The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-02
Board Of Alsierm en-.


The following Aldermen responded to
their names: Messrs. Barksdale, Beall,
Cabell, Cannon. Crump, Dickerson, Forces
ter, Gray, Kelly, Lipscomb, Scott, Smith,
Todd. Wagner, Williams, and Meredith.
Absent Messrs. Bass, OF Monroe Ward,
and Gasser, OF jackson Ward.
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.
The temporary chairman stated that the
first business in order was the election OF
permanent president.
Mr.. Crump, OF Jackson Ward, nominated
MIR. John A. Meredith, OF Madison Ward,
for reelection.
Mr.. Scott, OF jefferson Ward, very cor
daily seconded the nomination Of Mr.. Mer-
edith.
Mr.. Meredith was chosen president by
acclamation.
The temporary chairman appointed
Mcssrs. Scott, Cabell, and Cannon TO in
form the President OF his election.
The president was escorted to the chair,
and said in substance:
Gentlemen of the Board OF Aldermen
feel highly gratitied at this renewed evil
dence of your confidence in me rs the pre-
siding offices OF this body. I can only re-
turn YOU my grateful acknowledgements, and
renew the promise to discharge the duties
OF the office in the future, as have endca-
yored to discharge them in the past, faith
fully and impartially. During the four
wears have presided over the Board its de-
liberations have been characterized by great
courtesy and good feeling: and though on
many occasions the debates have been warm
and animated, yet they have ever been con-
Quoted in a spirit of respectful Difference to
the opinions OF others, which has made our
sittings harmonious and digniied.
7 hope, gentlemen, that the same forbear-
ance and kind sentiments will distinguish
our sittings in the future, and when, at the
expiration of our terms Of service, we are
called on to return to the great body OF the
people by whom we were chosen, that we
NAV retire with the consciousness OF men
who have endeavored to do their duty.
Again, gentlemen, 1 return you my sin
cere thanks.
Mr.. Gasser, having entered the chamber,
apologized for his tardiness, and asked that
his vote be recorded for Mr.. Meredith rs
president.
THE RULEs-STREET COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Cannon presented the following:
RESOLVED 6y the Board Of Aldermen,
That the rules for organization and govern
ment as in force ON the S0th Of June, 1878,
be now again recognized and readopted as
"rules for the government OF the Board OF
Aldermen" except tha: Rule 27 shall be,
and is hereby, amended by striking out the
clause in relation to the Committee on
Streets, and inserting in lieu thereof the
following: The Committee on Streets shall
consist OF six members from the Common
Council-one to be taken from each ward,
and three members from the Board OF Al.
- cl,nIt oil l-nY
Marshall and Jefferson Wards, one from
| Madison and Jackson, and one from Mon.
roe and Clay Wards.
Mr.. Cannon addressed the Board in advo-
cacy of bis proposition.
| Mr.. Beall moved as substitute that the
present rules (tbat is the rules Of the last
Board) be adopted for the government OF
this body, and that special committee be
appointed, consisting OF the two presidents
and the chairman Of the Committee on Or
| dinances, to revise the rules.
Mr.. Todd offered as q substitute for both
propositions-yiZ. that the rules Of the
| last Board be adopted for the government
OF this body until otherwise ordered.
Mr.. Todd said the subject was one Of con-
siderable importance, and had been sprung
upon the Board without any warning.
| Scarcely q member except the honorable
gentleman from Monroe Ward himself had
any idea that such q proposition would be
introduced at this meeting. He thought
that the efforts OF certain gentlemen would
be carried on until finally the Street Com
mittee would be legisated out Of office. He
was heartily sick and tired OF the war that
is constantly waged upon the Street Com
mittee, but even il the gentleman from
Monroe Ward would bring forward some
well-digested plan for the reorganization OF
the Street Committee he did not know but
that he would go with the gentleman from
Monroe Ward; but this was proposition
crude and ill-considered.
Mr.. Cannon said that the gentleman from
Clay Ward usually addresses the Board with
courtesy and effect, but he failed to discover
either quality in the remarks he had just
submitted. He was surprised that he should
assert that his proposition was crude and
il-considered. The gentleman ought to
know that such a thing was contemplated,
for it had been talked Of upon the streets and
some of his colleagues knew il.
Mr.. Todd Gnterrupting) said he did moi
know it was to be presented to-day.
Mr.. Cannon proceeded at some length to
discuss the proposed amendment to the
rules; to impress upon the Board the i'm
lIOl luHCC vi tnC Sul VI WV ro"SA . Va
the committee and the general good that
would result from the amendment.
Mr.. Williams said he should vote for the
change simply because he thought that the
committee should be checked in their action
Only recently there had been case in
which the Committee on Streets undertook
| to 60 beyond their powers, and to discharge
the duties Of another committee. For this
reason he should vote for the change.
Mr.. Todd explained fully the matter re.
ferred to by Mr.. Williams, and said that nc
discourtesy was intended.
Mr., Williams insisted that there had been
discourteSy, whether it was intended OF
not.
MIR. Todd said that if the Street Commit
tee had regarded the matter in that light
they would not have taken the action they
did.
Mr.. Todd said he felt satisfied that he was
stumbling-block to the city by being or
the Committee on Streets, and hoped as Q
personal favor to him the president would
not place him on that committee.
Dir. Cannon said be hoped such misfor.
time would not befall the city Of Richmond
as to lose the services OF MIR. Todd on the
Committee on Streets. He considered him
one Of the most valuable officers the city
had.
Mr.. Scott entered like protest TO Mr.
Todd's leaving the committee.
Mr.. Williams spoke in a similar strain.
Mr.. Wagner said that he could see no
good to come from the proposed change.
MIR, Smith moved to postpone the whole
subject until the next meeting OF the Board.
Lost. .,,
Mr.. Todd pointed out what he considered
q defect in MIR. Cannon's resolution-yiz.,
that the Board Of Aldermen cannot say 10