The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-14
LOCAL MATTERS.

CRY CoUSc1L.-Thc Council held its regu-
lar monthly meeting yesterday evening.
Present Messrs. Merriman, Milford, Ord
way, Livingstone, Miller, PelouZe, Laubc,
ellis, Atkins, Boswell, Dunham, Gregory,
King, Manley, Parker, Van Lew, Nilcs,
Won Gronine. and the Chairman (Mr. Kent.
The minutes of last meeting were read
and approved
Mr.. Dunham inquired as to the number
of members on the Council roll, and the
number prescribed by the charter to COM
pose the Council.
The Clerk replied that twenty-five was
the number prescribed by the charter, and
that there were twenty-siX names on the
roll, Mr.. Viles being the last appointed.
NEr. Gillis moved that the name of Mr..
Vies be stricken from the roll until the
Council was informed of the vacancy his ap-
pointment was designed to fill.
The President doubted the authority of
the Council to take such action.
Mr.. Gillis doubted the power Of General
Candy to abrogate the charter of the city.
On motion of Mr.. Durham, 4 committee
of three, composed of Mcssrs. Parker, Gil
General Candy and ascertain the tucts in the
case.
The committee, after little while, an
nounced that they had been on Il protitless
search Of the General.
Later in the session, it having been stated
that Mr.. Eiles had been appointed to sue
ceed Mr.. Yale, who had been removed, he
was received as member, and committee
appointed to confer with General Candy
and ascertain officially whose name should
be erased from the rolls to give place to the
name of Mr.. Niles.
Reports from the various standing COM
mittees were read.
Mr.. Miller, from the Committee on the
Fire Department, reported resolution in-
creasing the pay Of the city employees at the
steam-engine house and hook-and-ladder
building from S45 to $50 per month which
was adopted.
He also said, from data in the hands of
the committee, it was estimated that the
cost of new steam fire-engine would be
81 900, and an annual cost Of $4,000 to
maintain the same.
Mr.. PelouZe, from the Committee on the
Police, submitted a report adverse to re-
duction of the police force, as provided Tor
The resolution Gnstructins the committee
to inquire into the expediency OF reducing
the force twenty-five per cent? was adFo-
Gated by Messrs. Ordway, Miller, Merriman,
and Kent, and opposed by Mr.. Peiouze. 1t
was adopted.
In the debate Mr.. Kent said that one
third of the taxes was paid for the support
of the force.
Mr.. Van Lew introduced a resolution pro-
viding for the immediate contracting Tor
another steam fire-engine.
The resolution, on motion Of Mr.. Dunham,
was laid on the table.
Nlr. Harrison, the agent for the chemical
process of extirguishing fires, by request
laid before the Council certificates to the
merits of the invention, which were re-
ferred to the Committee on the Fire Depart
ment.
Mr.. Ordway reported that the printed
copies Of the ordinances would be ready In
eight or ten days.
The committee on the city debt submitted
a report showing the debt of the city on the
lst Of July 1869 to be Y S i hIag Deing an
mainly accounted for by interest accruing
upon bonds during the war, funded on lst
January, 1865. .t.b ~