The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-07

I, cases and made 80 arrests; sos nom
! probation cases received attention,
and f04 persons were aided. They
collected s4C.1l2.es from non support
probationers and turned the money
over to their families.
Fire Department.
Our IRE loss again showed de-
crease over the year before, and a
reduction Of almost fifty per cent of
the loss of two years ago, The total
loss was s23S,21s.s2, made up of
sll4500.45 on buildings and st23.-
SlS.i1 on contents. In view of the
very large increase in values. this is
sn exceedingly good showing. Dur
tns the year the departmen respond
ed 10 Sill alarms of fire. 1873 less than
the year before. and | believe that
Moth OF these gratifying decreases are
fairly attributable to the constant sys-
tenn of inspection of buildings main
tanned by the department. During
the year 27,0T4 inspections were
made. Our losses would be still fur
Their reduced il all owners of prop
crty would act Immediately upon the
advice and suggestions of the inspec-
tors whose only objec, is to save them
and their neighbors from loss
The department suffered "A serious
loss by the resignation of thirty-tiVe
of its younger members, most of whom
left the service to take positions pay
ing better wages. and offering more
agreeable working conditions II can
not be expected that the city depart
ments can keep their intelligent &C
tive young men indefinitely while their
interiors are doing so much better
for themselves in the world.
! strongly urge you to harkeu 10
the boards recommendation con
corning the complete motorization OF
the apparatus No new equipment
was added last year. Motor apparatus
has long ago proved it's superior ef-
fciency and economy. and such ex-
penditures are justifable upon every
sound rea son.
BY the death or Captain \. r. Law
renee the department lost one OF it's
oldest. and most faithful and efficient
members He had given thirty-f1re
years Of his life 10 the service and
his loss is deeply mourned by his many
friends in and out OF the depart
ment
law Department
The report of the city attorney
shows suits and appeals pending
January /, 1917 1870. suits and mo
tons commenced, appeals docketcd
IN Hastings court and suits in Civil
Justices court during the year 2569
making a total OF 2.159. Suits ap-
peaks to hustingS court and suits in
civil Justices court disposed Of dur
ing the year ninety lone. leaving pend
ing January /. 1918, 2.s6s
The very large increase In the mum
Der Of suits brought against the city
grew out OF the changes made in the
to- 1,x l..
were principally attacks upon the
merchants tax and The tax on bank
stock. An ADVERSE decision in the
Drewry-Hughes case, affirmed by the
supreme court OF appeals gave a
serious aspect to the city-s Interests
The court. however, granted an appl-
cation for a rehearing of the case.
which was had in November At the
time of the report decision had not
been rendered. but since that time the
court has delivered an opinion re-
versing its former opinion and de-
Gliding the case in favor Of the CITY
The winning OF the Old Dominion
Iron and Nail Works case. involving
the title Of the city to certain water
rights in James River. in the supreme
court of the United States. was a vic
tory of great importance to the city.
This. IN effect, also ffirrned the de-
cislon OF the supreme court of appeal
OF Virginia in the Grant case which
involved similar questions.
Public Employment Burcau
The third annual report of the COM
missioners Of the bureau shows that
S.ls4 employers tan increase of gao
over the previous year and Of 1915
over The first year) made applications
calling for 4,597 persons There we're
1,Slb persons registered for en- ploy-
ment a decrease OF f4o9 over the
previous year, To these resistrants
5.Ii9 positions were offered and re
turn-cards show that 2462 positions
were filled. The figures on positions
hiled are believed 10 be only approxi-
mate. as all employers are not careful
TO fiji out and mail the return cards
As this Is the only source of tho t4u-
/ reaus information on this point
take this occasion again to urge en-
, ployers TO comply with this request
OF the bureau so that it may know
what i is accom- piishing-