The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-06
LOCAL MATTERS.
THE CITY COUNCIL.


Talbot. Wagner, Williams, aud Whitlo"k.
When the roll had been called by The clerk
the President read an address to the Council
eNplainin9 that he had called the meeting
"for the purpose OF ;lscertainng whether or
vou to change Your views, and either 10y re-
considering the vote taken nj the last meet
Ing, OF in some other way, adopt a plan for
the cmhudI inS Of such measures rs will re.
llevc lis from the odlnin OF refusing TO make
arrangements to meet our obligations rs they
arise without involving the city still further
In debt"
Alter referring 10 the general condition OF
the city. the improvements needed, and the
mcan> Of providing for their construction
The paper concludes a follows:
There wax no unnecessary expenditure
during the pl>t year, and yet our revenue
not only did rot pay tie expenses. but fell
short $4,000 and - save the credit Of the
city the Committee on Finance borrowed
money at large interest. and it is notorious
TACT, which reflects no credit upon ollr lnali-
cia management, that while we pay not
more t.!an eight TO eight and {. half per cent
per annIlm interest upon the money obtained
hy The sale Of bonds. vet we have during
he past twelve months obtained money to
meet the currcht expenses TX having no.eS
1T ninety days discounted at t:lr rate Of one
per c"nt. pei mOuth, which favor wa> not
obt1incd without paying from onc.balt to
one per cent. commission rs Il premium for
having this service performed.
"Theanount OF interest on discount (Which
i interest paid in advance) amounted to
S5.932.16 on Sl51 800, making the rate from
IA to Is per centum per annum. This be-
inG made known to those who desire to in.
vest in our bands, and in connection with
. lie fact that The Council will not lew taxes
10 meet the current expenses, can it be sup,
po>cd that our bonds will not be deprc-
ci;trd: Or c'n We suppose that we are
managing the important trusts repoSed in Us
10 Il I;anncr satisfactory to our constituents
or crctliIaiic to our intelligence? Few,
presume. will have the liardihood to give Il
reply IN the Affirmative. With this state.
mcnt ii the facts connected with the opera.
ii"uS o! the past year is il saying too much
hat another year like i will involve us in Il
condition approaching bankruptcy, at least
20 Tar H. our credit VIII stand, and | regret
10 have 10 say that there Is Il strong pro-
liability that some Of our lcloW-citiZenS, in.
Guiding some members Of The Council. do not
regard this result with the dread that should
belong to such an event.
Z" he iIrt i> too well known to he dcnicC
that those To whom | all!d" have for some
time entertained The opinion that the %ordial
knot Of all our pecunia!y difficulties can bt
cut at once, when the necessity arises, by ;
cOup dctdt, which would at once relieve u:
from portion pi our debts by placing oul
citizens ut the mercy Of Il greedy corpora
ton. They propose 10 buy the Gas-W orkS
Having been approached cn this subjec
with request to join in the promotion o
the scheme ay seeming concurrence
/ obtained the Information, together
with the names Of those who hope to eli
r!-e II the speculation. with the view
ut putting it in the possession OF a >mal
company. Several Of those who favor thi'
oppose aII Increase of laXeS and pronounc,
he tax Oh ca- and water pipes as uncon>ti
iDos to instruct The Council III regard t(
these matters; this patriotic interference
in favor Of the rights of the poor man GhaI
idol of the ward politicans) being prompted
by the desire to let the city go TO protes
while they stand by ready to relieve him ano
make Themselves richer. This plan | ar
people, and such solution Of Our pecuniary
troubles would be damning to the Counci
which sanctioned it.
Il trust this exposure of the scheme will
be sufficient 10 Xiii il. and il any here present
hug this dclusion, CT hope TO escape trou
raising the taxes by this uieans, they may 4,
well torrgo It entirely and meet the issue rs
presented, and by laying proper and stuff
l,r. - yy't
IL once restore Us TO the high position we
iH;yc hiIh@it0 occupied.
"rhcse are my views Of the matters which
have presented to your consideration with
no other object than that of trying to in-
Quce :ou to act with proper regard to the
welfare of our city without listening TO tn,
.omllal.ts of those whose interests are too
nrch conferred in themselves, or to Others
who, for the robe of popular favor, are
always willing 10 encourage amy opposition
10 the awtpI aulhoritie>.'
Mr.. Wh;llock said tliat he though; thai
the livruc< first read would do injustice to
the Finance Committee OF last year il they
we're published without statement from
the ether side.
Mr.. Hal: | request that the twentieth
rule Of HE Guuuci! be read.
The clerk then read the rule referred to,
whirn provides that no action OF the Couu-
III shall he rccon>dercd at Il special meeting
unless there is Is large nunncr OF lntin.
bers present Us when such action was taken
at the meeting previous.
Mr.. Jones then moved to raise the taxes
from Si.25 on the hundred dollars 10 SI.oU
on the hundred dollars.
Mr.. Talbot said he would rather vote fol
II than for i, and abolish all special taxes
tor gas and water, and other special taxes
lie thought, however, if the city was den
cient $500 it would be better TO make
special assessment for tbs year than 10 estlD'
lish the rate all per cent.
Mr.. BarSImin moved To suspend the 18th
rule in order 10 consider the ordinance this
evening.
Mr.. Hall demanded the ayes and noes.
Being taken, the rule was suspended, and
the v0.e recorded as follows:
AYEs-M"ssrs. Rarg mia, Chcsterman. Cottrell,
Davis. Enslis! II Monroe, Higgins, Jones, kerSe,
Lipsc"nh siarke >c,.t %t J,hsrs". & strans, ial
No.s--AIcssrS BusoicuH, Gentry, Hall, aud Metz
ser-L
The nucs,ion was then. Shall the amend
ncut he. adopted increasing The taxes To
Il. 80 on the hundred dollars:
Mr.. Hall uculandcd the ayes and noes, ant
the vote WAS recorded Is follows:
hyrs-,lcssrs Blrgamin, Chestcrman, Cottrcll
Tnyi. English OF MOnroe Ward, Hlsellls, zones
!; 49,, iinSrCmb Starke, Scott Of Jefferson Ward
>trars, " a.. or, " ilIlams, Whitloek, and "ynne-
ID c. Hall n.,,per
NoEs -Mc,srs. HosSieuX, Gentry, liail, Me'@seF
,nC 1alinti--J.
Mr.. Williams said that something had beer
said IN the Presidents address concerning
the sale Of the Gas Works, ana lie, theIeioie
moved that Il special committee OF h'e
appointed to investigate the SUI .'.c' S"'
committee to have authority to send Tor per
SONS aud papers.
Mr.. WhtIock moved 20 amend by refeF
rim, The whole subject 10 q special commit