The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-17

desired to know by what authority the
chairman of the Committee on Retrench-.
ment and Reform had assumed to exclude
the nine members suggested by him and the
members OF the press, rs he had heard that
the chairman had included the reporters
too. lie desired further to say that he was
glad to have heard the meeting was fail
ure.
Mr.. Whitlock explained that the meeting
was intended to be conference OF his
friends, but finding that some of those not
called were offended, he told the sergeant to
summon all the members. He was sorry
that anybody had been offended.
THE INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM.
The Council resumed the consideration
OF the report of the Committee on Retrench-
ment and Reform, the question being on
agreeing to the resolution turning over the
water-works to the City Engineer.
| Mr.. Taylor presented the following:
Whereas the sweeping tide Of retrench-
ment and reform having betaken our good
city. and looking to the end it is specially
desirable to reduce the salaries OF the hard
worked employees OF the city therefore be it
ReSolced 0he Board Of Aldermen con-
curring), That the pay OF members OF the
City Council be reduced fifty per cent.
Ruled out Of order.
The question was then upon the resolution
as agreed upon by the Committee on Re-
trenchnent.
Mr.. Straus opposed the resolution, be-
cause il was Il reflection OH the Superinten-
dent of the Water-W Works.
Mr.. Curtis favored the resolution.
Mr.. Whitlock read the folIowing:
RICHMOND, April 1G, 1877.
To the Honorable Common Council, CITY Of
Richmond:
Gentlemen,-Yourpe petitioner, a taxpayer,
representative OF taxpayers, in conlunc-
ton with yourselves and chairman OF the
Committee on Retrcnchment and Reform,
feels it incumbent upon himself, in the in
terest of economy in our municipal govern
ment, to make this special appeal for care
| full criticism and consideration OF the re-
trenchment and reform report now before
you.
Your petitioner, in conjunction with his
colleagues on said committee, labored zeal
ously for about eight weeks in the discharge
of the important, unpleasant, and unpopu-
lar duty Of investigating the official conduct
OF the employees Of the city, and canddly
EXPRESSES the conviction that whatever OBJ
| iections may be urged against said report
| (that perhaps with but uery few eXceptions),
| certainly it cannot be successfully main-
tanned that the compensation therein named
! is too low. Your petitioner takes this oc-
| casion to call attention to the remarkably
| favorable endorsement Of the honorable
Board OF Aldermen by very creditable
majority.
| Your petitioner calls attention also to his re-
port in regard to the extravaganza in the gas
| department Of over $4,000 annually, which
statement is almost wholly confirmed by the
meeting of the Committee on Light within
about two weeks after the publication of
said statement and the fixing OF the pay OF
employees in said department SO as to reduce
the expenses in that department sG,643;
and YOUR petitioner feels warranted in en-
pressing the belief that had said committee
called upon the Retrenchment Committee
| for additional information that they'would
have made still further reduction OF $500.
| ANYHOW, but strange to remark. the Coun-
ell rejected the favorable report Of the Com
mttce on Light.
Your petitioner mentions amongst the
employees in the gas department who are re-
ceiving too much pay, in his Judgment, as
coal-stockers, ash-rollers, and lime-kiln
hands, who are no more than common Ia
borers, and are now receiving $3.50 per day
for twelve hours work, whilst the Old Do
minion Nail-Works Company only pay for
coal-stockers and ash-rollers S1.06 per day
of ten hours, and Mr. A. S. Lee pays for
lme-kiln hands S. per week. How can
councilmen excuse themselves when they
support such extravaganza.
! Your petitioner has learned by his short
experience that retrenchment and reform
committee, if they do their duty. naturally
becomes unpopular with the other commit
tees by reason of the reflection, not irten-
tionaliu made, but by implication deduced
from adverse reports to the management OF
the various committees. Therefore he asks
the question, Will the Common Council
destroy the usefulness OF the Retrenchment
Committee on this account by withdrawing
proper support from its reports?
Your petitioner asks for the Retrench-
mcnt Committee that you will criticise their
report carefully, amend it if you please, but
before YOU reject it do US the favor to pass
the resolution below; and your petitioner
will ever pray, &c.
Respectfuly, r. II. WuITLoCK.
ResoLUed, That whatever portions OF the
retrenchment and reform report as may not
be adopted by the Common Council shall
be hereby referred to the committee whose
depart1nent Is affected thereby, in conf junc-
ton with the Retrenchment and Reform
Committee, for tue consideration of those
committees jointly, and report at our next
meeting, with all necessary facts.
The resolution was declared out OF order.
The resolution OF the committee was then
rejected by the following vote:
AYEs.-Messrs. Braseman, Christian, Curtis, e.
lett, Foster. Gregory Haxal, King, Pulliam' Tay-
lor, Whitlock, and Anderson-l2. ,,,
Higgins, Lausr, Manson, Metzger, Oliver: Starke.
Stratus, Vanderyall, Timberlake, aud Wood-14.
Mr.. Davis now presented joint resolu-
ton providing for general reduction OF
ten per cent. of all the salaries and wages
of city employees, except those receiving
S1.50 per day and under. Said reduction
to take place from the 1st of July, 1877.
The subject was discussed at some length.
Mr.. Taylor moved, in view Of the impor-
tance of the subject, to postpone the ques-
ton under consideration until Thursday
next at P: NJ. Lost.
Mr.. Vandervall now demanded the pre-
vious question.
The pending question was ordered, and
Mr.. Davis's resolution to make general
reduction OF ten per cent was rejected by
the following vote:
AYEs.-Messrs. Davis, Elicit, Hargrove, Haxall,
PulliaIn, Starke, Straus, Vandervall, and Ander-
son-9.
Curtis, Foster, Gregory, Guy Hayes, Higgins: KING,
Laucr Manson, MetZger, Oliver, Taylor, Timber
lake, Whitlock, aud WoOd-18.
The resolution in relation to the sale Of
the horse and carriage Of the Superintendent
of the Water-Works was laid on the table,
on motion Of Mr.. Straus.
The clerk had read the next resolution
reducing the pay OF the laborers OF the