The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-16

. l. ~ 1LiJ LA i IuolllN1 1lNN1,
committee thereon was taken up and
agreed to. The Chair appointed Messrs
S!raus, Metzger, and Davis of Madison
! Ward.
Board joint resolution asking for confer.
ence committee as to the disagreeing votes
Of the two houses on the claim of P. T.
| Moore, late Sergeant Of the city, &C., was
taken up aud concurred in. :, The Chair ap-
pointed Messrs. Phlliam, Curtis, and Charles
r, Davis Of Madison Ward. '.'., -.
~ BOARD OF AUDIT. ,-..t,. .h j:...,
Dir. Johnson OR. iStraus in the chairI
! moved to take up the ordinance to establish
Board Of Audit for the city OF Richmond !
Mr. johnson called attention to the i'm.
portance of the ordinance and its objects.
The Board is to consist Of the Mayor aud
the presidents of the two branches of the
City Council. This Board is to examine the
warrants drawn upon the Treasurer, their
numbers and amounts, attest the same, and
publish in the official paper of the city.
Mr.. johnson said the city tonight mad ap.
propriated one million dollars, and there is
no Board to examineinto the disposition Of
these amounts. He believed that this Board
would eventually, by prying into these mat
ters, make great reduction in the city's ex-
pendilures. He thought there was no city
where money, so far as be knew, was more
tjudicously expended, but by publishing the
expenditures monthly it would have great
moral effect upon the G9Hncil as well as upon
the public. -
Mir. Talbot didn't believe it would save
the city cent to publish this information.
1t would end in au expense to the city-not
only the cost of publishing the information,
but clerk would eventually have to be en-
ployed at u cost of from $500 10 81 800.
Dir. S;raus (Mr. Brgamn in the chair)
moved to strike out in the third section all
the words providing for the publication of
the information. He claimed that it would
be heavy expense to the city, which the
city could not afford.
Mr.. Davenport said that he thought the
citizens would take great interest in the in
formation, and it might be check upon the
Council, He didn't think it necessary TO
publish the interest account. - ....-5
ur. johnson moved to amend the amend
ment SO as 10 provide that the expense shall
not exceed S25 per month, and that the SAL
ary and interest accounts he not included.
Mr.. Tower offered substitute which pro-
yided that the Board of Audit shall each
month print in pamphlet form the eXpenai-
lures of The city, aud that when the pamph.
let is ready the Iact shall be advertised in the
offieisl city paper, and all persons who desire
copy may procure one from the Auditors
Office. ..r ..- s..
Mr.. johnson said it would defeat the oh.
ject had in view. ~
Mr.. Christian favored the ordinance with
Mr. Johnsofs amendment. He said be had
imbibed the public sentiment that the mem-
hers of the Council were ring for the transac-
ton of business. He bad been in the Council
upwards Of six months, but he had failed TO
fnd the slightest ground for such senti-
mcut. He thought great good would re.
suit from the publication Of this Information
if it would eradicate the sentiment he had al
uded TO. IL would bring to the knowledge
OF this community every thing that the Couu~
ell is doing, aud he hoped it would be the
pleasure OF the Council TO pass the ordinance.
Its passage would eXpel the idea that when
CITY contracts are awarded to members of the
Council it is done as matter Of fayoritlsm.
Mr.. Davenport thought it would not only
give the citizens and taxpayers pleasure TO
read the publication, but it would, in his
opinion, help the city financially.
MIR. Talbot thought that the ordinance
ought to 20 to the Committee on Retrench.
ment and Reform, or that that committee
should perform the duties mentioned in the
proposed ordinance without expense.
The substitute was rejected. ...
MIR, Davis of Marshall Ward said be was
opposed to the Neutrality-suspicious. part.of the
amendment. Ii We are going to make an
exhibit, make q clean sheet of the whole
busineSs-let US see all the salary account
and interest paid. Don't hide or cover up
anything if we are going to expend money,
The amendment proposed by MIR. johnson
was lost-ayes, 8; noes, 16. &.
Mr.. Strauss proposition to strike out the
clause providing for the publication of the
information was lost-ayes, s; noes, 1T.
Mr. johnson moved TO strike out in the
4th section the language relative to the ex-
animation OF warrants by any citizen.
Mr.. Talbot moved to lay on tie table; and
the vote resulted-ayes, II; noes, II.
The Chair decided that the motion to table
was lost.
Mr.. johnson moved to strike out the word
4" citizen" in the 4th section, allowing any
person so desiring TO examine vouchers in
the A udii ol',. office, and insert "taX- payer"
air. Straus: We'll, sir, you will have to
give the Auditor half dozen clerks to do
Inc NOIh. dOS Is uc W VII uO ID q laA-
payer or citizenl [Laughter.l
Mr.. BraSelman said he hoped the word
"citizen " would not be stricken out. There
were many good citizens who are not tax.
payers.
Mr.. johnson withdrew bis motion.
Mr. Straus moved to strike out the 4th Sec
ton. Lost.
Mr.. johnson moved to amend the 4th Sec
ton, allowing any citizen to examine vouch-
ers, &C., by adding proviso that no voucher
Shall be taken out OF the Auditors office, and
no voucher shall be for examination beyond
the current month. Agreed TO.
Mr.. johnson moved to strike out the 9Th
section, as to clerks pay, Sc. Agreed to.
Mr.. Talbot renewed the motion to lay on
| the table, and demanded the ayes and noes !;
and the vote being taken resuted--ayes, l2;
noes, 12.
The question was then upon the ordinance
| as amended. -.. 8 - -... -@
Mr.. johnson of Clay Ward moved to
amend the third section so rs to provide that
the cost OF publishing the information shall
| not be more than $50 per month Agreed to.
The ordinance was then adopted by the
following vote:
AYEs.-Messrs Bargamln, Braselman, Bright,
Chri stian, Curtis: Davenport, Davis of Madison,
Davis of Marshall. Fnglish Foster, Gilman, uig-
gins, Jenkins, johnson of Jackson, johnson OF
Clay, Klein, Lauer, Manson, MetZser, Oliver.
Tower-2l.
NoEs.-Messrs. Newell, straus, TaIbott-3.
LEAVE OF ABsENcE-.pREsIDEST PRO TEN.