The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-03
DEFINES HOW NATIONAL
ANTHEM MAY Be PLAYED
Thcaters, Restaurants and similar
Public places, Must Render '"Star-
Spanglcd Banner" Only As Dis
tinct Composition.
TRAFFIC LAWS OPPOSED.
Water and Gas Works Consolidation
Fails in Consolidation, and Recon-
mitted TO Finance Committee.
Council has heavy docket.

abuse the sentiment of The Star
Spangled Banner" and especially in
view of the ordeal through which this
country is about TO pass, Councilman
Fred r. Powell last night offered the
following ordinance for adoption:
An Ordinance
To define the conditions under which
The Star-Spangled Banner may
be played in the city Of Richmond.
BE il ordained by the council of the
city Of Richmond:
!. That In the ity Of Richmond
THE Star Spangled Banner" shall
hereafter be played. sung or rendered
in any place, or at any public enter
tainment. or in any theater or motion
picture hall, restaurant or cafe. only
as an entire and separate composition
or number, without embellishments of
national or other melodies: nor shall
The Star Spangled Banner or any
part thereof or selection therefrom, he
played as a part of a medley of any
kind: nor shall The Star Spangled
Banner" or any part thereof. nor the
Introduction or prelude thereto. be
played as an exit march.
,. Any person violating any of the
provisions OF this ordinance shall be
liable to a 7ne of not less than ten
nor more than one hundred dollars
for each offense, recoverable before
the police justice of the city OF Rich
mond.
8 This ordinance shall be in force
from its passage.
This ordinance grew out OF the
wide practice in this city Of playing
without regard to its true significance
the national anthem on all ocea sions
and the paper offered by Mr.. Powell
Ea ne nIo a
national air on it's proper plane.
Traffic Laws sent Back.
After a heated discussion lasting
more than two hours. and threaten
ing at times to break all the bonds OF
parliamentary procedure. the new
traffic ordinance, referred to the coun-
ell from the subcommittee on ordi-
names. was recommitted to it's original
committee for further consideration.
Disagreement arose over the speed
limit for automobiles and other
vehicles, and this feature is largely
responsible for the failure of the
paper to pass the council. ii is thought
AS the regulations now stand, and as
they will he reconsdered, the limit Is
fifteen miles in the restricted districts
OF the city, in the outlying districts
twenty miles per hour. and the police
and fire vehicles are restricted to
twenty miles an hour with absolute
right of way
President Peters. of the council.
stated that the ordinance with it's
present restrictions on all hands could
not possibly he observed unless per-
sons operating vehicles should carry
a copy OF the ordinance and q police
man" with them all the time. On the
motion of Mr.. sullivan. the whole
n1afya Ia rl m
mittee,
Rv the new regulations. all drivers
in the city must have a permit from
the chief of police and in addition
must pass an examination for driving
which is to be approved by the chief
No person under sixteen years OF age
will he allowed to drive car within
city limits. These measures did not
meet with any opposition in the toun-
Gil,
Opposed to Consoiida ton.
resolution to consolidate the wa
ter and gas departments, which has
been before the council for sometime.
"as recommitted last night. on motion
OF Mr. Seaton, to the finance commit
tee. The measure was recommended
to the committee previously by Ac-
countant Golfer. and others, but Mr..
Mills has contended since the begin
hlig VI tiie HIstuSSloN tfat the m owe
will cost the CITY a large amount of
money. The resolution provides that
water and gas bills be made In one.
and that they be cent to consumers
every month. This would necessitat,
the making OF zoe. goo additional state
ments each month, Mr.. Mills pointed
out, and would require considera BILE
addition To the office force OF the wa
ter and gas departments.
The council concurrod in resolu-
ton authorizing the hoads of all de-
par;ments under control of the ad-
ministrative board, the mayor and
he fire commissioners. to hold a sur
vey of their respective departments
in order To determine what is needed
| 70 make them more efficient and to
give in strictest detail the transaction
OF all their affairs. ON motion of Mr.
| tmlauf. the school board was re-
quested to submit a similar report OF
their work, although they are not
responsible to the council for any OF
their work
An ordinance, upon suggestion of
Mayor Ainslie, providing that street
cars on diverging lines must stop al
the near side of intersecting streets
with the exception of cars leaving
Broad and Main streets, which will
object of this as set out. was TO pre-
vent congestion OF traffic in loading
and unloading cross-town cars when
they proceed along intcrsecting
streets.
Bids for New fTcnchisc.
Bids for the franchise of the High
| land Park rerouring scheme we're call
ed for by the council. and the only
bidder being the Virginia Railway and
Power Co, with an offer of s. for the
franchise. the matter was referred to
The street committee to report TO the
next meeting of the council
On recommendation of the finance
, COMMITTEES. the council voted TO in
struct the city attorney TO AFFECT a
compromise with the various railroad )
operated in the city In regard to the
tan litigation now pending in the cir
cult court This controversy grew out
of discrepancy in the city's assess
ment of railroad common carrier stock,
which was at Variance with the assess
ment made by the corporation commits
sion. The railroads agreed to compro-
misc the suits. and this Will mean an
increase of approximately $4,000
revenue to the city yearly.
\ resolution from the charter change
committee. asking $1,000 for the ex-
penses of that committee. was referred
TO the finance committee for consid-
GRAFTON. 1t is proposed TO inam ediately