The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-11
troduced and had passed in the House bill
amending the charter. One of the most i'm
portant features Of the charter was that pre-

portant features Of the charter was that pre-
venting the Council from making our peo.
pie poor by unlimited appropriations, and
it was matter Of vital interest to our peo-
pie that this, feature in. 1t should be- re-
tanned. The high value OF our bonds in
the market to-day Was owing in q measure
to this restriction. TWAS but few days
ago that the resolution passed the, other
branch, and notwithstanding the fact that
that resolution was to be considered here,
where all the people Of the city are
represented, member of the House,
who but q week ago was member of
the other branch, has presented and had
pushed through the House of Delegates a
bill to abrogate our charter, and that bill Is
now in the Senate ready to be taken up as
soon as it opens its doors. He for one
never would have been willing 10 ask the
Legislature for this power. With all re-
spect to the City Council, there are as many
gentlemen outside OF the Council-tax.pay-
ers and ethers-who have as much interest
In these matters as the members of the
Council. These people ought to be consult
ed and their opinions considered. 1t was
an unwarrantable proceeding to 90 to the
Legislature to get bill through toannul
the charter Of our city. 1t ought to be
stopped. rs
Mr. Cannon, in conclusion, said he thought
it useless to pass the resolution, as the mat
ter was already. in the Legislature, and
would offer the following as q substitute:
ReSoLred by the Board of aldermen, That
the action OF Joseph r. Anderson, one OF
the delegates from the city OF Richmond to
the General Assembly of Virginia, in intro
ducing and hurrying through to its passage
IN ne nnln n sfr,sf, ~
the charter Of the city of Richmond, so as
to permit the city OF Richmond to subscribe
$4,000 to the repair of the James River
and Kanawha canal, without reference to
the qualified voters OF the city, in the manner
now prescribed by law, and without the
approval Of this body, whose consent has
been asked by the Council, is wholly un-
warranted, tends to the suhYersion and de-
struction Of the chartered rights of our
people, and meets with our unqualified con-
demnation. ...-- s.s,:-,.
Mr.. Meredith said it was Just to say that
be received letter from General Anderson
explaining his course. He presented the
bill because the Common Council had by an
almost unanimous vote passed 1t, and he did
not see any reason to await formal action
Of the Board. He thought the vote OF the
body indicated the sense OF the people Of
Richmond. He thought il the General had
erred it was only an error OF Judgment, and
he hoped the body would not pass Mr..
.Cannon's resolution, as he felt sure Gene
raj Anderson did not mean any disrespect
to the Board. .-e a~..
Dir. Pickrell agreed with Mr.. Meredith
Perhaps Mr.. Anderson had been over-zeal-
Gus, but he felt sure he did not intend any
disrespect to the body. He united in the
hope that the resolution would be with
drawn. ...-. ..,... .r.. ...
Mr.. Cannon said in Difference to the
wishes Of the gentlemen who had spoken
be would withdraw the resolution, but he
would not retract in one jot or little OF what
he had said. He did not desire to put on
record a resolution condemning any one,
and he would therefore Withdraw it. =,
On the question Of agreeing to the resolu-
ton appropriating $4,000 the ayes aud
noes were demanded, and being taken, the
resolution was defeated by the following
vote: ,..s.. -.s .... ....
AYEs.-Messrs. Bass, Beae, and Wilnams-s.
SoEsaMegsrs; CANNON, & cFrm2' a t, tEorIes,er, Gray
-iat. NEW BUSINESS.
By Mr.. Todd: 4 resolution transferring
S25 from chain-gang pay-rols to expenses
of the chain-gang. Agreed to.
By the same: A resolution transferring
5000. from the City Hospital to Board OF
Health payroll. Agreed to. ss,.....s....
BY the same: An ordinance repeating
section Of chapter 8, concerning the sala-
ries OF officers. This amendment proposes
to repeal the section which prevents the
Council from reducing salaries during the
current year. .,.-... r., ....f :''c4, ,.,,.. ~.
- h 1>o
came necessary he did not desire to go into
by the section referred to. =, .r.,
Mfr. Meredith asked whether it was posi-
BILE that it was necessary to repeal the section
referred to in order to reduce salaries. s
Mr.. Todd stated that the City Attorney
had given such an opinion to the Committee
on Light. c-a..
Mr.. Cannon said that the section OF. the
ordinance was, in his judgment, intended to
apply to fixed salaries, and not to day-Iabor-
ers. ..-- .. .-.r.. .,a-s.t %,t. ss
Mr.. Meredith wanted to see the opinion.
He could not think that day-laborer could
be classed us an officer OF the city having q
fixed compensation. 49,, =. ...,..... Il. q.
MIR. Todd thought it would be best to re-
peal the section. II he went into the cru
SADIE at all, he wanted it to affect the officers
as we'll as the poor day-laborers. It would
be maniiestiy unfair If the ordinance should
apply to the laborer and not the salaried
officer. ;...s; +. y. ..,r..' s'...,i
Mr.. Cannon said that the repeal OF the or.
dinance could not affect the officers who
were elected In July last to serve for one
wear, for they, were elected under this ordi
nance, and their term would not expire I'M
til July next. .r...f5-.,-. .,,., ..,r, 80.
The rules were suspended and the ordi
nance presented by, Mr.. Todd adopted re
pealing the section--ayes, IL. noes, 2
Messrs. Scott and Williams. .,,,..-fs.. ..to.E,
A PROPOSITION TO BUILD A RAILROAD PRoA
RICHMOND TO CLIFTON FORGE. u. .ta
Mr.. Todd presented the following: IS
Whereas, owing to the frequent disasters
to the James-River and Kanawha canal re
sulting from floods which destroy its bank
in many places and interrupt Its navigation
for long periods, and in view Of the mani
fest inability of the canal company to re
pair the same from its own resources; ant
whereas from the foregoing causes, and thu
further fact, which has now been sufficiently
demonstrated by experience, that the sale
James River and KanaWha canal is Who'll,
unreliable and insufficient for the transpor
tation OF merchandise and the products O
the rich valley Of the James river from
this city to its head-waters; and where
as the products OF said valley fnt
their natural and best market in th'
city of Richmond, and are imPortan
to its prosperity to the extent OF demanding
a more reliable and efficient transit to oul
CITY; and whereas from the opinions o
competent engineers and practica! bushes
minds it is believed that a railroad can b.
constructed on the tow-path of The cana
from this city to Buchanan, and thence. u
Clifton Forge, within six working month
(which is as soon as the canal can be repaired