The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-23

| TAXATION FROM $3.50. To el.40 ON TIE
| ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ADOPTED.
! The regular semi-monthly meeting Of the
Board of Aldermen was held yesterday
afternoon in the Council chamber. Present
at roll-call: Messrs. Beali, Cannon, Gray,
Kelam, Lipscomb, Manly, Pickrell, Scott,
| Smith, Spangcnburg, Todd, Williams, and
Zimmer.
| The body was called to order by Mr..
Beall. and on his motion Mr.. n. G. Cannon
was invited to preside in the absence OF the
president. es
Mr. Scott stated that the Sergcant-at-Arms
was absent on account OF the death OF
near relative.
Mr.. Scott, from the Committee on Water,
reported, in response TO q resolution, that
necessary steps had been taken to protect
the city in future from negligence or igno-
rance on the part Of employ es, &C., and that
the committee has tested the new valve
chests lately put in at the Water-Works. -
! The report was received.
FRAMED HOUSES.
Mr.. Todd, from the Committee on the Fire
Department, presented joint resolution
1
to erect framed buildings in the city 3. H.
Epps, coal-housc in rear Of No. 311 east
Cary street; James II. Moor, dwelling,
south side of st. Paul street between Baker
and Charity street; james L. Bradley, adj
dition to building on west side OF Twenty
sixth street between 0 and streets; j. +.
Patram, wheelwright- and blacksmith-shop
on the north side OF Denny street, Port
Mayo; Henry Cook, lumber-shed in rear OF
his shop, No. 1910 Broad street. Agreed to.
The committee also presented resolu-
ton rejecting the petition OF B. q. Hancock,
for NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. on Eighteenth street
between Main and Cary streets. Agreed to.
FROM THE COMMON COUNCIL.
Joint resolutions from the Committee on
Streets agreed to at the last meeting Of the
Common Council was taken up and con-
CURED in.
Mr.. Kellam presented the following pro-
viso in the resolution relative to the build
| ing Of cotton compress and the building Of
connection track:
Provided. that the Richmond and Dam
vile and Richmond, York River and Ches-
apeake Railroad Companies assume to pay
all damages that may be done to private
property upon the construction OF this road !;
and if they accept this resolution they shall
not plead in any action that may be brought
against either OF them, the said railroad
companies, that authority was granted by
the city Of Richmond. Agreed to-
The resolution. was then concurred in.
Joint resolutions from the Committee on
Finance, agreed to by the Common Council
at their last meeting, were taken up and
concurred in.
Joint resolutions paying sundry claims,
from Committee on Fire-Alarm and Police
Telegraph, Committee on Accounts and
Printing, and Committee on Claims and
Salaries, were taken up and concurred in.
Common Council joint resolution to en-
ploy watchman at the city Jail was taken
up and concurred in.
Common Council joint resolution author
izing contract for the care Of lunatics was
taken up and concurred in.
bill of S. T. Perkinson for dog and goat
medals, &C., was taken up and concurred In.
Joint resolution for joint session OF the
two branches of the City Council was taken
up and concurred in.
Common Council JOINT. resolution pro-
viding additional accomhno dation for fire
alarm and police telegraph was taken up.
Mr.. Gray and Mr.. Kelam opposed the
resolution.
NIr. Williams urged the concurrence Of
the body in the resolution.
Mr.. Crump wanted the battery moved to
Main street.
Mr.. Pickrell thought the resolution ought
to pass.
Mr.. Zimmer moved to commit the resolu-
ton to the Committees on Grounds and
Buildings and Police for conference. Agreed
to-ayes, 9; noes, 7:
Common Council joint resolution au-
thorizing temporary loans to pay employees,
&C., until the appropriation ordinance is
passed, was taken up and concurred in.
PROPOSED REDUCTION IN TAXATION.
Mr.. Todd presented an ordinance pro-
viding for reduction in the rate OF city
taxation from $1.50 on the one hundred
dollars to $1.40 on the one hundred dollars.
He urged the passage OF the ordinance, and
said that IL it became law there would, by
necessity, have to be a commensurate re-
duction in the expenses OF the various de-
partments. He thought the value OF our
bonds would be enhanced; our people
would be enthused with new life and hope;
new enterprises Of manufacture and COM
merce would be embarked in, and many
benefits would accrue to the city not now
contemplated.
MIR. Todd made avery forcible argument
in favor OF the resolution, and said it
would be q most acceptable new-year's
present and surprise.
Mr.. Manly spoke urgently Of the neces-
sity of retrenchment and the passage OF
the ordinance.
Mr.. Todd moved to suspend the rules in
order to put the ordinance upon its passage.
Mr.. Scott favored the ordinance, but said
he was not in favor Of it at the expense OF
the employe. He thought the amount
might be saved by reducing the appropria-
tions to the street, fire, water, and poor de-
partments.
Mr. Williams was opposed to suspending
the rules until the report OF the Committee
on Employees Wages and Retrenchment
had been acted on. ,-es,,.,.,.s-e .-.,
Mr.. Kellam agreed with Mr.. Scott. Mr..
Kellam said it was impossible to reduce the
employees pay; that, take the vote when
you will, it would be just as impossible to
make reduction as it would be for him to
pluck the brightness from the moon. He
thought that il this reduction in taxes was
made it would be made by reducing the ap-
preparations. He favored the reference OF
the resolution to the Finance Committee.
Upon the question OF suspending the
rules Mr.. Todd demanded the ayes and
noes.
Mr. Cannon (Mr. Bass being in the chair
said that the discussion had been very graf
flying to him. There had been singular
unanimity Of sentiment in the proposed re-
duction. AS to how to make this retrench-
ment there had been diversity Of sentiment,
but it was certain that one step had been
a So =