Had Sued the City

The black members of the city were not informed of an upcoming vote because white council members knew they would oppose the measure.

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Aldermen was held Tuesday evening. 14th inst., at 7 o'clock, present: Messrs Rahen, Blake, Burton, King, Mitchell, Moore, Mountcastle, Noble, Snead, Tanner and Vaughan.
The action of the Common Council in granting the Richmond Union Passenger Railway Co. the right to extend their First St. line to Broad St. was concurred in $675 were appropriated from the sewer fund to extend sewer on Main St. from Bowe to Lombard and to appropriate $195 to put up the Stewart Horse Guard Armory lockers.
The semi-annual interest due on the debt of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical Society was concurred in and the taxes of the Asbury Methodist Church amounting to $57 were cancelled, also the ordinance to prevent electrolysis of water and gas mains.
The sum of $5000 was appropriated for the purchase of pipe for water mains and $99.
A JANITOR FOR WHITE ARMORIES.
It was decided that the Committee on Grounds and Buildings be authorized to employ a janitor at a salary of $50 per month for the Howitzer Stuart Horse Guard Armories.
There was quite a sensation when Alderman John Mitchell. Jr. offered a resolution calling a joint meeting the Board of Aldermen and the Common Council February 18 for the purpose of declaring vacant the position of Inspector of Plumbing.
Mr. Landers was elected at a joint meeting of the two branches held in December. It was called at 7:30 P.M., but a Democratic caucus was held and the members from Jackson Ward thereby shut out.
THE JACKSON WARD CONTINGENT.
They waited until neatly 9 o'clock, and then Aldermen James Bahen, John Mitchell. Jr., H. J. Moore, and Councilmen Benjamin Jackson, Wm. B. Smith, J. R. Griffin, M. T. Page, and Morton Deane retired in a body and accordingly were not present when the caucus nominee was elected in the joint session.
In order to bring the matter up again and allow a discussion, the member of Jackson Ward introduced the aforesaid resolution.
Alderman Mitchell requested clerk to read Chapter xxvii Section 20. This contained the provision relative to the work of licensed plumbers.
THE ALDERMAN’S PLEA.
The Alderman then stated that Jackson Ward representatives been debarred from participating in the election of an Inspector of Plumbing and it was presumed that the reason for this was that their participation in such would result in the selection of an improper person. Mr. T. M. Landers had been reported having put in iron pipe at 1304-6 Ave., in violation of the ordinance referred to.
The matter had been taken to the Police Court and dismissed on technical grounds.
Superintendent Bolling had revoked the license, or rather refused to renew it, and an appeal was had to the Committee on Water, and the Committee had sustained the superintendent, the understanding being that if he took out the iron pipe, the license would be granted.
Alderman Mitchell dwelt on the fact that he had signed for lead pipe and put in iron pipe and made no denial of the fact.
Now the Council of the of Richmond had elected to a position a man to enforce an ordinance which he had taken pride in violating himself.
THAT SUIT AGAINST THE CITY.
He had entered suit against the Superintendent of Water works; obtained a judgement of $1500, and the city paid the same.
Now the Council had elected to a position a man who had not only violated he very ordinances which he would be required to enforce, but had sued the city and gotten judgement against his present employer. For twenty minutes, the colored alderman held the attention watchers, and when he sat reigned supreme.
Alderman Burton moved the matter be tabled. Alderman Vaughan said that he hoped that this course would not be followed and opposed the tabling of the question. Alderman Allen said that the statements of the member from Jackson Ward were entirely pertinent and he thought an investigation should be had by a joint special committee.
THE RESOLUTION WITHDRAWN.
Alderman Mitchell then withdrew his resolution and offered in lieu thereof a resolution providing for a joint committee of five to investigate the matter.
President Turpin opposed this and said that no information had been presented which was not known to the members at the time the election took place.
Alderman Blake said that there was not a plumber in the city who was complying with the ordinance. He was followed by Alderman Bahen in behalf of Mr. Landers and Alderman Snead came to the rescue.
Alderman H J. Moore was severe on the caucus nominee, declaring that he had never been competent tor the positron. It looked very much as though the resolution would pass. A lobby was quickly formed, the whips applied, and the resolution lost by a vote of 6 to 9.
JANITOR FOR THE COLORED ARMORY.
Alderman Mitchell offered a resolution instructing the Superintendent of the Almshouse to report the facts in the delay and embarrassment occasioned-by the refusal of certain officials to bury the family servant in the Woodbridge section. He also offered another resolution appropriating $25 per month for the employment of a janitor for the colored armory and asked that it be referred to the Committee on Grounds and Buildings.
This was done. The resolution from the three market committees asking for the defeat of a bill by the legislature to prevent country-men from selecting their produce at the markethouses without a license was adopted and Messrs King, Snead and Vaughan were appointed a special committee to present the matter to the General Assembly.

“Had Sued the City,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed April 27, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1684.