The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-05
TO CAREFULLY REVISE
ALL TRAFFIC LAWS
Petersburg Council Will Consider Nee
cssary Amendments to Exist
ing Ordinances.
I.AvENsTEINs GET VERDICT
First Of Ninety four Insurance SHIFTS
partmcnt Store Owners.

Petersburg, Va. Nov. AT the
regular monthly meeting of he Com
mon Council held last evening much
business of Importance was transact
ed. The more important of which
was the following
Two communications were received
from the Mayor, one recommending
The placing of additional street lights
AT points where they are much need
ed and the other containing several
recommendations. First. that all or
finances passed since the city code
was published and all amended orai-
nances be printed in pamphlet form
and distributed among the city of
fieers for their information
Second, the appointment of n COM
rnittee to carefully consider revision
OF the traffic laws, especially as
regards automobiles
Third. the passage of an ordinance
prohibiting cars being left standing
without a driver IN any Of tt1e paved
streets in the city between the hours
OF p. NJ. and A NJ.
Fourth. an appropriation for the
purchase Of motorcycle with cor
rect speed onefer TO enable an officer
80 correctly report the excessive speed
OF any machine. All the above rec
concentrations were referred TO the
proper ommitiees.
Chairman Charles T, I4assiter. OF the
committee OF twenty five representing
the Citizens League. Was present and
addressed the Council in the interest
OF an appropriation to aid in building
a public highway between Petersburg
and Hopewell. After much discussion,
which at times grew heated. the re-
port OF the Finance Committee offered
at the last regular meeting of the
Council adverse TO an Appropriation
OF $4,000 for the above purpose was
laid over until later meeting. An
ordinance Was then submitted pro-
viding for an Appropriation Of $500
to aid in building the road instead OF
$4,000 This ordinance was referred
TO the Finance Committee. with the
request that report be made upon
II at an early date.
The awarding of a contract for GER
tain street paving to a Richmond con-
tractor caused sharp and somewhat
personal discussion with reference TO
giving out contracts to outside parties
for work that should be done by local
contractors.
During an exciting discussion upon
the question Of building an overhead
walkway over Maiden Lane, Council
man Mattox took offense at some re-
marks and left the chamber without
asking permission OF the presiding or
,ficer, and as he did so addressed re-
mark that might have been taken per-
sonally by the entire body.
The usual routine business, includ-
inx the receipt Of reports of the sew
eral city officers and making the reg
ular departmental appropriations was
transacted.
The treasurer's report showed ex-
penditures during October amounting
to s1S.0s2 with cash balance in
the treasury on November l of $lo2.-
as. Fines collected in the Police
Court for the month totaled 1915.
Find For Plaintin.
The Jury which for the past week
heard evidence in the case OF Laven-
stein Bros. VS.. the Hartford Fire In
surance Company for damages result
inr to their stock OF merchandise
when their store was destroyed by fire
on November 26. 1913. late last even
Ing returned verdict for the plain
tins for the full amount OF the poilcy
with interest from March s. 1914.
This case is one Of ninety-four. The
verdict Of the jury does not settle the
case, but IL simply an opinion OF
that body to the effect that II the
plaintiffs are entitled to any damages
under the policy upon which the suit
who brought that they are entitled
to the full amount. The attorneys
Of this city. and Henry j. Wyatt, of
New York. for the plaintiffs, George
G. Caskie. Of Lynchburg, and Richard
b. Davis, Of Petersburg. for the de-
Tense. They will argue the case be-
fore Judge Mullen at a later date.
Accepts Lynchburg Call.
Rev. H. Herman Martens. until re-
Gently pastor OF the Grove-Avenue
Baptist Church. has accepted unani-
nous cal to the passionate OF the Mad
ison Heights Baptist Church. Lynch
burg. Mr. Marten- has entered upon
his pastoral duties with his new con-
gregation, but will continue to reside
in Petersburg for the present.
The Madison Heights Church has a
membership OF about AIS. Mr.. Mar
ten will commence a series OF evan
gelistic meetings, doin. the preaching
himself, for his new congregation on
next Sunday.
Convention In Session.
The second days session Of the
Negro Organization Society In conven-
ton here waa held With the Oak
4 Gn6et Afriean.1le&hcdis Episcopal
d loo GAMxoM IN ssl1 ygas aaxgely ~