The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-19
!. LOCAL MATTERS.

LOCAL MATTERS.
The Cry ENGrNEER-PROPOsED AMEND
MESTs TO THE CITY CHARTER.-The Senate
Committee on Counties, Cities, and Towns
(Mr. Gayle, chairmanl met yesterday morn
ing and heard an argument from Captain
John S. ise in support OF the proposed
amendments to the city charter which con-
template having the City Engineer. the SUI
perintendent OF the Cas- orks. and the
Superintendent OF the Water-W orks elected
by the people instead Of by the Council. 1t
was claimed that the petition in favor OF the
amendments was signed by 4,600 white
voters, including many property-holders
and it was urged that they were entitled to
have their wishes in this respect complied
with. Captain Wise, speaking OF Colonel
Cutshaw, said that he had the highest re-
spect for his honesty, capacity, and worth,
and would, at a popular election, vote for
him. After hearing Captain Wise the CON-
mittee adjourned until p. NJ,
Major Stiles responded to Captain Wise.
He commented upon the fact that the bill
came before the Senate with black eye, in
that it was not presented by any represent
atiye OF Richmond, but by the gentleman
from Accomac, Mr.. Walston.
Captain Wise answered that be brought
the bill up to the Senate chamber one day
last week. With the existing relations be.
tween himself and General johnson he could
not approach that senator, and Messrs. Tan
ner and Wortham were absent from their
seats. Then he asked Mr.. Walston to at
tend to the matter, and meeting MIR. Tan
uer soon afterwards he explained ito him
what had occurred, and Mr.. Tanner seemed
satisfied. MIR. Walston stated that he at the
time reluctantly consented to present the
bill and petition, for he was afraid that his
position might be misunderstood by the
Richmond senator's. AS soon as MIR. Tan
ner came into the chamber Mr.. Walston
told him what bad occurred.
Mr.. Tanner here said that he came into
tke chamber while Mr.. Walston was upon
his feet, and that Mr.. Walston then in
formed him what be had done. Mr.. Tan
ner desired not to be understood as COM
planning of discourtesy to him.
Major Stiles maintained that nevertheless
the bill was before the Senate under unfa-
vorable circumstances. He contended that
this movement was gotten up by j. 3. john
son, who had had difficulty with Colonel
Cutshaw about brick-work at the city Jail,
and by persons similarly Influenced, and
that it did not represent the enlightened
and thoughtful sentiment Of the city pro-
perty-owners. He argued that the offices
named are such as the people ought not to
be called upon to elect, iuasmuch rs e1pert-
ness, not popularity, should be the test.
Mr.. johnson answered Major Stiles, and
argued that he {Johnson) had been for years
advocating this change, and that though he
had q question with Colonel Cutshaw about
the measurement of work be was not ac-
tuated by enmity to that officer.
Messrs. A. A. Smith and G. L. Todd spoke
against the proposed amendments; SO did
Messrs. Pickreil and p. Fl. Mayo and DR..
Ross; after which the committee adjourned
to meet at 10 O'Clock Thursday morning In
the room adjoining the Senate chamber.
There is proposition that meets with
some favor seemingly proposing to submit
the amendments to the freeholders OF the
city for adoption.
GENERAL JoHNsoN's BILL TO REFUND THE
PUBLIC DEBT AND TO PAY INTEREST THERE
oN.-In the Senate yesterday General john
son introduced bill to refund the public
debt OF Virginia, and to pay the interest
thereon. The bill creates board OF finance,
who are to pay four per cent. interest on
the present debt, in London, New York,
Baltimore, and at the State Treasury. and
give certificates for unpaid interest, nom
interest-bearing, and receivable after hve
years in payment of one tenth OF taxes; all
interest now in arrear to be converted into
the same kind OF certificates.
The public debt fixed at $29, $50, ,S16.76-
the board Of finance to issue bonds to this
amount OF two classes: bonds to run fifty
years, irredeemable, bearing four per cent.
interest and bonds to run fifty years, bearing
three per cent. for three years, four per
cent. for ten years, five per cent. for ten
years, and six per cent. for tWenty-seYen
years, redeemable after ten years. Prlnci-
pal and interest payable in gold of the pre-
sent standard Gneness. and coupons and
interest-orders receivable for taxes. The
board to exchange either OF these bonds
for consols or peeIers, &c, in London, New
York, Baltimore, or the State Treasury, and
to contract with proper financial authorities
to make the exchanges or sell the new
bonds and buy in the old ones, whichever
is best for the State; but without expense
to her.
The board is to make proper provision to
paw interest on these new bonds, and 10
borrow money temporarily to meet interest
on all bonds, as provided in the act. A tax
Of $1,200,000 a year is levied each year un-
til the debt is paid of, and when not
enough revenue is raised in any year to pay
interest, then the board certifes the amount
necessary to the Auditor, who collects that
amount out OF the tax levied, but no part
OF the 81 200, 900 is ever to be collected as
long as the revenue OF the State is sufficient
to pay the interest. II, however, the ordi-
nary revenues are not sufficient to pay full
interest on all bonds by January l, 1881,
then each year the board OF finance shall
estimate how much will be necessary to
make up the deficiency, and the Auditor is
to collect the amount so certified to him.
The bill provides the machinery necessary
to carry it out, and II passed would require
no further legislation. 1t proceeds on the
theory that the way to borrow money Mt
lower rate of interest is to revive public
credit by paying what you owe already. 1t
leyies the tax necessary to pay full interest
on every obligation OF the State from JAM
uary /, 1881, and gives three years for the
board OF finance TO make proper efforts to-
retire the old debt and substitute in place
Of it the new bonds, on the ground that the
new bonds are more valuable than the old.
DEATH OF MRs. DIMM0cK.- Mrs. Henri
eta DimMock, one of Richm0nd's S oldest
and most estimablc citizens, died yesterday,
in the seVenty-tirst year OF her age. She
was the widow OF the late General Dimmock
aud The mother OF the late Captain Charles
H Dimmock, City Engineer, and OF Marion
T Dtn,m0nE tha architect of this city. and