The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-07
THE COMMON COUNCIL.
THE FIRST SESSION OF The BODY
THIS YEAR.

Collector woodson's Dehcit-Water Tax
Reduced - Resignation and Election -
Colonel Cutshaw's Salary Increased
other Items.
The first meeting Of any branch Of the
city legislature held in the year 1890, was
the regular meeting Of the Common Coun-
Gil last night. There was full attendance,
and much business was transacted.
A report from the street Committee re-
commencing the condemnation or purchase
OF sufficient land 10 open Nation and Kinney
streets. was adopted.
wOODsON's ACCOUNTS
From the Finance Committee came the
following report.
! We herewith submit n report OF W Hall
| Crew. employed by the Finance Committee
To examine Tho accounts ~ the late collector.
A. X. WOOdsOn, showing n deficit Of $685.
! Oso. with communication from J. Aston
Csbcll, attOrney-at-law associatcd with MI.
| &. V Mcfidi'h. city Attorney. advising mat
suit be brought against the estate Of H..
/ WOOdsOu and his sureties, and recommended
/ the following resolution;
! ne 70 resolved by the Council Of Tho city or
! Richmond thc Board Of Aldermen concur
/ ID.
/ by, Instructed 20 institute suit against the
/ estate Of the late A. X. WOOdsOn and his
bOndsmen 70 recover the deficiency due by
the said a. H. WOOdsOn 10 the city; and in the
| prosecution OF this suit he is authorized 10 aa-
sociate with him Mr.. j. Alsion Cabell, the said
Cabell 10 receive two per cent. on the amount
recoveie ed for tho city.
The report Of special-Accountant Crew j.
as follows.
- II uordgrot-o Eeo Chairman 81 Finance
Committee:
Slr,-As Instructed by your committee
{ have carefully examined the desk books Of
the late a. r. WOOdfOn. late collector Tor the
years 1876 and 1887 inclusive, together with
such other books as could be found In the
Office, showing collections made for the city
by said collector. From the footing marks
~ number Of the desk books IL was
evident that there was OF had heen
IN existence ledger. 20 which the yaliOus
amounts collected was posted, and from
which most OF the settlements were made.
ON enquiry ] found such book had been
kept IN the Office, and that since the death o.
Mr.. A. X. NOOdHOn the late William ii. Tai
man carried the book away. and have never
been able to Ind II. believe this book, 10
found. would explain many entries ON inc
dcsk-tOok that certainly do not look right.
Ihe paving hiils nom 1882 were very ~
regularly kept. and from 1884 10 July l, 1881 I,
listing Of them was discontinued. The DOCK
in which the bills or February /, 1857, are
listed, has been mutilntcd and The hrst fOrty-
eight pages cut out. February ], 1857, lisi
commences on page 40.
Gas bills No book containing the list Ofde
lnquent gas bills or collections for tile year,
1854 and 1855 can be found, consequently
am unable 10 make any report Ofthat account
for those years. The main deficit rs in Tie
collection Of taxes, and the desk-uOOks
for The years lSsB-1-b.6 and CON
tain many systematic errors in addition
which are invariably for round amounts
against the city, and the figures Of such "si q
tematic errors are all IN one, handwriting.
There is another large class OF CrIOrs on the
same books IL Is where parties have paid
their taxes with bank checks and for some
r asOn az the close of the days work the
amount OF the check is deducted fr lm the
gloss collections and many Of those checks
are never put back To the account.
As previously stated1O your committee this
amount deflclt does not include any amounts
collected but entered in the desk books
The collections made for the years 1876
were settled By the Auditor IN 1850, cOnse-
quently have omitted any statements OF
collections made thOseysars. Accompanying
this report please find tabular statement
Of The amounts entered on the desk book fOr
the various years rs collected. and the
amounts paid over 20 the city, after deduct
ing commissions, leaving total balance thus
acknowledged Of S3s $50 is.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM HALL CREW,
Richmond Va, November 20, 1859.
DISCUSSION.
Mr. stratton said he saw no need Of en-
plOying associate counsel.
Mr.. Steel stated that for personal reasons
Mr.. Meredith could not properly prosecute
this suit. and that was why he associated
Mr.. Cabell with him.
Mr. Courtney saw the peculiar situation
in which Mr.. Meredith was placed. he
thought that if Mr.. Meredith could not
prosecute the case he should paw the coun-
sci whom he associated with him.
Mr. Gum was Of the same opinion.
Mr.. Higgins thought the city should pay
the assistant counsel. The fee was tiny.
Mr. Burke was opposed 10 all these Ordi-
nances which employed assistant att0r-
neys. lie was in favor OF an assistant city
attorney.
Mr.. Anderson believed the suggestion in
the report Of the committee was the wisest
course.
Mr.. Steel called attention 10 the fact that
the fee was little, and entirely contingent.
Councilman Hayes would have 10 vote
against the employment Of associate cOun-
sci. he said. II Mr.. Meredithwas so crowded
with the citys business. he was ready 90
vote for AN assistant city attorney.
The resolution was lOst-ayes, l6 noes.
10. (NOt twenty votes i'm aiiirmatse.)
subsequently 10 was rec0nsidercd. and
Mr.. stratton moved TO strike out all that
portion in relation 90 the employment of
associate counsel.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. BOwden moved that the whole matter /
be laid on the table indefinitely. lie said |
that the defacatiOn was all the fault of the I
City Council. Mr.. WOodsOn had been in /
Office twelve years. and the City Council /
failed 10 carry out the law i'm regard 90 the /
Office of the City Collector. The law re- /
qures that the city shall examine the books /
IN that office once every twelve months, vet |
no examination was ever made during all /
those twelve years until after the man was /
dead. lie did not believe one cent could be /
gotten in the courts.
The motion 10 table indefinitely was voted |
down, and the resolution adopted.
WATER TAX.
The present water tax on each additional |
family living iu one house is s. per year /
The Water Committee recommended that /
the tax DE reduced 10 50 per year. Without /
debate. the ordinance as amended. was .
adopted.
4 resolution was reported by the Finance
Committee, authorizing the committee 90
employ a clerk, the salary not 90 exceed .
$500 per annum. After some discussion
the matter was recOmmitted.
resolution was reported by the Finance |
Committee placing $1,000 10 the credit of
Discount and interest" and unanimously /
adopted.
The Finance Committee reported a res0-
luton giving them authority 10 make tenn
porary loans. The resolution was adopted, /
as also one paying salaries, wages, &c, out /
of the loans 80 made.
The Finance Committee reported favor
ably the ordinance appropriating $1,000 90
the expense account of the City AlmshOuse.
Agreed 10 unanimously.
The Committee on Finance reported favor
ably the consolidation of the accounts OF
the City school Board. Adopted.
WON'T GUARANTEE THE BONDS.
The Finance Committee reported back an
ordinance referred 10 them guaranteeing the
payment Of interest on certain bonds of the
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical So
ciety, and recommended that il be- rejected
The Council did as the committee recon-
mauIaN