The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-22
GAS DEPARTMENT is
GREATLY HANDICAPPED
Lack of Funds Initiates Against
Continued High Class
Service.
MUST LAY OFF EMPLOYEES
Without Necessary Appropriation Su-
perior Condition of Plant VIII be
Interfercd With-Appeal to Council.

report by superintendent hho"leT
that the funds in hand for the con-
duct of the Gas Department would
not meet the demands for the year.
and upon his recommendation tne
Board. on motion of Mr. Hooson' hotl E
fed five attaches of the Gas depart :
ment at the upper gas WORKS thaS
after April they would be renewed OF
further service, until funos were sup
piled by City Council,
Superintendent Knowles submitted
his report and recommendation IN
writing He said the department
would be considerably handicapped In
it's endeavors to give the people the
high class service which 1t is now
giving them. and deplored the fact
that some OF his workmen would
have to lose their places.
Former Procedure.
In wears past the Council commit
tees and tthe Administrative Board
met +hese emergencies by asking for
and securing additional appropriations
during the last months of the year.
The work was continued on the origl-
nal appropriation, and later council
always came across with a sufficient
appropriation to cover any possible
defcit
Under the provisions of the amend
ed charter. however, which became
effective on July I, no department OF
the city may provide for the expen-
diture Of more money than that en-
braced in the appropriations made
in the annual budget. except by
four-ffths vote of the City Council.
The men to be laid off the first of
May, all attached to the upper gas
works. are: c. @. Reid. OTTO Hotties,
l. II Ragland. w. L. Hill r. V.
Moran. -
owing to the shortage the super
intendent has failed to ill four places
caused by death resignation and dis
charge, making q total OF nine now
dropped from tho payroll.
Ask Council to Appropriate.
Mr. Hobson moved that the letter
Of the superintendent he transmitted
To the Council, through the Mayor.
for the information Of that body. with
the request that II make the neces-
sary appropria lions.
\ letter written by John a. Tray
Tor to Chairman J. r Christian Of
tire Subcommittee on Utilities, con-
cerning the purchase If city farm,
in whirh MI Traylor says tho selec-
ton Of the Newstead farm by the
committee met his approval, and he
was glad thar II also met the ap-
proval ana consent az tho Administra
tive Board, was read.
Commissioner Illrschhere moved
that Mr. Traylor ue informed that
the Administrative board had taken
no action whatever in the selection
or approval CT p selection of such a
farm. nor would IT untl so author
ICED to do so by the City Council
Coan-Up Season.
or u1o4FsD af Mr. fIirSrh berg the
Board passed a resolution calling
upon all citizens 10 observe the period
between May and June ] az dress
up, cleanup and paint-up' season.
All citizens are urged 70 FIX mp their
premises, and the newspapers are re-
ouested 70 aid in the necessary pub
Lefty toward that end.
Superintendent Davis Of the Water
Department, suggested that fre
plug be located on Lombardy Street.
near the railroad crossing, 10 help in
any necessary protection TO the plant
of Sitterdinc, Carneal and Davis The
superintendent also suggested that the
Are plug 1T the Warner Moore mill.
now located near the building, be
removed further away, as IN case OF
fire the plug would be of absolutely
no service TO the department. Both
matters were left TO the superinten-
dent ana the chief OF the Fire De
pa ~ ment,
IN his letter TO the Board, in ref
erence to the Dismissal OF men from
the Gas Department. superintendent
Knowles says.
ss2. 723.25 Short OF Needs
Tn compliance with your instruc-
tons. beg leave TO report that the
Finance Committee IN acting upon
our budget OF wants cut our payroll
estimate s6.21s.25. and our extension
and Improvement estimate s26,505.
making a total cut OF s32.Tc325, and
unless this deficit is provided. for by
the City Council at once we shall
have 10 curtail our force at the upper
gas worrs Immediately, which will
certainly cripple this department and
prevent Us rrom giving our consumers
the highest standard Of service they
are now receiving
II would recommend that that
while the Council Is considering this
appropriation the employes whose
names appear on list attached here
with be dropped from the payroll of
the upper gas works until the City
Council makes the appropriation asked
for. If You will refer to the ordi-
nance OF appropriations for the fiscal
year of 1915, section 3 YOU may note
the following:
Ihat the amounts herein shall he
deemed to he the limit of amounts
10 be expended by any committee,
Administrative Board, or head of de-
partments. respectively, except by
transfer authorized by the Council.
and that for any debt created by any
committee, Administrative Board. or
head of department in excess of any
appropriation herein. unless author
ized by the City Council. the City of
Richmond shall be. held in no wise
responsible
IL you will refer to our budget OF
wants, which was submitted 10 the /
Finance Committee by your Board af
ter thorough investigation of each ac-
count. YOU being thoroughly satisfied
that II would require every dollar
asked for to successfully operate this
department, YOU will note the deficit.
Explained to Committee.
"Yodr chairman and myself were
requested to appear before the RI
nance Committee and explain that IL
was necessary to have the amounts
asked for to successfully run the de-
partment. We appeared before that
body and put particular stress upon
our payroll and extension accounts
and informed the committee that this
payroll estimate was based upon the
number of employees and their rate
os compensation and would admit of !