The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-21
THE COMMON COUNCIL.
RESULT OF THE ADJOURNED MEET1N,

The Now Fire Ordinance Passed-The
Departm ent to be ReOrganized-De-
feat OF the Proposition to Apr opri.
ate 100000 I'm Six Per Cent. Bonds
for Street improvements, Etc, Etc.
Pursuant to adjournment meeting of the
Common Council was held yesterday after
noon in the Council chamber-Mr. M. l..
Straus, president pro tenpore, in the chair.
The following members were present Bab-
cock, Bargamin, BraselmaB, Christian, Cur
tis, Davenport, Davis Of Madison Ward,
Davis Of Marshall Ward, English, Foster,
Gilman, Lauer, Manson, Metzger, Newell,
Oliver. Powers, Purcell, straus, Tower, and
Wiugfisld-2f.
THE FIRE ORDINANCE.
The Chair announced that under the reso.
luton of the Council the first business in
order would be the consideration of the new
ordinance concerning the Fire Department !;
The second section provides for the ap-
poiutment of two assistant engineers in addi.
| tion to the chief engineer one commander
and eight firemen to each company; one en-
sineman, one helper, and one hostler to each
steam fire. engine and one hostler and one
tillerman to each and-ladder.truck. The
chief engineer shall be appointed by the
City Council biennially, in the month of July.
Mr. Bargamin explained that it was as ne
cessary to have the assistants TO the chief OIL
! the Fire Department as it Is necessary for
| general to have aids. He said.tbat the reduc-
| ton in the number Of men would pay the
salaries of the two assistants, and would
equip the new steam fire company.
Mr.. Davenport said that be had been an
old firemap, and thought that one assistant
| would be ample. He approved Of the re-
duction in the number of men.
| Mr.. It. Wiley Davis endorsed the proposed
change in the Fire Department, and an-
| swered Mr.. Dayenport's objection by saying
| that in case Of two fires it would he neces-
sary to have two assistants. He moved that
| the Chief Engineer be heard on the subject.
Agreed to.
The Chief said that the ordinance met
| with bis entire approval. He thought that
| it was absolutely important to have the TWO
assistants; that it would be we'll to have one
assistant ia one end of the city and the other
| in the other end. to be the field officers, and
give directions before the department can a.
rive.
Mr.. Wing6eld inquired whether in the
opinion of the Chief Engineer eight men
would be sufficient in case of large fire.
The Chief said he thought that the mum.
Der would be sufficient.
Mr.. Christian moved to amend the second
section 50 as to provide that the assistants
shall be elected by the Council.
Nj. Bargamin said that the Council didn't
| know anything about the qualification of fire.
| men. Why, the Council will put in one man
| for political purposes, another on personal
grounds! He couldn't see why the Com.
mittees on Streets and Light should be
allowed to fix salaries amounting in the aS-
gregate to about ten thousand dollars.
Mr.. Christian was opposed to centrallza-
| ton in every form, and for this reason and
| many others he hoped the amendment would
prevail.
! The amendment was agreed TO.
| Mr.. Christian inquired what would be the
! additional expense TO the city under this or.
dinance.
Mr.. Bargamin said that with The add.
tional company on Church Hill under this
ordinance the expense to the city would be
reduced about So 900, but that the additional
expense Of the new engine would be $4,000.
MIR. Tower called attention to the fact that
| there was no provision for the appointment
! of the firemep, tillernen, hostlers, DC.
Mr.. Christian moved to amend the third
section so as to provide that the Board OF
Control shall appoint the enginemen, host
lers, g.. Agreed to.
The ordinance was then unanimously
adopted.
THE osE.HuSDRED DTHoCsAHD-DoLLAR PROPOSE
TIoN FOR STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
On motion of Mr.. Babcock, the ordinance
concerning the Water-Wo was laid on
| the table in order to take up the joint reso'
| luton appropriating 100000 in six per
cent. bonds, having thirty.four years to rur,
| for grading upgraded streets.
Mr.. Davis of Marshall Ward said that as
some gentlemen were absent who desired to
| vote on the proposition he moved TO post
pone the further consideration of the subject
until the next regular meeting of the body.
Mr.. Davenport said that this evening was
set apart for the consideration of this SUBJ
| iect, and every member had an abundant
opportunity to consider it, and he hoped
the matter would be disposed Of at once.
Mr.. Babcock said that he hoped the mat
1 ter would be disposed of at this meeting.
Mr.. Curtis said that 1t mattered not that
| the opponents of the measure were absent,
because it would require two thirds vote to
pass 1t but as some of the friends of the
measure were absent, it would hardly be fair
to press the matter.
The motion to postpone was rejected.
] Mr.. Curtis spoke at some length in favor
Of the appropriation, and urged that it was
| due to those who lived in the remote por.
! tions of the city that the money should be
spent to grade the ungraded streets. The
opponents of the measure step out upon
beautifully paved and graded streets, and
| these people that are now knocking at your
doors are entitled to some of these comforts.
| They have not received anything at the hands
Of the Council as yet. He had come to the
meeting to say this much, that if the resolu-
| ton is defeated the responsibility will be on
the heads of the majority, and not fall upon
the friends Of the measure.
| Mr.. Whitlock spoke ia opposition to the
resolution, and read the figures from the an.
nual reports of the past few years to show
| the large amounts that had been expended
| in the remote wards.
| He thought it was piece of nonsense to
suggest that the interest on these bonds
should be deducted from the annual appro-
| priation to streets.
Mr.. Davenport said that every invest.
ment that was made in our own bouds (that
are exempt from taXation) in home improve.
mens would decrease In value just so much.
| He said that within the past twelve months
! be had sold a piece of property assessed at
| $40 800 on the city books for $4,000. aud
his, too, after he and his friends had bid
| upopjt.
Mi. Davis of Marshall Ward wanted II
recorded that he was for the resolution, de
represented in part The muddy district of
Marshall Wsrd-a place where bis constitu-
q l.Ss- L ,,,1