Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-01
FOR-H|RE AUTOMEN
! WIN PARKING FIGHT
Would Take Away Right of Pub
lie Safety Director to
Designate Stands.
EXCITEMENT WAKES TENSE
Colonel Myers Declares Prohibi-
ton Agent Works Against
Ordnance.
WAKES TENSE

BY vote Of 5 to 4 the owners of
for-hire automobiles won their fight
before the city Councils Committee on
Ordinances las: night, for partial re-
peal of the ordinance authorizing the
Director of Public Safety TO designate
stands for such cars.
The session was calivened by the
vehement declarations of Director OF
Public Safety Myers. who opposed re-
peal, and by many charges and counter
charges. At times the excitement
wa%ed tense. and near the conclusion
Of the meeting the finding of loaded
revolver on one of the committee room
seats added TO the interest of the oc-
casion. The finding Of The weapon was
and 1t is believed that it slipped from
the pocket OF one Of them.
Favor Parking Freedom.
The ordinance as now recommen nded
allows owners of "for-hire" cars to
park cars in front of their places Of
business. providtt they obtain the con-
sent OF the Grcund-foor tenants. and
allow no one TO sit in their automo-
vision that trc fight waxed fast and
furious Director Myers declared to
This element urging this amend
ment has thrown the red flag, and is
boasting that ii has enough Influence
70 control this committee. IL has de-
fed you and God knows where it will
end"
During another part of his speech
Director Myers said: Some people
have have circulated the idea that l got up
TINS ordinance 10 drive the small men
out OF business. The suggestion that
am against any class of men is the
most damnable propaganda that has
ever been gotten out This ordinance
was first adopted in 1870. II was
never amended until 1915. when the
word autos was added 1t was again
4 IGs = a.,
could park in front of his place Of
business. ON May 10, 1919, the power
vested In the Mayor was transferred
you see the ordinance that is attacke ed
is not a new one.
Myers Brings Charges.
Prior. to the passage of this orfi-
nance the police worked under the
states. The wife OF State official
was insulted by chauffeur, and other r
GOOD women We're insulted by men IN
! The for hire, car business. Citizens
on Broad Street were openly insuited
! Since the passage or this ordinance we
haye not RECEIVED single complaint
an agent OF the State Prohibition
Department had been working against
the ORDINANCE. while his son was boot
Logging in Richmond.
Councilman Morton declared that he
did not see why there should be SO
!nuch excitement about the matter He
bona fide business should be allowed
some privileges.
Duke Defends Clients.
Jesse c. Duke. attorney for the auto
mobile men, declared that he wanted
TO call the attention TO the committee
70 ,ne manner in which Colonel Myers
had handled the matter, by wholesale
attacks on the "for-h hire" men In
stated that no one had waved the red
nag. hut that the Police Department
mad prosecuted these men and had ar
rested several of them without cause
ne declared that If the director could
without such ordinances he. himself,
would raise fund and do so.
director Myers in reply called Mr..
Duke the Industrious spellbinder. Of
ne community" and declared that
ihere were plenty of parking stands,
pnt the men refused to go there
lieutenant Samuels. OF the Police
ing az the men who were urging the
repeal he said: Some of them are all
right, some are not"
Chief Fnvors Ordinance.
Chief Sherry declared that the ordi-
nance had done great good. Nearly
every member of the committee had
something to say one way or the
other about the matter Alderman
ruler ceciaIeG that he intended intro
ducine an ordinance preventing jitney
owners from taxing down their jitney
signs and putting up for hire" signs
when il rained or the theaters were
about 20 let out
The amendment was carried by the
following vote: Ayes-English. Grimes,
Morton. Nunnally, Gunst-5 Noes
Ladd, Fuller, Roden, Winfrce-4.