The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-10
LOCAL NEWS,

Ine Ctty Council and The Mechanics .,
Htcnmono.-ls 1t not about time that som,
active measures were being adopted bv a.
tax paying citizens ofRichmond 10 nrevent ,hs
| reckless ana criminally wasteful expenditnrs
Oh tne pubic money under the gross m;smsr,
agement OF the present City Council? We
near loud complaints on ali hands NJ ,ba;.
reckless extravagance, and vet no one seams =,
nave the courage to demand that there shall he
stop putto the runous course thew have
inaugurated. ey nave
. IL Is wen known that a very considerable
numper OF the mechanics of Richmond are.
anu nave peen for sometime past, out of EN-,
ployment And yet, in the face of the fact
mat we have shops in our city which bav
turned out some of the finest steam fire-ene;nas 90
IA tne country, they appoint committee con-
sistihg OF grocer, tailor and a coacbmakar
70 60 to Philadelphia to purchase engines for
tne city. Now in the name of ali that Is
reasonable, why didn't they add a shoe
MAKER and an undertaken to the com.
da,ah;; .s; anu sas 1t is probable that the Phila-
ue'puiahs VIII De anxious to dispose of some of
Ineir secondhand stock, it would have been
wen 10 nave made the 'dealer in brass and
otner metals chairman of the committee. n
Is Illuminating to thus acknowledge IN onr
IniiiadeiphIa brethren that we have NOT The
ski,i ana the facilities for building firo-epeine
anu. anu ~ - an insult to the mechanics of Rich
mond for the members of the City Counc;i 70
go abroad for that which they well know
can be furnished from our own sbops of as
gooo material, and as skillfuly constructed. a.
can DC made anywhere. When Confronted
W., WIN tnis undeniable fact, they will tell you
l1ae tney can procure an engine in Philadel-
pnia ior iess money. We do not believe such
is the fact; but concede that it is. do the ,av-
payers save anything by the operation. when
tne Items of the Legitimate expense of a com.
mittee "a OF four or five persons to the Citv of
brotherly Love, with all the eincidentalsS and
...trlmmings' added, the cost of transporta-
.loa, ana the loss to our city of the money paid
70 lorelgn mechanics are considered? No. in
ueee. zee. On the contrary, the sequel will show
.nat much more money has been spent, and Am |
INFERIOR article purchased, to that which could
nave been built by our own mechanics.
olnce the raid made by General Won Euker |
INTO the borders of Kentucky for q supply of |
mules, there has existed in the Council rage
20 20 &c. appointed on "visting committees" and |
sue city nas mad some very handsome bills to |
oot on that account. We shall hear in day |
n 1r Two OF a committee going to New York or
ousson or Chicago, to purchase the gas holders
ordered not long since. In the meantime
business Is prostrate; everybody is COM
planning OF "hard times" and hundreds Of
workmen are out of employment; and vet the
,roers on the treasury are continued to be
'rawn with that reckless disregard of fbe i'm
'oVerished condition of our people, which
betokens the utter incompe-
ency OF three-fourths of that body known as
ne City Council, and who are supposed to
ave been placed 10 their present positions
.itn : view to managing the affairs of the
lty In the interest of her citizens. And this
the government which Mr.. Representative
'uy would continue in power for another year
y iegliative enactment! 1t is the almost
niversal verdict of the people that the Chilli
ary Councif' of General Candy was infinitely
uperior to the present one in its ability, and
ne practical benefits it bestowed upon the tax
ipal affairs.