The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-18

Present, Mr.. J. Taylor Ellyson (president)
and the following members: Messrs.
Adams, Bahen, Bowie, Campbell, Clarke,
Catlett, Elicit, Frischkorn, Gum, Har-
grove, Hayes, Higgins. Hooper, Hughes,
Mcdowell, Metzger, Miller. Phillips. Piz-
zini, Randolph, straus, Turpin, and Welsh
ger.
The Chair announced the object OF the
meeting to be the consideration Of untn.
ished business.
POLICE COMMISSIONER.
A communication from the Mayor an
nouneed vacancy in the Board OF Police
Commissioners, to be made by the expira-
ton OF the term OF Mr.. John Ii. Gresham
on the 1st OF July.
On motion the following was adopted:
Resolved 0he Board OF Aldermen con-
curring). That the two branches OF the
City Council wifi proceed. at their Joint
meeting for the election OF officers in July
next, to elect member OF the Board OF
Police Commissioners from Jackson Ward
| in room Of John II. Gresham, ESQ.,, whose
term OF service expires July 1. 1884. and
that the Board OF Public Interest be, and
are hereby, notified accordingly.
MAYORS VETO, AND CERTAIN SALARIES.
The Clerk read the Mayors veto OF the
ordinance increasing the pay OK the City
Engineer (William 4. Cutshaw) and that OF
the Superintendent OF the Pump-House.
The Mayor urged that there was lacking
the necessary twO-tbird vote in making
this appropriation. which was more than
e1G0, which amount is specified in the char
ter as requiring a twO-third vote. This
was also the case in the matter OF the Su-
perintendent OF the Pump-Iouse. whose
salary was increased in the same ordi-
nance. The City Attorney also agreed
with the Mayor in this opinion. Even
il the objection that the two-thirds'
vote OF each branch Of the Council
was required in this case, but was
not given, in favor OF the ordinance
Is not valid, / should still disapprove
the increase made by the amendment.
/ do not deem that either OF these officers,
worthy and competent as they are, so far
excel the other officers OF the city in effi-
clency or qualification that they not only
have their salaries restored to former rate
before the general reduction OF 10 per cent.
was made, but have a very large addition
made to them. II the city can now prop
erly increase two officers pay to such an
extent, while others are as competent and
diligent in their respective departments, 1t
would appear but just to at least restore
those others to their former pay"
The Mayor further added: "ln fact, IL
none OF these reasons occurred to me as
valid, | would deem it sufli ent ground
| for disapprovlng this increase OF salaries to
only two officers at this time; that the pre-
sent Common Council as an entire body go
out OF office in a few days, and also several
OF the Board Of Aldermen. and that the
terms OF the two officers referred to also
expire at the same time, while the new
| Council elects all officers in these few days,
and this new Council alone should pass on
salaries to be allowed for officers whose
terms commence with their own"
Mr.. Campbell moved that the ordinance
be passed notwithstanding the veto Of the
Mayo.
NINE AND THINE.
A considerable debate followed, in which
| it appeared that Notwithstanding the warn
Ing Of the President at the time OF its pass
age, the Council bad voted TO increase the
salary OF the Superintendent OF the Pump
House without knowing it.
Mr. Higgins called for the reading OF the
minutes OF the lCouncil which referred to
the increase OF the salary OF his Honor the
Mayor, after which Mr.. Higgins, with a
| spice OF humOr, remarked that 1t did not
appear that the Mayor at that time thought
fit TO veto that ordinance because OF the
fact that all other city officers and employees
had not been similarly treated
Mr. Turpin favored the motion to lay on
the table, and in speech declared that he
agreed with the Mayor that it ought to
take two thirds vote to pass the bill. lie
had no idea that when the appropriations
for the year were made that an appropria-
ton had at the same time been made suffi-
cient to cover an increase in the salary OF
an officer before the Council had agreed to
make the increase.
The motion TO lay on the table was de-
feated, and the ordinance increasing the
salary OF the City Engineer and the Super
intendent OF the Pump-liouse was passed.
Notwithstanding the Mayors veto, by
vote OF 16 ayes to noes.
CLAIMS AND SALARIES.
This committee reported recommending
the payment OF certain regular claims. The
report continued
.'We have considered the petition OF
Mr.. l.. +. W. Marye, attorney for c. X.
Thompson, requesting the city to pay
Thompson sum Of money for personal eff
fects belonging TO him) that were, on ac-
count OF being infested with disease, taken
possession OF By the city authorities. This
claim was originally for Sl44, and has been
twice rejected by the Council upon the re-
cnmmendation OF the committee. Suit was
thereafter brought against the city to en-
force its payment, and the jury before
whom il was tried gave q Judgment in
favor OF the plaintiff for $50. The
Judge OF the Circuit Court set the verdict
aside as being contrary to the law and the
evidence. Thereupon the attorney for
Thompson files the petition for compro-
mise. The sum OF S25, fayorably endorsed
by the City Attorney and the Judge OF the
court, was named in the petition. Upon
the evidence adduced before the commit
tee. we decided that the claim was illegal.
and still adhere to this opinion, in which
we are suatalned by the opinion OF the
Judge in setting the verdict aside as being
contrary to the law and the evidence. We
are OF the opinion that the claim in its
present shape should be rejected, and so
recommend
The report and recommendation was
adopted.
MORE GAS MAINS.
The Council concurred unanimously In
the action Of the Board OF Aldermen In
voting an additional appropriation Of S2O,-
900 for the enlargement and extension OF
the gas mains in the improvement suS-
gested by the Board OF Public Interest.
THE TELEPHONE, AGAIN.
The ordinance allowing the Bell Tele-
phone Company to run wires and erect
poles in the city was called up by Mr..
Elicit.
Mr.. Turpin declared his intention to vote
against each and every article in the ordi- |
ninance. He wanted one line OF tall poles, |
and on these put all telegraphic and tele-
phonic xyiraa