Christian held an animated
conference with the citizens who were
concerned in the purchasing offer, and
announced that these had decided to
withdraw the offer. He pointed out
that the Tucker faction had rejected
former offers OF n similar character and
were now constrained to accept 1t as
last resort In the face of impending
defeat The parties to the offer, he
CONTINUED on Third Page.)