The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-03

advisory board of public improvements
u. OLeary: II AVE MOI investigated
the bond ordinance question sufficiently
to express an opinion, but Ian perfectly
willing to trust my interest in the city
to the hands of the present Council.
ihat is all have to say about the mat
ter"
Hon. John W. Woods: "As I under
stand the proposed ordinance, it does
not take away from tho Council any Of
It's powers, but simply creates q board
TO look after tho city's expenditures,
which would necessarily require more
time than councilmen with no compen-
sation could afford to give to it. Ger
tainly the ordinance could do no harm,
and if it will satisfy the people might
do great good. 1t certainly has the ad-
vantage of putting the public improve
ments in tho hands OF men who have a
better practical idea of the work in
hand. OF course l do not wish to be
understood as in any way rejecting on
either the wisdom or honesty Of tho
present Council"
L.. l.. Powell 81 think we should
have the advisory board by all means.
If the people vote for the bond ordin-
ances they want the expenditure Of the
money properly looked after, and tho
board should be provided to do this work.
II we can't get the advisory bond 1 am
for tho bonds anyway"
0. d.. Derr: 81 want to see the appro-
priations carried, especially the ever
age, paving and schools. They arc
much needed. 1 do o SEQ any good
to be derived from the advisory board.
If an objection is urged to tho present
Council spending the money. the same
objection might be urged against a
board OF its creation. l believe it best
to defer the vote on the appropriations
until after tho spring election, saw
juno l. Then councilmen would be
chosen with q view to their fitness to
handle the expenditure of this money.
The people want such q large amour
OF money placed in efficient hands.
This is a matter in which personal
motives should DO laid aside, and tho
peoples interest held nearest the
heart"
DR.. III. a. Sims: 81 would like to sec
the vote on these ordinances postponed
until after tho May election. Not that
L am opposed to any of the members of
tho present Council, but we don't know
at present who may be elected that will
have the expenditure of the appropri-
atoms. / see no good reason, however,
for an advisory board, and the Coun-
Gil elected by tho people should be
$1,000 - rs oC OkboOCl III L UlllCS. anu
with any amount of money!"
j. f. Christian: ~ am in favor of
issuing bonds for streets and Sewers or
any other legitimate corporate improve
ments. AS to the advisory board, my
idea is to leave the matter to tho Coun-
Gil. 1 have confidence in their integ-
rity and ability, and think that if an
advisory board is needed tho Council
should be consulted. II, however, there
is reason to believe that this money
will be improperly expended, then the
vote should be postponed until q Coun-
Gil can be selected on that issue"
Mayor Evans: ''As far as an advisory
board is concerned, l think the Council,
if properly composed, is sufficient to
have charge of all expenditures of
money for improvements. Holding tho
position l do and in my present relation
to h Council, 1 would rather not ex-
press my opinion as to whether or not
the ordinances will be carried"
j. NJ. Gambill: II think the appro-
priations are needed and l will vote for
them all. As to the advisory board, l
don't see how such a body could have
anything to do with the expenditure OF
this money. That is what the Council
is elected for, and if we cannot trust the
present one, then other men should be
elected"
w. p. Dupuy: 81 am in favor Of tho
bond ordinances and hope they will be
carried. AS to the advisory board, |
don't sec the necessity of it. l think it
is a reflection on the City Council. /
don't say they arc all qualified, but |
think there are enough good men in that
body to conduct this matter in 4 salts
factory manner"
John Chalmers: 81 would like to see
the appropriations carried. Some of
them are a necessity to the future well
fare of the city. As to tho advisory
board, that depends in a great measure
on who compose that body. If the
Council refuses to be advised. then the
p~rerogative of such a board is ended.
An advisory board should have discre-
%tionary power or it's existence is value
less. In short / cannot sec where it
would benefit the city to have such a
board. 1t is like trusting three men
instead of twelve"
j. f. Wingfeld: "Ihave not studied
the subject thoroughly, and am not pre-
pared to speak definitely on the subject.
| don't think these ordinances should
be voted unless the money is properly
applied, but | do not mean by this that
the present Council is not capable of
appropriating or expanding tho money
to advantage. i am in favor of an ad-
visory board in hat it would tend to
relieve councilmen of work for which
they receive no compensation. The
city is in need of improvements and we
must have them at any cost. Tho best
proposition l have heard of is for the
abutting property owner to pay for one
fhirA 0f Tho ctraat ro,t-u. ~ ooo1 I'LL