The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-13
committed to the Committee on Ordinances.
FROM TnE LOWER lBRANcH.

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committed to the Committee on Ordinances.
FROM rnE Lower nRANcH.
Common Council resolutions to carry out
the recommendations OF the Finance Com.
nlittee, resolution granting permits foT
wooden buildings, and resolution to pay
claims of Oliver Mountcastle and others,
were taken UP and concurred in.
THE PRoPosITIoN TO REDUCE THE FIRE DE.
PARTMENT. s'3EtE
Common Council joint resolution from
the Committee on the Fire Department pro-
posing to put out of service Company B, Of
the Fire Department, was taken up.
Mr.. Kellam moved to lay the subject on
fthe table.
Mr.. Cannon presented petition OF mer-
chants, citizens, the Board Of Underwriters
OF the insurance companies, and real estate
agents the latter representing S5, 600, ,ooO),
asking that the efficiency Of the Fire De-
partment be not crippled by taking Com
pany u out Of service.
Mr.. Cannon made a lengthy and very
strong argument i'm favor OF not taking this
company out OF service. He could not see
why Company b had been selected. He
thought If any steamer Is to be spared it
should be one in that section where there
are hose companies. He knew that Com
pany B now responded to alarms from more
boxes than any steamer in the city. We
can get along with less gas and other things,
but we must have an abundance OF water
and ample means to eXtingulsh fire. Mr..
Cannon moved to indefinitely postpone the
whole subject.
Mr.. Todd said that his earliest associa-
tions had been with the company proposed
to be disbanded; that he had at one time
been its secretary, and that he naturally
felt q pride in its success in the depart
ments. Mr.. Todd said that the subject had
been very earnestly and carefully consid-
cred by the Committee on Fire. The COM
mittee of the Council is held responsible
for any deficiency in the department. 1t
was not proposed to put the engine out OF
service, but merely to disband the minute
men; keep the engine always in readiness
in case OF fire. In case Of fire in the
western end Of the city, if this steamer was
put out OF service Company d would be
first on the ground, and the horses Of that
company would be Immediately dispatched
for the steamer whose company 1t is pro-
posed to disband; and he felt satisfied that
that steamer would have q stream ready al
most as soon as the Brook-avenue steamer.
Mr.. Todd said that the committee had
discussed the propriety OF putting out OF
service Company AS steamer, but as b was
located between A and DIS steamer, bad
deemed it best to recommend that Company
r be disbanded.
On the question Of agreeing to Mr.. Can
mons motion to postpone the ayes and noes
were taken, and the motion to postpone
was lost by the following vote:
AYEs.--Messrs. Bass Cannon, Kellam, Wagner,
Williams, and Meredth--6.
rell, Smith, Todd and zimmer-s.
The resolution putting the engine out Of
service was then concurred in by record
cd vote-ayes, s; noes, 6.
THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS.
Common Council joint resolution request
ing the General Assembly to amend the city
charter so as to authorize the judges OF the
Circuit, Hastings, and Chancery Courts to
appoint said commissioners was taken up.
Mr.. Cannon presented a substitute re-
questing the General Assembly to amend
the charter so as to provide that the Board
shall consist OF the Mayor, the President OF
the City Council, the Police Justice, and
four members of the City Council, which
said members shall be chosen by the City
Council annually, in the month of July, in
a Joint meeting OF the two branches Of the
Council. The Board shall be under the cor
troll of the City Council, and any person
feeling aggrieved by any action Of the said
Board shall have the right Of appeal to the
City Council. Every appointment OF a
policeman shall be signed by at least five
members OF the Board.
Mr.. Wagner moved to refer the whole
subject to the Committee on Ordinances.
Mr.. Meredith (Air. Kellam being in the
chair said that the proposition OF the Com
mon Council was to put the whole police
power in the hands of three judges who
were not responsible to the people Of Rich
mond. He protested against taking the
power from the people and giving it to
three persons wholly irresponsible to the
people OF the city.
Mr.. Smith was opposed both to the sub
sttute and the resolution rs it came from
the Common Council. He was satisfied
that the Police Board, as at present or.
ganized and composed, was just what the
city needed. He thought it would be re-
Election on the present Board to adopt the
substitute.
Mr.. Williams was opposed to carrying
the subject to the Legislature. He didn't
city wanted. He had not given the SUBJ
ject much consideration, and hardly knew
what was the wish in regard to the matter
at present.
Mr.. Todd said that some of the men in
the force were in bad repute with the TAX
payers; that they probably meddled too
much in public politics; and that it has
come to his cars since the Retrenchment
Committee had been investigating the af-
fairs of the city that certain members OF the
body would not be returned on account OF
their action on this subject. He was
anxious to see change in the Board Of
Commissioners. He was in favor Of re-
organization of the police force, and would
not object to the matter going to the Com
mittee on Ordinances, where the whole SUBJ
ject may be freely discussed, and suitable
bill drafted and reported to the body at
proper time.
On motion OF Mr.. Todd, the subject was
committed to the Committee on Ordinances.
MORE LIGHT.
Mr.. Pickrell presented resolution in
structing the Sergeant-at-A1ms to have one
OF the chandeliers at the Old Market Hall
put up in the Council Chamber.
Adjourned.
The RECENT FALSE ALARMs.-The au-
thorities of the Fire Department yesterday
investigated a charge against Mr.. Waldman,
blacksmith Of Company A, Of turning in
the false alarms on Saturday night. He,
however, was able to prove by several wit
nesses that he was not at the boxes in ques-
tion at the periods Of time the false alarms
were given. The accusation was therefore
not sustained. There being some cause of