The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-11
UNCLE SAM URGES SALE
Of SURPLUS CURRENT
Suggestion or Administrative Board l.
Endorsed by Official of Govern
mcnt Fuel Commission.
Question Is Now Before Finance Conn
mittec~May Save Many Tons OF
Coai--Skip-sto System Up Mon
day.

Uncle Sam is coming to the front
as a champion OF the administrative
board. and that body may have the
experience OF once again instiIling
itself in the favor Of the men who
have been kicking it around lately.
Some time ago the board discussed
the ady1sa bility OF disposing of the
surplus current from the city electric
plant. II was the unanimous senti-
ment OF the board that the city should
dispose of this surplus. thereby not
only deriving funds for the city's de-
pIeted treasury. but aiding In the con-
servation Of fuel for the general good
of the government.
Chairman HirsChberg was delegated
with the power of appearing before
the council committee on utilities with
the suggestion that the board be au-
thorized by ordinance To dispose of
the current to the highest bidder,
II was shown by Chairman Hirsch-
berg that the city had 1000 900 kilo-
wat hours more than it could use and
the sale OF this at the law price OF
only one cent an hour would net the
city sac. 900 annually. This commit
tee acted favorably upon the propo-
si,ion, and when the recommendation
was presented 10 common council that
body forwarded IL to the finance com e
mitiee for action This committee
Will meet in regular session on May
Fl and will take up the proposition.
There Is every indication that imme~
date action will be had and that the
board will he authorized by both
branches OF council and the mayor 10
proceed at once with the disposition
of the surplus current.
Government Urges Action.
In the meantime. the sovernm emit.
through the fuel administrator. ad-
dresses a letter to the board and to
the Virginia Railway and Power COM
pany. suggesting that the transaction
be entered into al once by the city
and the corporation.
The administrative board does not
wish to take anything away from I'm
Gle Sam, said Commissioner Hirsch-
berg last night. But II would like
to call attention TO the fact that the
idea is not A new one. and that the
board has considered it from every
aspect for a long time. and now only
awaits authority through an ordinance
TO enter into the negotiations
The public may he assured, 1t was
said last night that before fuel sea
son sets in again the city will be de-
irving financial dement's from it's water
power and its excess electric current
and the Virginia Railway and Power
company or some other large user of
current will he able to save from 5000
| TO 5000 tons of coal a year.
Skip-stop system.
In this connection il may also be
mentioned that at the next melting
of the street committee another mat
ter of interest TO the fuel administra-
tor will be discussed and probably dis
cussed and probably disposed of, The
petition of the Virginia Railway and
Power company for permission to in
stall the universal skip-stop system in
the city will be taken up
/ Fuel Administrator A, Beirne Blair
appeared before the committee at it's
| last meeting and urged that the skip
stop system be made compulsory on
the part Of the street car company
| because II would be the means of saw
ing about 5000 tons OF coal year.
| While the committee appeared in
| no humor TO grant the petition OF the
cor, pany, looking at ii from the stand
point of commercial proposition, yet
the body felt that IL such an amour,
OF coal could be saved the people the
request Of the fuel commissioner
might be granted.
| The street committee will meet next
Monday night at o'clock to consider
| the matter, at which time all citizens
| interested will be invited to appear
/ and address the committee. The gen.
eral proposition is opposed by this
Central Trades and Labor council. al
was stated at the last meeting of the
committee by Jesse c. Duke. it's repre-.
sentative, but, as Mr.. Duke eaid. the
labor people want to do everything
possible to help the government In III
/ prosecution OF the war to a victorious
end. and 1t is probable that n 1t Il
shown that the government will b.