Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-04

! secure adequate supply. according to
/ the statement of the fire chief and
! members OF the Fire Board. who were
! on the scene, which statement was We
/ hcmcnuy denied by Graham b. Hob
! son. commissioner in charge OF the
| Water Works.
Failure of the Gas Works to function
during the fuel shortage last wintcr
was probably not due to any failure on
the part Of the board as MANY other
utilities suffered from lack of coal and
oil. Nevertheless the Inconvenience 10
many thousands of people on that oc-
caslon caused much criticism OF the
board for not having installed more
adequate storage tanks and made tho
works independent of the daily need
OF supply by railway
PROMISED ECONOMIES
FAILED TO APPEAR
In recent months the Administrative
Board has made many promises ~
great economies. none OF which has
as yet matcrialized. Announcement,
was made some months ago that ar
engagements had been made to sell tn.
citYS garbage TO a contractor. who
would make daily collections ana re-
ducc its waste TO some useful purpose
but so far no such contractor has ap-
pearec on the scene and the present
inadequate and occasional remova' or
garbage by carts Of the Street Clean
Ing Department continues spasnudicsI-
ly
Similarly. there has been promise OF
saving OF large sums 10 an already /
"verburden"d treasury through the
sale Of surplus electric current :or /
IN" ciiy'S plant. bus 50 Ear no suvn ,
sal" has been made. and the report has |
been mad" to II Council committee that
tho current to BE- sold is derived by .
l.sSering the candle power Of stree. .
lamps ard by using coal tor pur'i,ins
city water instead of water power
Whether the board is to blame or
not the fact remains that the city
treasury is largely overdrawn. Re-
Gently A short-tcrm issue OF 100000
in bonds was made TO take UP part os
this floating debt and stu more re-
Gently the Finance Committee has had
TO borrow 100000 from local bankers
to anticipate the payment Of taAcs
Notwithstanding the fact that tie city
was running further and further be
hind. the Administrative Board hac
each year asked for more money than .
the total expected income OF the city.
leaving. were tie Council 10 have /
granted its demands, nothing whatever
for schools. police or fire protector
or the interest on the city's debt.
NEITHER SIDE FREE
FROM "SuRMARISt:" METHODS /
In the campaigns fer the abolitio.. of |
the board, neither side can We ah- |
solved of the charge OF submarine /
methods. since adheronts OF each hava
SOrcad rumOrs where they would make
no direct assertion. So the friends O.
The board have spread the report tina;
the change Was intended mercy -
get control OF the Gas Work., not
ncmtionirE tho fact that any l-as. or
sale q. tho Gas Works has 10 be plsSeG
on by the voters OF the city; rep1rts
have beer spread about 'onc-'nar gov
eminent" aud prirtcd card bearing
the inscription While oar boys arc
iightirG oneman rule in Europe lie,
as hGnt onc-n.1n rule il R,"htaond,
has hc"n circulated ny ely employees
under direction of board members.
AS matter of fact the charter
/ changes do not provide any 'one-ma
. rule" but actually lessen the patronage
and power OF the MAJOR by taking the
Police department from his direct con-
. troll and placing IL under an appointivc
( director OF public safety. who Will
have no incentive to use the activities