Minutes 04/28/1925 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 28, 1925 Ilth. "I am forwarding herewith with recommendation for passe~e an ordinance creating a Bureau of Fire Prevention, &c. This ordinance in general substauo~ though not in form has the approval of the Portsmouth O~e~ber of 0ommeroe. It creates no ne~ qf~ices." An Ordinance Cg~ating a Bu~eam of Fire P~eve~tion'and A~%horizing the Oity Manager ~to Assign Thereto a Nember of the Fi~e Department as 0hief Inspeotorand Such Other Members of the Fire Department as Assistant Inspectc7s as may be Authorized in Future by the Council. On motion of Nm. Stocks, the ordinance was pla6ed on first reading. 12th. #I am forwarding herewith resolution wtklch follows closely_ res~lutions adopted at a joint conference of the City Oouncil of Norfolk and the No~folk Port Oommission relative to the proposed lease of the Virginian Railroad to the Norfolk-Western. This resolution has bee~ prepared at the suggestion of Mayor S. Heth Tyler of Norfolk. It is a matter of such grave im~ortauce that I am of the OPinion that it should be referred to the Finance-Committee and that some repressntative official of-the Norfolk &- Western, of the Virginian smd of the NorfolkW-Portsmout~'F~eight Traffic 0ommission be asked to appear before the Oommittee amd give +.heir views on the question. By doing this we will have gotten both sides of the question and be able to handle it in the light of fuller in- formation." "WHEREAS, It is the sense Of this body that it is o~ v~tal importance to the State of Virginia and to the Port of Hampton Roads that the Virginian~Xlway should form the nucleus of an additional trunk line railroad, which its absorption by the Norfolk & Western Railway or the Ohesapeake& Ohio Railway, s~parately_or jointly, would forever preclude. THEREFORE, Be it unanimously resolved by the Oouncil of the City of Portsmouth, that the proposed lease of the Virginian-Railway to the Norfolk & Western Railway Company be vigorously opposed, cud that_we heartily_and thoroughly endorse th~action taken by the Governor of the Stat~ and the State Oo~10oration 0ommission in filing the protest of the State of Virginia before the Interstate Commerce Commission to the allocation of the Virginiau Railway to either the Norfolk & Western Railway or the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. RESOLED F~RTHER, THAT we respectfully request the State ~authorities to immediately- investigate the n~cessity or desirability of instituting legal action in the name of the State ef Virginia to prevent the cons~zmation of this lease, and we hereby tender~ the~ser- vices of the legal department of ~he Oity of Portsmouth to a~d in the preparation of any legal papers that may be necessa~y in the premises. RESOLVED FURTHER, That we request the co-operation and aid of the various communities which would be adversely affected by this proposed lease, and we request the co-operation of the press of the State in making public the voice of the people in opposition to the proposed lease, and that the Mayor of our 0ity is requested to furnish a copy of these re- solutions to the Governor and to the S~te 0orporaticn Oommission and to the Press." On motion of Mr. Brooks, the commumication and resolutions were referre~ ~o the Finance Oommitt.ee. 13th, #I regret to announce the death of Mr. L. H. Davis, at 10:©0 o'clock today. ~Nr. Davis's career in the 0ity of Portsmouth has been a long and honorable one both in an official and personal capacity. As Mayor, as Alderman, as Police 0ommissioner, member of School B~m~d, Superintendent of the Water Works and Superintendent of the Ferries and Street 0a~ System, he has devoted much time to public affairs and to the'$etterment o~ ~sadopted city. His reputation for integrity and fair dealing and his hatred of all things savoring of hypocrisy as a consistent church member and earnest Christian make him a conspicuous and respected figure in the community. His untimely and sUdden death is a public lossand in extending our sympathies to his sorrowing family and ~relatives, .we may well at the same time express our sincere regret that the City has lost so valuable and so honored a citizen." On motion of Mr. Brooks, the communication was approved, ordered to be placed' on re- cord, and a copy te be forwarded to the family of the deceased. 14th. "l am sending herewith draft of an ordinance amending Section 8 of 'An Ordinance Fixing the Terms of Consent for the Operation of Autobusses in the 0ity of Portsmouth, Va.' The el-feet of thi~ ordinance will be~ to premit jitneys to~ operate over High St. between Crawford aud Water Sts. maintainimg the loop via the City Market. The parking and stopping of jitneys, except to receive or discharge passengers or to get oil or gas, on High St. east of Crawford, is prohibited by the proposed ordinance. ~t is submitted ~o the Oouncil in its present form at the request of the Finamce Oommittee and only with a recommendation that it be passed on its first reading." An Ordinance Amending. Section 8 of "An Ordinance Fixing the Terms of Oonsent for the Ope- ration of Auto~usses in the 0ity of Portsmouth, Va." On motion of NfL Stewart (R.E.B.), the ordinance was placed on its first reading. UNFZNI~HED NUDINES'S The following ordinance, which had been placed on its first reading April t?th, was taken