The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-05-05
LOCAL MATTERS.

MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.-An ad
journed meeting of the City Council was
held in the City Hall yesterday afternoon.
Present: Messrs. Mcfarland, August,
Crutchfeld, Saunders, Smith, Sharp, Yale,
Van Lew, Pelouze, Washburne, Wigand,
Miller, Kent, Clopton, Taylor, Clinton,
Humphreys, and Milford.
Several private petitions were presented,
and appropriately referred.
Assessment Of Tares.
Mr.. Saunders offered the following
Resolved, That the ordinance concern
ing the assessment of taxes be referred to
the Committee on Finance for revision,
with authority to report an ordinance"
Mr.. Saunders explained the necessity of
the resolution in consequence of the new ar
rangcment of the city. The resolution was
adopted.
Petitions.
Mr.. Saunders submitted report recon-
mending the favoring or granting of the
petitions of William Devine, a. Mills
paugh, and William II. Williams. Also the
rejection of the petitions of Mrs. P. Porter,
August Schalenburg, and NJ. NJ. Kraker.
The report was adopted.
Police.
Mr.. Saunders, from the Committee on
Police, reported adversely to the petition of
William }. Murray, who appealed from the
action Of the Mayor in discharging him
from the police.
The Committee also recommended the ap-
pointment of two detectives, clothed with
| constabulary powers, providing no extra
cost to the city be incurred. .'
| Mr.. Humphreys could not vote for the
adoption Of the report, when he recollect-
| ed that some time since similar report
had been made discharging an officer from
the police without giving reasons therefor.
When the reasons were brought forth, it
was found that the discharge Of the officer
was based simply upon the reason that he
had deserted the Confederate army.
| Mr.. Smith wished to call attention to the
fact that his name was the only one out of
fifteen recorded in the negative on the oc-
casion referred to.
| Some further discussion cnsued, during
which it appeared that Murray had been
discharged from the police force for firing Il
pistol in the street and for neglect Of duty
in being absent from his post.
Mr.. Saunders, in explanation of the con-
duct of the Police Committee in the case of
! Hendricks, said that, under the same Cir
cumstances, he would do the same thing.
He had no confidence in Il deserter from
any army, and he would never vote to re-
tain any officer in the police force whom he
! had found out to be dcserter either from
| the Confederate or Union armies.
Some applause from spectators followed
| these remarks, which was promptly checked
| by the Chair.
The report was then adopted.
CLAIMS and Salaries.
| General Milford, from the Committee on
Claims and Salaries, submitted a report
upon the subject embraced in the resolution
inuuiring into the expediency of reducing
the number of employees of the city and
their salaries.
The report recommended that no reduc-
ton of the force be made, and that their pres
ent salaries be continued, excepting that OF
| the messenger, which they recommended be
made 81 200, from which he shall pay for
the services Of servant to clean up the
| City Hall.
After some discussion, the report was re-
committed to Il special committee of five,
consisting of Messrs. Milford, Sharp, Kent,
Saunders, and Yale.
Nep Side,ralk Crossings.
Mr.. Kent offered the following:
ReS0lred, That the Commissioners of
Streets generally be instructed TO inquire
into the propriety of removing the present
sidewalk crossings now paved with cobble
stones, and of substituting therefor granite
blocks or slabs" Adopted.
Official Bond.
The official bond of Benjamin Bragg, the
newly appointed Superintendent of the Gas
| Works, in the sum of $4,000, with A. G.
| Dunn as bondsman, was presented. 4 mis-
take in the date (it being put down 1864
instead of 1863 occurred.
| Some question arose as to the responsi-
bility of A. G.. Dunn. After some talking
Dr. L. II. Smith was called in, and certified
| to the fact that he. was responsible fol
$4,000. The bond was referred to the
| Committee on Finance.
Finance.
Mr.. Saunders offered Il resolution author
izing the Committee on Finance to borrow
money to pay the expenses of the city up tc
the llth Of June next. Adopted.
Applications for Office.
The Chair stated that there were on the
table many applications for office. 1t was
hardly necessary, however, to take these
up, as the Council had no power to make
the appointments.
Mr.. Saunders said that he had heard,
unoficially, the appointments already
made had been made upon the nomination
of the majority of the Council. He knew
nothing of this, and he did not want any
impression to go forth that the Council had
taken any action in the matter.
The Chair stated that any official action
the Council would take would be entered
upon the Journal. No such action as had
been indicated had been so entered.
The Council then adjourned.
THE HENRICo CONSERVATIVE Mass MEET
ING announced to take place at the county
courthouse yesterday was postponed until