The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-23
THE .coMMos COUNCIL.
A SITE DONATED TO THE STATE FOR THE
CENTRAL LUNATIC AsyLUM-THE CITY
ADVERTISING CONTRACT ANNULLED, &C.

A SITE DONATED TO THE STATE FOR THE
CENTRAL LuNATIC AsyLUM-THE CITY
ADVERTISING CONTRACT ANNULLED, &C.
Pursuant to adjournment special meet
ing OF the Common Council was held yes
terday afternoon in the Council Chamber,
President Joseph B.. Anderson in the chair.
Present at roll-call {: Messrs. Christian, Cur
tis, Davis Elicit, English. Gregory, Har-
grove, Haxall, higgins, LaRer, Manson,
Pulliam, Starke, Straus, Talbot, Taylor,
Vandervan, w hitlock, and Wood.
Mr.. Christian moved that the finance re-
port be laid on the table until the subject Of
the Clay Ward market-house could be dis
posed Of. Lost. =. .eH..,@, r.,
= On motion Of Mr.. Curtis, the finance re-
port was laid on the table until the subject
of the donation OF site for the Centrul
Lunatic Asylum could be disposed Of.
SITE FOR TEE CENTRAL LUNATIc ASYLUM.
Mr. Curtis, from the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings, to whom was re-
ferred the petitions and resolutions In rela-
lation to donating sum to secure the site
Of the Central Lunatic Asylum, presented
the following: y T.. r,tl.;
RESOLVED bu the Common !. Council the
Board of Aldermen concurring), That the
city donate to the State OF Virginia 3d. 1000
in six per cent. bonds in consideration OF
the permanent location Of tho Central Lu-
natic Asylum near the city Of Richmond,
provided that the site be within one mile of
the corporate limits OF the city.
Mr.. Curtis presented on his own behalf
an amendment so as to strike out the
amount after the word Virginia and insert
$4,000, for the purchase Of 1863 acres OF land
east of the city known as the Pore farm.
Mr.. Davis moved to lay the whole subject
on the table. Lost. -se&
Mr.. Davis moved that a proviso be added
that the building of the asylum be COM
menced within one year from the offering.
The subject was discussed at considera-
ble length.
Messrs. Curtis, Wbitlock, Christian, and
President Anderson (Mr. Taylor being in
the chair) spoke in favor OF the donation.
Mr. DAVIS opposed the donation.
Mr.. Pulliam doubted the right OF the
Council to give away the city's money for
this site. i~@
3Ir. Talbot had been opposed to the
scheme, but said il the charter was clear in
its authority to the Council to make this
donation he would be in favor OF the $4,000
amendment.
Mr.. Starke moved to amend the amend
ment 80 as to insert $4,000, or so much
thereof as may be necessary" in lieu Of the
$4,000. , ......
The $4,000 proposition was rejected.
The one-year proviso was rejected.
Mr.. Curtis's motion to insert $4,000, &C.,
In lieu OF the committees proposition, was
agreed to, with proviso at the end, offered
L r. lof fha Oh oil ho in
conformity with the city charter-ayes,
"a; noes, 2-Messrs. Davis and Manson.
THE CITY ADVERTISING.
The Council next took up the question of
city Advertising.
Mr.. Taylor moved that Mr.. Williams,
chairman Of the committee, be heard.
Mr.. Higgins inquired Of Mr.. Taylor
whether he had any charges to bring against
the committee.
Mr.. Christian opposed the motion to
allow Mr.. Williams to address the Council.
Mr.. Taylor said that he thought it was
nothing more than right that MI. Williams
should be heard.
Dir. Curtis said that he was in favor OF
hearing Mr.. Williams; that he had been
assailed in a newspaper, and it was prope,
that the Council should hear him.
Mr.. Whitlock said that Mr.. Williams had
been assailed in the public press, and it wa:
fair that he should be heard. ~:
The motion was carried, and BIZ. Will
liams addressed the body. He gave an ac
count of what had been done, and statet
that under the ordinance the committed
were not required to report further than t.
give the names of the parties to whom thu
contracts had been awarded.
Mr.. Taylor said that it appeared to hin
that injustice had been done by the com
mittee, not knowingly or Intentionally, per
haps, but that the committee had simply
made an error. He knew that every mem
ber of the committee was an honorable man
from the chairman down.
Mr.. Taylor then presented preamble
and resolution stating that the committee
had been in error in the award, and respect
fully suggesting to them the propriety Of
annulling the contract made with the Dis
patch, and that the award be granted to the
State newspaper.
Mr.. Hargrove stated that he, as q member
OF the Committee on Accounts and Print
ing, had opposed the motion to reconsider
the action Of the committee; but that he
knew that every member of the committee
was high-toned, honorable gentleman, anC
that the committee had acted for the city:
interest.
Mr.. Gregory stated that he was not pre-.
sent at the first meeting of the committee,
but was present at the second meeting, but
did not make the motion to reconsider
He also defended the action of the commit
tee.
Mr.. Curtis moved to amend by striking
out all after the word "error," the effect
being merely to condemn the action of the
committee.
Mr. Anderson (Mr English being in tn,
chair) did not agree with the committee. FL
thought that they had erred. He meant ne
reflection upon the committee by his vote
but he thought that their action ought tt
be reversed.
Mr.. Talbot thought that the committee
were justified in their action. He was sat
isfied that the committee had done what wa!
best for the interest Of the city, but though,
it would probably be best to advertise fol
bids again.
Dfr. Curtis said that the Dispatch could
hold the city for a year; that the ordinance
provided that the committee should make
the contract; that they have contracted fol
one year, and there the matter ended.
Mfr. Whitlock now presented JOINT reso
| luton as substitute for that offered by Mr.
Taylor annulling the contract with the Dis
patch and giving it to the State.
Mr.. Taylor said that he would accept the
proposition in lieu OF his.
Mr.. Christian presented joint resolution
as substitute for Mr. Whitlock's annull.
ing the advertising contract with the Dis.
patch and instructing the committee to con.
tract for such work with the lowest respon.
sible bid which was offered In response to
their late advertisement.
Mr.. Pulliam said that as the contract had