The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-31

Sharp, Van Lew, Gregory, and Clinton.
RELIEF OF TUE POOR.
The President announced that the meet
ing had been called for the express purpose
Of receiving the report of the special com.
mittee appointed at the last meeting to in
Quire into the proper plan of distributing
relief TO the poor and destitute.
Mr.. Saunders said that Colonel August
chairman Of the committee, being i'll, there
had been no meeting Of the committee. r.,
The President desired 10 know if the sub
iect should be postponed until the committee
report some plan to the Council.
MIR. Clopton wished to know what poor
the city were to take csre Of.
The President said the poor and destitute
of the city Of ali classes should be in
cluded. .....,r.... ..........
Mir. Clopton thought that if the city was
TO take charge Of the present large number
of destitute families it would be best for the
Council to have the city divided into dis
.ricts, and visitors appointed, in order to
ascertain the proper condition Of each ap-
plcant for assistance.
Mr.. Washburne said that it was not q new
subject; there was u Committee on the
Poor-probably some Of them could give
some idea of what had been done by them
heretofore, and what sum would be required
for that purpose.
MIR. Smith replied he had had the matter
under consideration for some time. Re
read communication from Mr.. Bigger as
10 the proper mode of rendering relief to
the poor.
Mr.. Saunders offered the following reso-
luton:
"Resoired, That the sum of 81, 900 be appro.
rrated for the temporary relief of the suffer
ing poor OF the city, and the same be under
the charge of Charles 2. Bigger, with power
10 appoint one or more assistants to carry out
the said object
The President, after referring to the or
was scarcely anything in which the Council
could be more easily injudicious than in the
support Of the poor. There were two things
to be carefully avoidcd-one WAS in doing
too much, and the other too little. The
sum of 81 1000 could be appropriated until
the special committee could be heard from
Mr.. Clopton knew as much as any one in
the city the condition of some Of the peo-
ple, and thought that the matter ought to
be attended to at once.
Mr.. Yale did not think that the resolu-
ton exactly suited the case. The special
committee had been directed to communi-
cate with the military authorities regarding
the poor now being provided for by the
Freedmen's Bureau, besides those under the
care Of the city. lie thought that 81 1000
WAS but circumstance for the demand
that would be made upon the city.
Mr.. Saunders said the 81 900 would be
only temporary appropriation.
Mr.. Macfarland said that there we're
hundreds of paupers about the city who
were not entitled to support. They had
come here from other parts Of the State, and
should be sent where they came from.
MIR. Yale said that this was one of the
reasons he had in view when he asked that
the committee be directed to consult with
the military. They could make some ar
rangement ny which the present excess of
pauper5 could be sent to where they be-
longed.
Mr.. Macfarland moved that, as there was
10 report from the committee, they be re-
quested to do SO at once, and that the Coun-
Gil meet again on Friday next for the con-
sjderation of this important subject and to
receive the report Of the committee.
Dr. Sharp thought that the resolution did
rot provide for the manner Of distribution
Mr.. Saunders was satisfied that Mr. Big
GER would do what was right.
Mr.. Yale said that Mr.. Bigger was the
best man that could be found TO attend to
this business.
Mr.. Washburne moved that the resolu-
ton be amended as follows:
And the sime be under the charge Of the
Committee for the Relief Of the Poor, with
full powers
The resolution as amended was adopted.
The motion Of the President that when
the meeting adjourn it be to meet again on
Friday next for the consideration of the
subject was taken up. .i,.
Mr.. Washburne desired that, before the
motion was passed upon, he be excused from
serving on the committee, as he did not
wish 10 be on committee that did not
attend to the business required Of 1t.
Mr.. Saunders said that he was one OF the
committee, and wanted to know if the in
situations alluded to him. He had endea-
vored to get the committee together, but
Jailed. 1t was not his fault if the chair
man was i'll.
Mr.. Washburne had no doubt the gentle
man had'done his duty.
DR.. Sharp hoped that Mr.. Washburne
would not be excused, as he considered Mr..
w.. most valuable member.
hlr. Washburne wished to withdraw from
the committee for the reasons already
stated. He did not want to appear before
the public as unwilling to perform the du-
ties entrusted to him.
The Council, after some further remarks,
refused to allov Mr.. Washburne to with
draw.
Inc motion of Mr.. Macfarland was adopt
ed, with the amendment that the Council
adjourn until this evening.
CITY TAXES.
hlr. Macfarland submitted the following
Tor the information Of the Council:
"CRAasERLaIS's OrFIcE,l
december 80, 1858. )
"Sir,-I have conGe-rcd with the Auditor
aud Collector, and lney agree with me In say
Ing that it is best that no acLton should De
iaken by the Council as TO tho posspon ement
OF the payment of interest on list OF January
next. The funds in hand and the receipts that
iaay be made by the Collector lproyided the
collection of taxes Is not suspended over ten
Gays viii meet the interest IL not presented
more rapidly than previous years
Respectfully, j.. W. ToaPkiss,
Chamberlain"
ITO ". II. Naetarland, President of City
Council.n