Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-03-20

Cry CoUNcIL.-The City Council held
it's regular meeting Tuesday night, pre-
sent President Bickle and Messrs. Abby,
Bickle, Evans, German, Guy, Ker, Nelson
and WITT.
MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR.
The following message was received from
the Mayor:
To the Common Council Of the city Of Staars-
ton.
Gentlemen 1t is made by law my duty
to send you message at least once year.
The most interesting question to the peo-
pie is that of
TAXATION AND FINANCE
but as your body has given it so much OF
your attention and experience regard 1t
unnecessary to bring it before you, further
than to suggest that you order your proper
officer to state, for publication, the condi-
tion ofthe city treasury, the amount OF the
public Indebtedness, funded or yet to be
provided for, and the means of ultimately
paying it.
In obedience to your resolution l have
met in Conference your committee appoint
ed for that purpose, and indulge the opin-
ion that some good many be the result and
that there will be less cause to complain,
whether well grounded OF not, in regard
to the manner of enforcing the bylaws
and ordinances.
respectfully and earnestly suggest that
THE LAWS OF THE CITY
be speedily printed in volume and distri-
buted. They are now only to be found
spread through many pages of your minute
books, or printed on separate slips of paper,
inaccessible to the people generally. 1t is
a venerable maxim that Ignorance of the
law excuseth no man. but 1 often feel it
to be hard measure Of justice to punish
an offender when he pleads that he did
not know he was offending.
l give it as my opinion that the ordi-
nances, so far as could well be done, have
been conscientiously and faithfully en-
forced. 1t cannot be maintained that
subjecting the citizen to a heavy fine and
punishment is productive of good, OF is
sound policy. 1t is true it might tend to
replenish the Treasury; but the amount
should merely be enough to punish COM
mensurate with the offence, and prevent a
REPETITION and deter others.
1t is said, though not coming within the
scope Of my duty, that the
REVENUE FROM THE WATER WORKS
has not been properly collected. My ex-
periencess in your body, induces me to be-
lieve that the revenue which ought to arise
from that quarter, should sustain the work
and more; and [ suggest that the Super
intendent should (if not now SOL be bond
ed officer and required to collect all dues,
as they accrue, and account for them at
stated periods.
Iregard the enforcement of the ordinance
concerning dogs as doing much service in
swelling the annual income, and to some
extent abating their number, and I am
sure that the police is endea voring to see
that it is faithfully executed.
There is some censure, I am told, attach
ed to the police for not always arresting
SAMPLE MERCHANTS
who are here sometimes, it is said, trading
without license. I will not discuss the
propriety of the law-I observe it has been
repealed in the city of Richmond, but my
observation is that without the aid of de-
tectives, OF the giving the informer part
of the fine, it can be only partially en-
forced. It is next to impossible for the
ordinary police to catch the offender in the
act, OF obtain the necessary proofs.
There is a very proper requirement in re-
lation to
THE STREETS
which in some, and especially Augusta ST.,
it is difficult to enforce without subject
ing persons to loss and INCONVENIENCE
Our streets are very narrow, we have no
market laws, except for meat, and no pub
lie nor private wood yards, and the neces-
sity of the case has made that street gen.
eral market place, and the most the police
can do is to keep an open space for the
thoroughfare. The congregation of per-
sons on the side walks assumes the appear
ance of a nuisance. The police are en-
deavoring to remedy the evil, and l feel
gratifed in saying that there is much i'm
provement in the matter.
You must excuse me for again calling
your attention to
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The steam fire engine seems to be con-
demned as inefficient. We have wonder
FIJI 20, l,1t
should not cause us to remain unprepared.
Very respectfully,
NICHOLAS X. TROUT.
March list, 1874. Mayor
The different subjects mentioned by the
Mayor, were referred to the appropriate
Committees.
THE NEW WATER WORKS.
MI. Guy, Chairman of the Water Com
mittee, made report upon the action of
that Committee in the matter of new wa
ter works. He said the Committee had
conferred with Mr.. Howell Fisher who had
belonged to the Council of town in New
York, and had been chief in getting water
works for that town, and his suggestion
was that Committee OF the Council be
appointed to visit some of the northern
cities and examine the water works, ex-
plain to parties interested the location
and amount of water available to Staun-
ton, and also explain to them the character
and value of Staunton city bonds. This
would save all the expense of an hydrau
ic engineer here, and would make an
opening for whoever took the contract, to
take our city bonds in payment. The re-
port Of the Committee recommended the
appointment two councilmen and one
citizen to make the visit, the expense to be