~*-~ - ~' I regret very much to report the death of color.ed nurse, Rosetta Ba.i~nes,
<br />wbn has' bee~-e~noloyed i~ the Public Health Department since Septemoer 8th,~ 1932. Rosemsa
<br />Baines died in the K~ngs Daughters Hospital on January llth, 1933.
<br />
<br /> On motion ordered filed.
<br /> 6th - ,Further in connection with my letters to you of Deoe~oer 19th and 2~th,
<br />regarding investigation of public utility rates, which question is now with you. The daily
<br />press, under date of January 19th, e~ried a news item from Richmond to the effect that the
<br />State Corporation Oommission had emoowered a Rice, mend consulting engineer to conduct an in-
<br />vestigation into rates charged by e~eotric power companies in Virginia. The news item fur-
<br />ther stated that this work would begin immediately, but would require about one year to com-
<br />plete, at an estimated cost of $50,000.
<br /> I do not feel that the investigation authorized by the Sta~e Oo~poration
<br /> Oommission, as outlined in the o~ess last week~ will be satisfactorT to the people, as it
<br /> will require too much time to g~t the desired results. The ¢on~nission plans to take one year
<br /> to determine if electric rates are fair or not. On -this basis, it will take another year to
<br /> investigate telephone rates, and another for gas rates. This is entirely too long a time to
<br /> take to settle such an important question and a question that affects so many of our people.
<br /> If any relief can be given to the oeople, it should be done within a reason~ole time, and
<br /> not two or three years from now. -'If I ~n~derstand the duties of the State Oorporation Oommis-
<br /> sion correctly, it is their duty to make the neoessqry investigations of rases charged by
<br /> ut ility companies.
<br /> In view-of this and the Lmportanoe of this question to the people, I rec-
<br /> ommend the adoption of the following resolution, for the reason that if the rates now being
<br /> charged are fair, the utility companies should welcome such an investigation, as it would
<br /> settle this question~ ~u the minds of our people, and eliminate the thought that the public
<br /> utilities are charging unfair rates. Also, as stated above, I consider this question entirely
<br /> too important to the majority of our citizens to be permitted to go unsettled for two or three
<br /> years.
<br /> ~WHEREAS, Due to the decreased cost of production, it appears to
<br /> be the concensus of opinion of a large number of the people of the Oity
<br /> of Portsmouth and many others in' the Stats of Virginia that there should
<br /> be a reduction to consumers in~ the cost of service furnished by the pub-
<br /> lic utility companies operating in the S~a~e of Virginia, and:
<br /> ~WHEBEAS, The State Oorporation Oommission has seen fit to start an
<br /> inquiry into the rates of the three large companies supplying electric
<br /> power in the State, and,
<br /> WHEREAS, It appears that under its method of procedure it will
<br /> take two years or more before the correctness of the rates of these com-
<br /> panies can be ascertained and that the ra~es of these companies and all
<br /> other utility companies should be at once investigated in order to de-
<br /> termine whether the rates now being charged are fair and reasonable, so
<br /> that any adjustments found necessary in rates can be made within a rea-
<br /> sonable length of time and not two or three years from now.
<br /> NOW, THER~O~, BE IT RESOL%~ED BY THE 0OUNOiL OF THE CITY OF
<br /> PORTSNOUTH, VIRGINiA, That the State Oorporation 0ommission be requested
<br /> to at once initiate an investiEation of the rates charged by all utility
<br /> public service corporations operating in the State of Virginia in order
<br /> that it may be ascertained whether or not the ra~es charged by such com-
<br /> panies are fair and reasonable and that such companies be at once called
<br /> upon %o furnish the said State Oorpo~tion Oommission such s~hedules and
<br /> data as may be necessary for the purpose of determining their respective
<br /> rates and such evidence as they may have to justify the s~me, and,
<br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That a copy of these resolutions be sent t6
<br /> the State Oorporation Oormmission and to the League of Virginia Eunici-
<br /> palit ies. ~
<br />
<br /> Eotion of .Mr. Fox to concur in the City Eanager's recommendation was
<br /> adopted (Er. Brooks voting No.)
<br />
<br /> ?t~h -'Oaptain H.0. Hall of the Police Department, wroze acting Ohief of Police
<br /> Talbot, under cate of January 3rd, as follows:
<br /> 'Because of my inability to do ~ight hours strenuous duty
<br /> each day, I am askLug through you to the Oity Eanager that I
<br /> be reoon~mended for retirement on a pension commensurate with
<br /> my time of service and the incapacitating serious injury sus-
<br /> tained while in the service of-the department.'
<br />
<br /> In view of O~ot. Hall's statement that he was ~.ble to do eight hours
<br />s~trenUOus~duty each day, 'I arranged for him to be examined by Dr. J.O; Phillips, City ~Phy-
<br />sioian, Dr. Phillips examLued Oapt. Hall and advised me under date of January 16~h of 'his
<br />findings and recommended that due to the condition of N~v. Hall~s heart and his previous in-
<br />jury, he be retired, as he is not able to do eight hours strenuous duty. Dr. Phillips fur-
<br />ther advised that Capt. Hall would probably be able to ~do very light work if such was avail-
<br />able.
<br /> On receil~t of Dr. Phillips' report, I instructed the Examining Board, as
<br />provided in ordinance adopted January 13th, 1~25, to convene for the purpose of considering
<br />Capt. Hall~s request and giving me their reeommendations. The Examining Board advised me un-
<br />der date of January 21st, tha-t they had consi~tered Capt. Hall's request for retirement, and
<br />that the Board was of the opinion that the causes of disability were incurred i~% line of
<br />du~y, and they recommended he be retired from active duty as~ a police officer, ~because in
<br />the opinion of the Board, Capt. Hall can not fulfill the duties of a police officer, owing
<br />
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