The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-28

THE COMMON C0UNCIE..

SITE SELECTED FOR THE CLAY-WARI
| MARKET-HOUSE- - THE APPROPRIATION
| ORDINANCE ADOPTED-APPROPRIA
| FOR THE YEAR MADE, &C., &c.
| Pursuant to adjournment. meeting OF
the Common Council was held yesterday
afternoon to consider the ordinance con-
corning the annual appropriations and for
other purposcs-Prcsidcnt Anderson in the
chair. Present at roll-cal McSsrs. Chris
tian, Curtis, Davis, Elicit, English, Foster,
Gregory, Hargrore, Hayes, Higgins, Lauer,
Manson, Starkc, Straus, Talbot, Taylor,
Whitlock, and Wood.
The proceedings having been read, the
Chair announced that the meeting had been
called specially 10 consider the appropriation
ordinance from the Finance Committee.
Dir. Christian informed the Chair that
there was not sufficient number OF men,
bcrs present [20] to pass the ordinance.
The Chair said there would no doubt be
constitutional majority in short time.
| The clerk was about to read the ordinance
when Mr.. Christian moved to postpone the
consideration of the ordinance for the pre-
sent. and to take up the report OF the Com
mittee on Grounds and Buildings concern
| ing the proposed
MAEKET-lIoUSE FOR CLAY WARD.
The motion was agreed to.
| The report Of the committee proposing
| to purchase lot at the corner Of Cary and
Pine streets for said markct-houSe, at a cost
of S9,45S, was read.
Mr.. Christian said that he thought that
the number OF feet OF land proposed to be
! purchased-viZ., 2lS feet on Cary street and
1919 feet on Pine Street-WaS too large. lie
therefore moved that the report he amend
ed so as to read 155 feet at the corner Of
Cary and Pine Streets" DC.
Alr. Christian then urged the adoption Of
the report, so as to fix the location Of the
market-housc.
Mr. Straus moved to lay the whole sub
iect on the table. Lost-aycs, 10; noes, 10.
Mr.. Christians joint resolution fixing the
location Of the market-house at the corner
OF Cary and Pine streets was read.
Mr.. Davis said we had gotten into a snap
Of this kind once before when we fixed the
site for the free bridge, and had to spend
about $4,000. lie hoped the whole matter
would be defeated.
Mr.. Christian said that it looked to him
as if Mr.. Davis was riding on both sides of
the saddle. He was opposed to the sesaw
arrangement. He thought it due to the
Council to pass the resolution.
Mr.. Whitlock agreed with Mr. Davis.
Dir. Talbot moved to lay the resolution
on the table. Lost-ayes. 10; noes, II.
The resolution was then adopted.
| \ motion to take up the joint resolution
! from the Board OF Aldermen to appropriate
! all uneNpended balances in the city treasury
at the close OF the fiscal year Just ended to
aid in the erection of Clay Ward market
house was rejected,
THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE.
The appropriation ordinance was next
taken up and read.
| Mr.. Curtis presented the following reso-
! luton rs a substitute:
| Whereas from an examination of the ap-
portionment OF appropriations to the va
rious committees Of the Council recon-
mended for the present fiscal year it appears
that, owing to necessity for reducing the
amounts appropriated to conform to the re-
cent change in the rate Of tax, instead
OF making an equitable and ratable reduc-
ton upon every committee alike, that the
amount Of Sl7,S49 has been taken from the
Committee on Streets Generally, a sum equal
to twenty and one quarter per cent OF the
entire amount expended by them last year,
and $4,000 less than their total approprla-
ton last year (aithough these expenditures
were less by $4,000 than for any year since
1872, and that only S3,S73, or three per
centum, has been taken fromthe Committee
on Light, and only S1,549, or three
and five eighths per centum, has been
taken from the Committee on Wa
ter (not taking into consideration
the voluntary reduction in pay-rolls.
recently adopted by the committee), whilst
the Committees for Relief Of Poor, Board
OF Heath, Improvement Of James River,
excepting an extraordinary appropriation
or transfer to that committee last summer
to maintain their operations pending the
usual Government appropriately, Fire
Alarm Telegraph, Police, Schools, Discount
and Interest, and Contingent Fund, have
allowances equal to and in some instances
gremer than their actual expenditures
during the past year-the committees ON
Grounds and Buildings and on Fire De-
pdgtnent are not taken into comparison
from the fact that both were subjected to
annual and very heavy expenditure during
the year, but the latter committees are
allowed what is deemed by them Il sufficient
sum for their necessities during the present
year; and whereas this sapportionmenti is very
illi5eral and unfair to the Committee on
Streets Generally, and injurious to the best
interests of the city by contracting the
operations OF this very important depart
mento OF city work to an extent about one
fifth of it's usual expenditures. whilst from
the nat ural wear and tear upon our business
streets and the unprecedented growth and
Improvement OF our city in all directions
the annual appropriations should be IN
creased each year; and whereas no other
single committee OF the CoRlncil is similarly
treated ,er similarly incengenienced in its
operations; therefore be it
Resokuod, That said appropriation ordi-
nance be. and the same is hereby, recon-
mitted GO the Committee on Finance, with
instructions to divide or distribute the
amount OF deficit in the revenue SO as to
fall ir rataMe proportion upon all the lead
ing committees OF the Council in every case
in whieh they are not prohibited from doing
so by reason 'ef existing erdinasces or con-
tracts.
Mr.. Custis said the Committee on Streets
were not satisfied with their appropriation,
and he hoped !: would be the pleasure Of
the Council TO reeommit the ordinance.
Mr.. Higgins said that he did not see how
the Committee on Light could get along
with their appropriation; it was nearly
Si1 900 less than It was last year.
Dir. Etraus said II the ordinance did not
suit the Council they could amend 1t. They
could take from the committees that might
have too much and give to others that did
not have enough. BE was not interested In