Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-04

| Dohung IL cOmplcteQs NO law vi ouiCs
fiom this chamber will regulate the cost
| either.
Major Myers thought the architects hsd
earned their money and that they should
be paid, and he claimed that the city
had no right to use the plans-the
fruits Of their brains-without paying
for them. He urged the city to go
ahead and commence the building.
Mr.. Frisckhorn said that while the
Council was fiddling Rome was burning.
"We now have the plans and specifica-
tions and should begin the work. Let
it cost what it may, the people want it,
and with the City Hall and the Eighth
street tunnel in progress our city will
enjoy a regular boom, and many per-
sons who are now idle will fnd en-
ployment."
Mr.. Guy was not in favor Of haste
in this matter. 1t seemed to him that
. very short time had elapsed since the
plans in full had been received, and the
time had been barely sufficient, in his
opinion, for thorough canvass Of the
plans. lie thought the city had been
subjected to long delay by the archi-
tects, who had failed to comply with
their contract, and we will be "too
previous" " if We pay the money they
now ask for. He was in favor of
Fastening the work, but after the long
delay of the architects he did not in
tend to be pushed up by them.
Mr.. Parater moved to lay the whole
matter on the table.
Mr.. Ammons moved to amend by
laying the matter on the table until
after the 10th of June.
Mr.. Campbell said the architects had
complied with their contract in spirit,
and that it was really impossible to
erect the building for the amount spe-
cifed-s333, 900; that granite had in
creased in price and labor was more
expensive.
Mr.. Ammons said: I'VE have been
waiting five years for this hall to be
commenced. and we had better wait one
month longer and have things done de.
Gently and in order than to be in such a
hurry. There may be some election
dodge about this matter. l don't say
that there is. Some Of you fellows
must be afraid if you vote against my
motion that you won't come back here
any more"
Mr.. Ammons's motion was lost by
the following vote:
AYEs.-Aiessrs Ammons. Archer. Farar,
Gunn, Gny, Parater, Phillips, Redford, and
Rddell-9.
NoTs.-Messrs. Bahen, Bowie, Bryan
Campbell, Catlin. Curtis. Cutchins, Frisch-
korn, Griffith, Hargrove, Hughes, King.
Mcdowell Pearmau, Rankin, Straus, rur-
pin. and PizZini-lS.
The resolution Of the committee pay
ing the $4,000 to the architects was
then carried.
THE FRESHET SUFFERERS.
The Committee on Relief of the Poor
submitted their report, showing how
the money GIGS. S.25)-sl,OO0 was ap-
propriated-was expended. Report
received.
The Ladies' City Mission asked to be
reimbursed 5000 which had been spent
by them in relief Of the sufferers before
the city committee commenced work.
Agreed to.
GROVE AVENUE.
A resolution was introduced by the
Finance Committee appropriating$ $4,000
for the improvement Of Grove avenue
which was adopted.
ELECTRIC LIGHT.
Mr.. Mcdowell, from the special COM
mittee to whom was referred the reso-
luton presented by the Committee on
Electric Light concerning burning cleo
trio lights every night throughout the
year, reported that after careful exami-
nation and reflection it had come to the
conclusion that at present it would not
be judicious to enlarge the contract al
ready existing.
Report adopted.
CITY TREASURER.
The Committee on Ordinances re-
ported as inexpedient change in the
law so as to provide that the City
Treasurer's Office be kept open until 5
P. NJ. Adopted.
ELECTRIC LIGHT, AGAIN.
The Committee on Electric Light SUBJ
mitted a report in reply to certain qucs.
tions asked by member of the Council
in regard to the cost of light, &c. A
copy of the contract of the city with
the Schuyler Electric-Light Company
was filed with the report.
This Ia paper of fourteen pages Of
legal-csp) Mr.. Bowie, chairman Of the
committee, wanted read as a part Of
the committees report.
Several members Of the Council a.
once rose and objected ; but Mr.. Bowie
insisted on his motion. He asked that
the report be read for the instruction
of certain members who had displayed
a remarkable ignorance Of the provi-
sions Of the contract.
Mr.. Straus moved to lay the report
on the table. Agreed to.
Mr.. Bowie asked as favor that the
contract be read.
The Council refused to listen to the
contract.
POLICE sIGNAL-TELEGRAPH.
Mr.. Straus, from the committee ap-
pointed to examine into the working
and merits of the pollce-telephone and
signal-telegraph, reported that they had
visited Baltimore, where the system is
in practical operation, and found that
it worked satisfactorily and would prove
of great benefit if introduced in this
city. The committee give the following
estimate Of the cost Of the system
Twelve 50 400
Fitting central lstation-....-............... 200
Twelve sets of telephones................... 1s0
six miles OF $40
Lost 10 place lsO
Incide enias...............- 500
Patrol wagon and furnishing same. 500
200
lOtal........... t},ZuO
To support the system it will be me-
cessary to have a driver and assistant
and stable and feed for horse, which
will altogether cost about sl,500 per
small expense to the ex-
pected benefit to be derived"
The committee asked the adoption Of
the followinp.