Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-24
LOCAL MATTERS.
THE cHArRMEN OF COMMITTEES CON-
sIDER THENIEE-HoUR ORDINANCE.
The Paper Discussed at Considerable
Length and Referred Back to the
Board OF Aldermen.

A meeting OF the chairmen Of The
several committees Of the Council wa
held in the Council Chamber yesterday
evening at G:S0 o'clock to consider the
following ordinance, presented in the
Board Of Aldermen August 9th:
An Ordnance Prescribing the Hour,
that Shall be q Days Work in the
Different Departments Of the CITY
Government
BE ii ordained by the Council Of The
City of Richmond, That nine hours
shall constitute a days work in the de-
partments Of the City Government, ex-
cept the lower Gas Works, where eight
hours shall constitute a days work.
There were present: Messrs. Cren-
shaw, from the Streets Committee
chairman; Otley, from the Relief Of
the Poor; Powers, from Light; Dick
erson, from Schools Kendler, from
Grounds and Buildings; Bland, from
Retrenchment and Reform; Conner,
from Police; Bethel, from Public In
terests; Parrish, from Fire-Alarm and
Police-Telegrsph Hill, from Gene
teries (; Parater, from Elections Hud-
nall, from Health Bowden, from Ac-
counts and Printing, and Mr.. Kaufman.
MIR. Otley said If the ordinance would
affect the employees OF the city under
the supervision Of bis committee Ire
lief Of the Poorl that he would at once
move to lay the same on the table.
Mr.. Bland, the father of the ordi-
nance, said that his intention was only
to affect day labor, and not monthly en-
pIoyees of the city.
Mr.. Dickerson said be saw what Mr..
Bland had intended, but he had GER
tainly not embodied his views in the
ordinance proposed.
Mr.. Bland said the principal difficult
ty be wanted to overcome was to 80
arrange the law that union stonecutters
might be employed en- the new City
Hall that the union stonecutters Of the
country would not work more than
nine hours. He was an employing man
himself, and he knew what the labor
pg.msn wanted. He admitted that the
ordinance as presented was incomplete.
Mr.. Bethel moved that the paper be
referred to special committee, who
should so amend the ordinance as to
make it apply to the class Of employees
which it was intended to reach.
Mr.. Hudnall saw no use in the agita-
tion Of the question Of hours. lie had
heard no complaints. lie thought what
men wanted was work, and that they |
would not fight about an hour or so.
Mr.. Bowden said he was in favor Of |
eight hours, but was willing to compro-
mise on nine. lie said that if the day
laborers Of the city lost half day their
wages were "docked," but if the
employees lose a week their
salaries go on all the same. The day
Iaborers were the ones intended to be
reached by the ordinance.
Mr.. Kaufman said the ordinance was
not feasible in all departments Of the
Government. In the Fire Department,
or instance, il could not apply. He
moved that the paper be re-
erred back with recommendation that
! proper ordinance be drawn up.
Mr.. Hill offered the following as a
ubstitute: l move that the proposed
ordinance be referred to the Board OF
Aldermen with the recommendation
hat it be referred to the Committee on
ordinances, together with the patron,
With power to amend.
Mr.. Powers hoped this would not be
lone. He moved that the ordinance be
elected.
Mr.. Hill withdrew his motion.
Mr.. Guy said the ordinance, in order
o be legally before the present commit.
ee, should first be before both branches
{ the Council.
Mr.. Otley moved that the paper be
elerrcd back to the Board Of Alder
zen, 1t being illegal for this committee
D consider the same. Carried.
Adjourned.