Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-07
THE COMMON COUNCIL.
MORE ABOUT NEW CITY HALL.

Ward.
The regular monthly meeting Of the
Common Council was held yesterday
afternoon at 5 O'Clock. Mr.. j. Taylor
Ellyson (president) took the chair and
the following members answered to
their names Messrs. Ammons, Archer,
Bahen, Bryan, Cabell, Curtis, Cutch-
ins, Griffith, Guy, Hargroye, Hughes,
Jones, King, Lewis, Parater, Pearman,
Phillips, Pizzini, Rankin, Riddell, Rob-
inson, and Turpin.
The Clerk read the minutes, as usual,
and they were duly signed.
Excuses were made for the absence
of Messrs. Straus, Frischkorn, and Nc
Dowell. Later Mr.. Frischkorn re-
ported.
VETO FROM THE MAYOR.
A communication from the Mayor,
yetoing the resolution appropriating
$4,000 to build sewers on First street
near Warren and st. James was re-
ported.
On motion Of Mr.. Campbell the veto
was laid on the table for the present.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
The usual reports from standing
committees were read. An ordinance
from the Street Committee, allowing
the Richmond and Danville railroad to
extend its track west from Twenty
second street to Twenty-sixth street,
and to connect the new track with the
railroad track on Dock street, subject
to the city police regulations and ordi-
nances, was adopted.
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE GAS
WORKS.
When the report Of the Finance Com
mittee was read Mr.. Pizzini said that
there was communication from Mr..
John II. Knowles, Superintendent of
the Gas-Works, which had been for
warded by the committee without ac-
tion.
The Clerk read the communication, as
follows:
II would respectfully ask at your
hands reconsideration Of my petition
for an increase Of salary. For about
thirty-two years / have been connected
with this department-for fifteen years
as superintendent. All of the trusts
committed to my charge | have en-
deayored to the best Df my ability to
execute with fidelity and honesty, al
ways keeping in view the best interests
of the city and not my own gain, as
my present circumstances fully sub
stantiate. The splendid results ac-
complisbed, as shown by my annual
reports, have not been surpassed by any
works of similar magnitude in this
country, and | think this should re-
ceiye some consideration and reward.
Ny present salary is only 81, 600 per
annum, which is exceedingly small in
comparison with like officials within
the range Of my extended knowledge.
NY foreman receives sl,S00-slS0
more per annum than myself.
II would not for one instant have
you imagine that | think receives
too much-on the contrary, not
enough; but is it right and proper, and
is it not without precedent, that a sub
ordinate should receive more pay than
his superior? This is question to be
settled by you in the fairness and i'm
partiality of your own minds.
at seems but reasonable to expect
that you will hearken to my appeal, and
| hope itmay be your pleasure to do so.
"Very respectfully,
"JOHN ii. KNOWLES"
Mr.. Pizzini advocated the increase,
and moved to amend the ordinance by
making the salary 1900.
The ordinance was amended by the
following vote:
AYEs.-Messrs. Ammons, Archer, Bahen.
Cabell. Campbell. Curtis Cutchins, Grif-
fith, Hargrove, Hughes, Jones. King. Lewis.
Parater PearmaD. Phillips. PlZZini. Ran
kin. Redford. Riddell, Robinson, Turpin,
and Ellyson-23i
NOEs.-Messrs. Bryan and Guy.
DETECTIVE wREN'S BILL.
On motion Of Mr.. Curtis the rules
were suspended, and Mr.. Charles v.
Meredith, the acting attorney for the
Commonwealth in the Cluverius case,
was invited to address the Council on
the question of the pay claimed by De-
tective John Wren in the case al
luded to.
Before addressing the Council Mr..
Meredith handed the Council the fol-
lowing paper, which Clerk August
read
As citizens Of Richmond, interested
in the reputation as well as the proper
ty of the city, we ask leave to submit
to you our views as to the bill present.
ed by Mr.. John Wren for services rem
dered in the Cluverius case. ltcannot be
doubted that Mr.. Meredith did right in
getting the services of a detective when
he undertook the case; nor can'it be q
matter Of much doubt that had he impru-
IDENTIFY waited until the Council met and
asked permission to employ Mr.. Wren
that he would have gotten your con-
sent. AS citizers of the city in which
the crime was committed, we are glad
that he did not lose that time, but en-
ployed Mr.. Wren under the conditions
that he did. We have every reason to
believe that Mr.. Wren rendered faith
full and efficient services. II such be
the facts surrounding his employment,
and if such be the facts as to his per-
fOrmance Of his employment, there can
be no reason why his bill should not
be paid, unless it be too large.
We have no fair reason to think that
it is excessive. We are informed that
his charges are below the regular
schedule Of prices, which he showed
Mr.. Meredith about the time he was
employed. Such being the case we
ask that no objection be made to the
bill, and that the Council order it to be
paid.
j. d. Patton, Lewis II. Blair, NJ. Mill
hiser & Co., Potts, Stokes & Co., R.
L. Blankenship. R. A. Dunlop, A.
Y. Stokes, W. II. Scott, |. Daven-
port, c. 4. Belvin, A. b. Goodman,
John C. Shafer, L. A. Ellison, j. II.
Tyler & Co., T. Roberts Baker, j. b.
Pace, West, Johnston & Co., r. H..
Maury, Preston Belvin, b. R. Lips
comb, George Schen, Alexander
Cameron, A, Stevens & Co., T. Will