The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-03

A special meeting OF the Board Of Alder
men was held yesterday afternoon in the
Council chamber at 5 O'clock Present at
roll-caI: Messrs. Bass, Beall, Cannon,
Crump, Forester, Gray, Lipscomb, Manly,
Pickrell, Scott, Smith, Spangenburg, Todd,
Wagner, Williams, thinner.
The body was called to order by Mr..
Smith, and on his motion, in the absence Of
President Meredith, Mr.. Cannon was in
vited to preside.
The Chair stated that this was q called
meeting for special business, and nothing
else was in order.
On motion OF Mr.. Todd, the Sergeant-at-
Arms was requested to see the President and
| inquire whether he would be present, or
which the body had been called to consider.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REDUCTION
OF SALARIES. -.
Mr.. Meredith, having come into the cham
ber, explained to the body the object OF the
meeting, and gave the history Of the organ
| ization of the committee appointed to con-
general desire Of the committee had been
| to reduce the salaries of the city officers and
employees ten per cent, though in some
greater than ten per cent.
The reduction proposed, Mr. Meredith
said, was general. He mentioned that II
the proposed change is carried out the sal
ary Of the City Treasurer will be S2,160;
Clerk to Treasurer, S1,350; Auditor, ST.
100; Clerk to Auditor, $3.50; City En-
gineer, 1880; Assistant Engineer, 81 ,620;
SUPERINTENDENT Gas-Works, S1,620; Gas
Inspector, S1,320; Superintendent Water
Works, $1,62O; Assistant superintendent
Water-W orks, SLIPS; Superintendent
Pump-House, S1,080; Assistant Superin-
tendent Pump House, 5000; Clerk Of First
Market, 5000 (and 1915 for sweeping and
whitewashing the market; Clerk of Second
Market, same as Clerk OF First Market;
Chief Engineer of the Fire Department,
$500; Commanders Of Fire Companies,
1925; Engineers OF Steam-Fire Companies,
S972; Foremen OF Fire Companies, S187.50;
the tiremen OF the steamers, $3.50; hostlers
Of steamers, $3.50; Superintendent Aims
house, Hospital, and Shockoe Hill Burying-
Ground, S1,125.
One Of the series OF ordinances reported
by the committee to carry out the proposed
reductions fixes the pay of the Chief Of Po-
lice at ten per cent. less than what he now
receives; salary Of captains at $40 per
month; sergeants at $75 per month; and
privates at 1925 per day instead OF $3.50,
as ut present.
The laborers in the gas and water depart
ments are also reduced.
The ordinance is to go into effect on the
1st Of July. Mr.. Meredith also stated that
at the proper time he would have some
thing to say on the subject.
Among the ordinances reported by the
committee was one reducing the pay OF
Commissioners OF the Revenue from three
fourths per cent to one-half per cent. and
the compensation of the City Collector from
one per cent. to three-fourths per cent.
The committee also reported that they had
recommended to the Fire Committee to. put
oat of service one OF the steamers; also
that St. Johns Cemetery be placed under
the control Of the Committee on Cemeteries.
Mr.. Scott moved to lay the whole matter
on the table and print. ,-........
Mr.. Forester seconded the motion.
Mr.. Bass hoped the motion would be
carried. He was totally at sea so far as the
benefit to be derived to the city was con-
cerned. ....
Mr.. Meredith stated that Mr.. Straus, who
had given the subject good deal OF atten-
ton, said that the reduction would amount
to $4,000 in saving TO the city.
Mr.. Todd opposed the motion to table
and print He said that upon opening bis
copy OF the city ordinances he found that
even adopting the proposed reductions i'll
the first four cases the officers whose sala-
ries were to be affected would still enjoy a
larger salary than they did in 1875.
Mr.. Scott hoped that the report would be
Immediately printed and distributed by the
Sergeant-at-Arm among the members OF
the Board. .r ....: II.
The motion to table and print was agreed
to. @.s.<
THE PLACES OF AMUSEMENT TO BE EXAMINED.
Mr.. Beall presented the following reso-
luton at the instance OF an old citizen;
which was considered, and adopted under
suspension OF the rules:
ResolUed By the Board of Aldermen (the
Common Council concurring), That spe-
cial committee be appointed, to consist OF
the chairman OF the Committee on Fire,
chairman Of the Committee on Water, the
chairman of the Committee on Fire-Alarm
and Police Telegraph, Chief Of Police, City
Engineer, and the Chief Of the Fire De-
partment, with instructions to examine the
theatres and other places Of public amuse-
mcnt for the purpose OF aScertainlng
whether or not they are provided with the
necessary appliances for extinguishing fires,
and whether or not the modes OF egress
from such buildings, by passages, doors,
and stairways, are sufficiently ample and so
constructed as to afford to the audiences
easy and rapid exit in case of fire or panic.
And be it further resolued, That the said
| special committee shall report the result Of
their examination to the City Council, with
such recommendations as in their Judgment
NAV be necessary for the preservation Of
| life in the event Of fire or panic occurring
| in such places of public amusement. -. -
ALLEGED ABUSES. --
hIr. Wagner presented the following, and
said he thought it but just to correct abuses
before the salaries OF the city employees were
cut down: . .s...,,t ...---.;, -.
whereas the Committee on Retrenchment
and Reform in their report have entirely lg-
nored or overlooked the fact that in the diff
ferent departments Of our city government
there have been and are existing various
and serious abuses which are causing ex-
penditures Of money alike unlawful and
unnecessary therefore be it ,,nst -
ReSolued, That the Committee on Re-
trenchment be directed to inquire into the
existence of any alleged abuses or maiprac-
tices, and report facts and remedies to the
| Council. g..-..,.-.- $50
Mr.. Todd begged that Mr.. Wagner would
Mr. Wagner said that he would explain
when the subject came before the COM co
Mr. Todd said the only t.abuse'' he could
think OF was the fact that Mr.. Wagner had
said that the city paid fees for services
which the State paid for. ,'5f
i Mr. Wagner said that; he would like 10