The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-23


structio, of the reservoir.
The report and the ordinance wefo
adopted, - .,,o Tn
Mir, Newberry moved to refer the In.
p;neer's report, the ordinance on the snh)ect
of the reservoir, &C., 10 the COMMITTEE Oh
Water.
Mr.. Davis thought that special commit
tee should be appointed, to whom the SUD-
iect should be referred, and then the " a1es'
ing Committee added. ,,,.
The matter was finally referred TO o JOINT
committee composed of the Committees on
Water and Public Grounds and Buildings.
..,.- ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Mr.. English, of Monroe Ward, presented
the resignation Of 1lr. Euker, OF Clay Ward;
which was read and received.
On motion of Mr. Chestermah, Mr.. Charies
r. Todd was elected TO ill the vacancy.
On motion of Mr.. Davis; ar. Hugh Ha2ah
was elected to fill the vacancy 10 Manson
Ward occasioned by the resignation OF Mr.
Charles u. Williams.
coRoNER's FEES.
Mr.. Scott of Jefferson Ward lsid before
rho Conncil communication from the Coro-
ner, which was read: s
FEES OF THE COROhEK.
A communication from the Coroner was
presented TO the Council in relation to the
fees Of that Office. The Coroner says that
in the report Of the Finance Committee
made to the Council at its last meeting the
expenses attending the discharge OF inc au-
ties of coroner from JANUARY ~ 70 Nofem,
her 7. 1873, are stated to be 81, olS, III ana
;nosn,uch ms this statements coupled Wlth
resolution, which you have sanctioned BY
adopting, looking to the appointment of
committee to secure from the Legislature q
reduction Of the fees of the coroner OF. Rich
mond. a very natural inference, and one
which has been generally drawn, is that lie
has received the entire amount specl1ed.
This Inference is erroneous, and be is not will.
Ing that it shall 90 uncorrrctcd. During the
time embraced in the committees estimate
he has individually received SS57. 80 Id mo-
ney. and four.montls' Eote FOR $40. Ills
amount will be increased by Sl'O when &c
gets what is still due him for the same Pc
Rod; but even then it will fall materially
short OF Sl,51S.lo.
He finds upon looking into the matter that
this amount is figured out By Including what
be has received and what he hopes to re-
ceive, and What the coroner acting In DIS
absence has received, as we'll az the cost OF
coffips and burial furnished by the city, and
the High Constable's jury and witness Ices.
Allowing that this is just method OF
stating the expenses OF the Office OF
coroner. be does not clearly perceive the
Justice of that method OF curiallng them
which limipisnes his fees In order to pay the
charges of the undertaken and tie high
Constable.
In regard 10 the increase of the expenses
Of the office, be remarks that IN oilSlheSo
80 furtu!tous as toe coTorer's It IS not proper
to take the work of one year rs the criterion
for the work OF another; uoc is il proper TO
use the receipts Of one coroner as the
r,are for those OF another, since coroner5
NAV differ in their conceptions Of the extent
Of their duty. His conception Of his duty IS
grounded on the consideration that Ii he
fails to procure such information Is the law
cxDects and commands hin TO procure
when he can, it will not shield him from
the certain and just ceDsure Of the courts
to say that the City Council Objects TO the
expense and VII reduce his fees if il IS H.
Cured.
He suggests Tat if the Council consult
their own ordinances they will be able TO
devise plan for reducing hia fees much
more certain aud e1ectual than the one pro-
posrd. The Council will discover that the
"yicw" and "pos:.mcrtens" fees arc fixed
bv that body, aud that ii is in their power
to dlmiuish or abolish them altogether If
they are so disposed. But against any such
change be respectfully protests for tie sui!l-
Gent reason that the amount GnG character ot
The services lie renders arc more than eQu.v;s.
lent for the compensation he receives. lie
is low serving both IS coroner and medical
expert for the pay Of coroner. it is not
obligatory on him to do this. for he is ap-
pointed lis coroner only. The fees OF IN CO.
pert are usually high, aud II he becomes
distinct from The coroner It is possible that
the expenses Of ;he oIico after their rAauc-
ton may be glc:.:er than before. Whatever
reduction is contemplated, tie Coroner asks
shall be made not hastily, upon the
mere opinions OF the ignorant Or eli.
viouS either in or cut Of his profession,
but only after the Council has obtained SUBJ
stuntial knowledge Of what he really does.
When this kIowlege is obtained, the Coun-
Gil will learn that most OF his work is rep1l-
siye IN the extreme; that some OF 1t puts
health aud even life in peril; and that not q
little of it is respectable only because the
ladies and gentlemen who recognize Linn rs
1t "a scicatific investigation instead OF the
work of 8 srayenger. Aud even when this
aLhorrent work Is done Il IS valuclcss with
out the special skill and training to interpret
t. It Is TO tho interest of the whole COLL
,nuuliy that these attachments sLnll be OF q
high order, but one who asp!res 10 make
ther, so IS discouraged when be sees al IN
odonuate. reward for his efforts. lie does
NOT believe that the majority Of tie
intelligent citizens Of Richmond differ so
much from other Intelligent people as
to think that such pursuits rs bis
ar, not worthy of even O. liberal fostering,
ard he permits himself tn hope that when
the Council shall have fully considered the
matter they will see no improperly in allow
ing him such fees as have been ungrudginS'y
given to his predecessors.
In conclusion, he cannot refrain from say
inc that it is painful 10 him TO know that
services honestly, zealously, and Us, he has
good reason TO think, creditably performed,
are not in their estimation worth what the
law says they are. And 1t is painful, too, to
feel constrained to believe, as lie Is conStrain.
ed to believe when he reflects that the recent
resolution is merely the elimination Off long
continued effort, that each cent which lie
has fairly earned aud which has been paid u
him, or been promised TO be paid, has been
granted with profound re!uctance. But
especially painful Is it to see that from the
many offices in which the kind Of labor aud
the amount of compensation are certainly not
less disprOpcrtionate than in his, the Coun-
Gil Lave singled out his to be the sacrifice
for tho financial salvation of the city.
On motion, the psper was referred to the
Special Committee on Coronel's Fees.
NEW BUSINESS.
On motion of Mr.. English Of Marshall,
Messrs. Wynne, Lipscomb. and Brock were