The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-09

mug, -. ~. DasS. iIsti., III tit ciistii. Ht
purpose was.to elect Superintendent Of
the Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph in
place OF Dir. II. NJ. j. Paynter, deceased.
The names OF l.. f. Angel. John T. Quarles,
and Ed. Paynter (son OF the late Superin-
tendent), were placed before the Council.
Mr.. w. II. Williams, chairman Of the COM
mittee in charge OF this department, made
speech earnestly recommending Mr..
Pavnter, and he received large majority
Of the votes cast. Before the result was
announced, on motion Of Mr. II. T. Miller,
the election was made unanimous.
MAIN STREET.
Mr.. Straus offered the following, which,
the chairman ruled, was out OF order in q
Joint session:
Resolved, That the City Engineer he re-
quested TO give his immediate attention to
remedying the condition OF Main street
westwardly from Fifth street, and II there
be any liability on the part Of the City
Railway Company on account Of tracks
belonging to said company. then they to
be notified, so they can have said repairs
fixed at once, aud on failing so TO do, the
City Engineer is hereby authorized 20 have
said work done at the expense OF the city
and to charge the liability OF same TO the
City Railway Company.
The joint session then adjourned, and
the Board OF Aldermen met.
FINANCE.
Dir. Glasgow. from the Committee on
Finance, presented n report recommend
ing the rejection Of the petitions OF j. NJ.
Otey and Z. ii. Gibson, insurance ADJUST
ers, for refund OF license-taX Of so each ;
also, the following:
Resoiued 0he Common Council concur
ring), That the following refunds Of cuI-
vert-taxes for 1882 be made to parties as
sessed on Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth
between Broad and Marshall streets, to
whom the city water is not accessible
viz, Joseph X. Roane, trustee, 124 feet,
1880: Charles Il. Whitlock, 80 feet, $3.50;
A. II. Sands, trustee. 80 feet, $3.50; e. g..
Hall, 80 feet, $3.50; J. Il. Hughes, trustee,
81 feet, 500; Joseph c. Dickerson, 100
feet. Sl5; and William G. Strange, 100
feet. Sl5-total, S71.Sj; and that said tax
be discontinued until the city water is ac-
cessible.
Adopted.
THE SALARY ORDINANCE.
Mr.. Burwell, from the Committee on
Ordinances, reported three ordinances, re-
storing to city employees, after February l.,
1888, the 10 per cent. taken off in 1878.
Mr.. Glasgow, the chairman OF the FL
nance Committee, said that In his iudg-
ment neither the financial condition OF the
city nor the general business outlook iusti-
fed the city IN adding TO its already large
burden Of expense. About one fourth Of
the increase, he said, would go to the pay
81 shn w *
now scarcely man employed who gets
less than 81 per day, and whe-e the ave-
rage wages is from $50 TO so yer month !;
this, too, when some OF the largest in
dustrial establishments here have had
TO make reductions in their force
and the men are now walking about doing
nothing. In view OF the already large
charge in the making OF gas he doubted If
it would be wise to increase the expense at
the works. Mr.. Glasgow declared that 1t
would be much pleasanter for him to urge
the increase recommended, but in full con-
sideration OF the city's condition and OF
the stagnation in industrial enterprises
throughout the country, he thought it
would be an imprudent undertaking, and
therefore he opposed 1t.
THE INCREASE RIGHT AND PROPER.
Mr.. williams asserted that the Board
was fully committed TO the increase by the
resolution (adopted by both branches) ap-
proved October 8, 1882, which resolution
required the Committee on Ordinances TO
report the ordinance under consideration.
[A similar ordinance was heretofore report
ed and adopted by the other branch, but
was found not to comply with the require
ments OF the resolution.
Mr.. Williams said that when the resolu-
ton was under consideration the ability OF
the city to stand the increase was fully dis
cussed, and it was decided that the Increase
was right, and proper, and eXpedient, and
upon that action and promise many en-
ployes Of the city had incurred additional
expenses. He spoke of the gas-works en-
ployes, and said that every man there
earned every dollar he got. Ii the city
would but give them the improvements
needed at the gas-works they would meet
every reasonable public expectation, in
Guiding lower price OF gas.
THE DEFICIT.
DIR. Cabell opposed the increase in view
of the fact that the present taxation is mad
equate to meet city expenses, aud taxes
w;ll have to be increased TO SLIGO, or bonds
issued to meet the deficit this increase Of
EXPENSE Will produce. lie called attention
TO the fact that 149 public-school teachers
are omitted from the proposed increase !;
also, that we now have upon the city IA
floating debt of nearly 100000.
DIG AT DOCTORS.
Mr.. Chaffin, as illustrating the increase
i'm the price OF living here. said that the
profession to which the gentleman (Dr.
CabelD belongs charges two dollars per
visit now where it charged one dollar be-
fore the war. This is the result of combi-
nation. and this is good place to COM
mence retrenchment and reform. He
thought $4,000 n small matter for the city
of Richmond, and believed that the ordi-
nance should and would be passed.
DIR. Wexford said the doctors spend
So, 600 or $4,000 to get an education, and do
not make, on an average, as much as po-
licemen. He could furnish man speak
ing three or four languages who would be
glad to get the pay proposed for driver.
So far as the doctors are concerned. nearly
one half OF our population are paupers.
He then went on to show, from personal
observation, how desperately widows and
Others in this city are struggling to meet
the demands OF the taX-collector and land
lords. He defended the doctors. spoke
kindly Of the city employees. and upon re-
view OF the financial condition OF the city
expressed his firm belief that we cannot
afford to increase our expenses now.
He estimated that the increase would
amount to $50, 900 per annum.
Upon question from Mr.. Barksdale the
Chair (Afr. Bass) said that in his judgment
the committees would still be empowered
10 regulate the pay Of employees should this
ordinance [the general onel pass.
MADNESS.
Mr.. Todd thought the finances OF the
city positively forbid this increase; also
that the officers and employees Of the city
L. x,afI ,,rw-oS we'll III mt