The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-13
there was no report was owing, In a mea-
sure, to the fact Of the fitness of Major Tur..

Mr.. Straus said that on the 80th of April
the James River Committee had to Its credit
S28, ,003.21, and that now the sum OF $8, ,559.Sl
was to the credit of the committee. He
thought that 1t was the business Of the
Council to take care Of their own money,
and not for any outsiders to do 80.
Mr. Starke said that he believed the Coun-
ell bad ordered the purchase of a new steam
tug, and that as member Of the Executive
Board he had occasionally certified bills from
this committee !; indeed, he believed the
Council had been invited to go down on the
steamer.
A voice: "No, sir, only favored few
Mr., Lipscomb remarked that he had heard
that one of the steamers was being fitted up,
cushioned, &C., and he thought it might be
we'll for the Council to 60 down and look
at it.
MIR. Bargamin thought it time to take the
| affairs Of the James river improvement OUT
of this mixed-up committee and put 1t into
the hands Of the Council.
Mr.. Starke said that he had approved, as
member OF the committee, accounts for the
repair OF the steamer Frank Summers. That
was one way in which the money had been
expended. This had cost some $4,000 or
$1,000.
Mr.. Newberry didn't believe that there
was one member Of the committee who
could defraud the city out Of cent; and if
such broad charges were to be made he
thought that committee of investigation
should be appointed at once, and the matter
looked into.
Mr., sturke further said that he thought that
the new steamer had been purchased for
some $4,000 by order of the Council.
MIR. Straus said that the committee had
not acted according to the ordinance. 1t
was their business to report once month.
He did not charge them with improper eX-
penditures.
MIR. Newberry: "The gentleman forgets
that there are other members from Mon
roe Ward here, and one who did make
charges"
Mr.. Bargamin Cising): 81 did no such
thing, sir"
Mr. Starke: "Well, gentleman, eau say
with certainty there will be report at the
next meeting, and it will then be seen that
the money has been well and judiciously
expended"
Here the matter was dropped.
THE NEW RESERVOIR.
Mr.. BargamiD, from the joint committee
on reservoir, &C., reported the following re-
solution, which they asked the Council to
adopt:
"Resolued. That the committee appointed
to select site for reservoir recommend to
the Council the appointment Of committee
to petition the Legislature Of Virginia for
authority to condemn sufficient land in Hen.
rico county for the purpose"
The report was adopted, and, on motion
of Mr.. Straus, the president of the Council
was requested to lay the matter before the
General Assembly, and if necessary the
cbairmen of the Committees on Water, Pub
lie Grounds and Buildings, and Streets
Generally be requested to cooperate with
him.
RETRENcuMEsT AND REFORM.
Mir. WhitIock, from the committee to
whom was referred a resolution of inquiry
us to the eXped;ency of obtaining such
amendments to the city charter as will for
| bid the city from giving negotiable notes. or
| from giving bonds having less than twelve
| months to run, reported that they have had
the matter under consideration, and are of
| the opinion that such an amendment to the
charter will be productive of good, and re-
| commend that efforts be made to obtain the
concurrence of the Legislature. About
twelve months ago the Council passed a
resolution asking the Legislature to amend
the charter so as to forbid the Council from
| creating a bonded OF interest-bearing debt
in excess Of twenty per centum OF the as
sessed value of the taxable real estate in the
city. While the Legislature amended the
charter, we do not think that the interest
and wishes of the Council was met by the
change, and the committee therefore recon-.
mend that such measures be taken at once
as will efectually accomplish the result
asked for by the resolution of the Coun-
| Gil.
| The committee are also of the opinion
that the charter of the city should forbid the
| Council from issuing bonds to pay current
expenses; and the committee likewise re-
commend that such amendment be obtained.
| to be operative from aud after the 1st july
IneXt.
| After some discussion the report was re.
ferred to the joint committee on Finance
Retrenchment, and Reform.
BROAD STREET.
The chairman laid before the Council 8
communication from the Broad-Strect Asso'
citation enclosing resolution providing fol
the appointment of counsel in the Broad
street matter, SC. Referred to Committee
on Finance.
| NEW BUSINESS.
l. By Mr.. Wbitlock :. a resolution providing
for the establishment of gas.lamps on the
Dock, Basin, &C., for the better protection
of life, sc. Adopted.
By Mr.. Wagner: A resolution providing
that the City Engineer shall make such Inn
provements on the south side Of the Basir
as the wants of the merchants may require
Referred TO Committee on Streets.
By Mr.. Straus A resolution providing
for the payment of 4,750 81, after the 1sto o
February next, for cOndemning land for the
widening of Dock street from Eighteenth to
Twentieth. [The whole amount was ,OO0
but the railroad companies paid the residue.
The resolution was agreed to under sus'
pension of the rules.
By Dir. StTaus: Resolued, That the Com
mittee on Water report by ordinance OF
otherwise some plan to prevent the waste Of
water now carried on to such an extent in
this city. Referred.
BIZ the same An ordinance in relation to
vehicles going without licenses. The ordi.
nance was tabled, and fifty copies ordered to
be printed.
By Mr.. Scott, of Jefferson Ward: Semi
annual report of the coroner. Filed.
BY Mr. Wbitlock: a resolution inquiring
| info encroachmentS on Dock and Water
streets. Referred.
By Mr.. Newberry A resolution transfer
ring the uneXpended amount to the credit
| of the wer.Committee fund to the fund
| for the Committee on Streets.
| By same: A resolution as to the eXpe-
diency of increasing the pay OF the City
| Treasurer to 81 800. Referred.
By Mr. Lipscomb: A resolution OF in
uuiry as to the cost of certain improvements