Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-02
COMMON COUNCIL.
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING.

UlOH iOuNglt was Htiu ytstei""! N'N"S'
Present: Mr.. J. Taylor Ellyson (presdenD
and the following members: Messrs. Am
mons. Archer, Bahen, Bowie, Bryan,
Cabell, Campbell. Frischkorn, Griffith,
Gum, Hargrove, Hughes. Lewis, Mellow
ell. Pearman. Phillips. Pizzini, Rankin.
Rcdiord. RiddelI, Robinson, straus, and
Turpin.
Clerk Howard read the minutes, and they
were 81 gned by the President.
THE MAYORS VETO.
The following communication from the
Mayor was read:
~ return without my approval your
resolution empowering the Committee on
Light to fix the pay OF all officers and en-
ployes Of the gas department not otherwise
regulated or provided for by the ordinances
Of the city,
at seems 10 me quite clear that the
power sought TO be conferred Is contrary
to law. in which view the CITY Attorney
cOncurs. and TO whose opinion | refer you,
il being herein enclosed. But II this OBJ
lection were not valid. | am Of the opinion
it is bad policy TO put too much power and
patronage in the hands OF a committee,
which is a mere fragment OF the represent
ativesof the people, when the whole peo-
pie are intended, and their full representa-
live body tily Council-alone shopld
hold and determine matters OF so much
public concern and so vast an outlay OF
money.
at would appear to be most wise and
satisfactory for the Council TO fix every pay
or salary which is by the year or month.
and where the employment is known TO he
only temporary that one skilled IN the
value OF the service required would
he the most proper one to advise az TO
proper pay for it. The Superintendent
OF the Gas Works and his assistants
are. on ought 10 be, the best judges OF
what number and kind Of hands 10 en-
poy. for they are selected to manage the
works. They are held accountable for re-
sulls, and should have some voice in the
manner Of dong the work. and who is
best qualified to produce the desired result.
They are elected by the Councll-are there
fore not dependent on the hands employed
for their Ilaces-and act without Restraint.
The party who pays for a thing is the most
proper one TO decide on the price; where
that is impraCticable. those selected by him,
and not small minority Of his selection,
should decide.
"ln this question of salaries the people
pav-snd the people select forty-eight
representatives 10 pass on eXpenditures--and
the expenditures should not be left TO COM
mitiee OF only seven, except on small and
urgent matters"
CITY-ATTORNEY KBILEY's OPINION.
Upon this same question CIty-AttOrney
al, la ,rf,
as follows. After repeating the ordinance,
he SAYS:
"It might suffice b. say that inaSmuch rs
it proposes 10 affect no case in which com.
pensation IS now regulated or provided
for by the ordinances Of the city, and as all
salaries and cOmpenSations are now pro-
yided by the ordinances OF the city, s.. cb. 6,
the resolution, though adopted, would be
null and void. But this is matter OF form
which could easily be corrected when the
main question would recur, which under
stand TO be this l. joint resolution law
iul which delegates TO committee the right
TO fix the pav or wages OF all officers and
employees of the gas department except such
officers as are chosen by the Council itself:
"The charter Of the city, which is the
supreme law Of the Council declares, Sec
llNil -. iIlAi INT tltF NpIbNlt smart ElbiAA
and pay TO all city officers, clerks, and as
sistants, such salaries or compensation as
the said City Council may from time to
time deem proper. or shall be fixed by thus
or any other act OF Assembly hereafter en-.
acted.
~ think il clear that as to any employees
OF the CITY embraced in this category, 'city
olncCrs. clerks. and ASSISTANTS the Council
only can tx their salaries. The statute not
only commits to the wisdom OF the Coun-
ell the fixing Of their compensation, but
obviously contcmplates and requires. or
authorizes. the Council from time to time
10 alter their compensation. TIE only
authority other than the Council empow-
cred to regulate the compensation O' off,
GERS, clerks. or assistants in Richmond is
stated In the act to be the Assembly itself.
"The only questions remaining are
FIRST What employees come within the
category?
Second. Can the Council delegate the
power conferred?
The Council itself has construed this
enumeration to include all persons receiV-
ing pay from the city, bv an ordinance
heretofore referred to, section OF chapter
G. which reads aS follows, after enumera-
ting the salaries OF specified officers: "All
other officers and cmploye, OF the city shall
receive the salaries and compensation pro-
vIded by the ordinances OF the city or res
olutions of the Council"
Il 90 not doubt that such was the
design Of the Legi>laiure-that l., N allow
the Council to be the arhl,ers OF the que--
lion OF pay for all persons receiving COM
reu-ation regularly from the city.
"Tbere has been no more fruitful source
of corruption i'm municipal administration
anywhere than the surrender tOthe commit
tees Of the power OF spending the peoples
money. Ii is the first and most important
Of municipal responsibilities, and should be
left with the immediate representatives OF
the people whose acts are performed Under
the eve Of the people aud exposed to con-
slant public scrutlIy, and can safely be eN-
posed nowhere else.
This answers, it seems to me. the second
INQUIRY. Can the Council delegate this trust
10 q committeer
"If to one, Of course to ALL
"The desire TO hold the purse-strings Is
universal.
"Other committees, jealous Of the priyl-
leQe accorded 20 one. will soon insN on
hike privileges, and the Council could not
with any show OF fairness make invidious
distinctions between its committees.
Ere long the government OF the city OF
Richmond would cease to be government
by the representatives OF the people, but
would become government by bureaus.
and, in the secrecy OF cOmmittee-rooms, all
vesiige OF accountability to the people
would be gone.
"On every ground think the proposed
legislation should be resisted, and all tne
more strenuously because Of the intell'
gcuee and high character OF the Committee
on Light. The most vicious system Is
made reputable by the administration Oh
good men. and men lose sight OF It's IN
trinsic evil In the wisdom and honesty VIII
which If is managed. But il is in TINS way
that opportunity il made for the corrupt
and faithlc.., and legislation must conteln'
plate rather the worst than the best"
Mr.. Frischkorn moved that the veto De
sustained. and Mr.. Mcdowell seconded the
same. >,
Mr.. Bowie opposed the motion. lie
SAID the resolution did not extend tne pa
tronage Of the committee; II only aiioWeO
them to regulate pay. The Mayor in
dicated his ignorance OF the management o'
the department when be said The Superln
tendcnt and bis assistant knew more abon'
the management Of the gas-Works tlal. vi,
committee. lie had respect Tor the Mayors
opinion, but be thought clearly that tnl'
veto message was
THE MOST ABSURD
one he had ever heard Of. A. Tor Mf
Feiley's opinion, 1t was not official haa no