Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-09
qualified to do the work at home there

the Committee on urouhus a""
inps be instructed TO submit some other
nlan that will come within the appro-
priation. $500. 900, and that the hail DC
built by Virginia contractors ana OF
Virginia granite, even should IL cost
more in the end.
Mr.. Ammons then read memorial
from about 600 mechanics and properly
owners. lie said he was present as .ne
representative of the mechanics. Inc
memorial set forth the fact that the
times were hard, and that work was
hard to get. II therefore favored 'ne
giving of the work to local contractors,
in order 20 keep all Of the sooo,ooo IN
the city.
Mr.. Ammons. in supporting this me-
mortal and his resolution, said: lwould
be recreant to my duty to my consul
tuents Of Marshall Ward, three iourths
Of whom arc either mechanics or labor
,rs. if I did not raise my voice IN oppo-
sition to building the City Hall after the
Myers plan, even if it cost hall mil,
lion dollars, and be built by imported
material and by imported mechanics
At the election in November you gen.
tlemen-I say you, because the me-
chanics look up in a measure TO the
LAWYERS. merchants, and doctors Tor
an exposition Of the leading doctrines
of our political economy-you, l say
| again, promised us protection IL we
would elect Grover Cleveland President
of the United States. and now you pro-
pose to protect us by having the City
Hall built of Ohio sandstone or Name
granite. and by Ohio mechanics or
Maine mechanics. Our old City Han
was built of sandstone, and where is 1t
now? Echo answers Where? The
chairman of the Committee on Grounds
and Buildings urges the argument that
if YOU will let them get bids
for Ohio sandstone it will break
up the granite ring and therefore make
them bid lower for the work, but am
also informed by the same gentleman
that our granite men have not bid at all
for the work, and therefore that will
not affect the case at all so far as Vir-
cinia granite is concerned. but may, on
the other hand, compel them to give the
work TO some other granite company
out of the State. Now, the mechanics
of Richmond want protection not only
from foreign mechanics, but also
from United States mechanics. Why
should our Virginia mechanics
suffer want from the depressed
condition of trade in our midst and
other mechanics be brought here to
build our City Hall, and why should
$500. OO0 be taken out of the City Trea-
sury and sent out to feed others, while
the laborers Of our city are starving at
our doors? The city can well afford
to pay more for the work and have II
done at home. 1t does this now III
some of the departments. We believe
that il has been known from the begin
ming that the hall could not be built for
$780, 900 by the Myers plan. | had a
conversation with some Of the gentle
men that came here to make bids, and
they said that they thought it an out
rage that they should have been made
to come here at great expense wher
our officials must have known that the
hall could not be built for the amount
appropriated. The mechanics of Rich
mond compose large part OF the voters
and if not heard now will be heard al
the next election. And besides all this
if this building should be started on th'
Myers plan for $4,000 by the time al
the extras and three or four suits are de
cided against the city the amount vii
reach more than half a million. ] am SUR
we ought to profit by past experience
the new water-wOrks. for instance
which is not now and fear never vii
be made creditablc job to those hav
inc il in charge in its infancy until IT j
rebuilt by Richmond mechanics. And
now. say drop the Myers plan and g
ahead under the substitute ! now offer
but if YOU do not, hear the conclusion
of the whole matter: So ia' as | an
conccr-,d in louUaga - fln ir
p.o-tnl bard. | say. ..ay m Mac
duff and darncd be- me IT ,vcr ! cty
Hold. enough. until the City liai q
..o,s -, ,irgia;l i"cy.ia0cs Mld ~ -
cinia granite.
DR.. Riddcll was opposed 10 additiona
appropriation unless the question wa
submitted to the people. lie eXprcsse
a preference for the lost plan.
Mr.. Phillips offered the following re
solution:
Whereas it is evident that The Cit
= Hall cannot be built of Virginia grant
according 10 the plan Of T.. L. Myer
for the sum of $500. 600, but on th
contrary. as proven by the testimony q
competent experts before the Committe
on Grounds and Buildings, its cou
struction would cost the sum of $500
! 600: and whereas our citizens hay
voted to spend the sum Of 100000 70
the erection of n new City Hall, aud
e IS believed that the building can be con
structcd upon the plan Of Messrs. Io'
a Murdoch Of Virginia granite for tn
d sum: therefore be IL
G Rcsolred jy the CouHcH. That th
$ Committee on Grounds and Building
; be authorized to advertise for bids fc
! the construction of new City Hall.
bee built of Virginia granite accordrn
To the plan of Messrs. lost 4 Murdoch
y and report the result Of such action
the City Council.
Captain Pizzini claimed that q
, Committee on Grounds and Buildin.
= were not to blame for the delay in Il
, premises. nor for The adoption of Il
MYERS plan. The Council refused
listen to the committee. but took q
dicfum Of a mere STRIPPING, who. spcal
: ING for his father. said that he wouI
put up $4,000 in bonds as a forfeit
the hall was not built for s3O0,00 q
the Myers plan. lMr. Pizzini a
: ludcd to Myers's SOM 1t was not Il
fault of the committee that there wet
no bids from Richmond mechanics. III
committee he'd advertised. as was dor
in such cases in all large cities. but a
Al Ill ca,ua from "a distance pxcsI