Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-02
MUST ANSWER GENERAL QUESTIONS
The Result of the Conference Committee
Meeting Yesterday.

The Conference Committee appointed
from the Board of Aldermen ard Common
Council to define what should be the
powers of the Committee on Retrench-
ment and Reform. met in the Council
chamber at o'clock yesterday afternoon
for the consideration OF that matter.
Aldermen Hardwicke and J. W. White and
Councilmen Gulgon. w, L. White, and
Carneal were present.
MIR. Guigon stated that he had been in
formed by President Glover, of the lower
branch, that under the rules he (Guigon)
was TO be the chairman of the body, his
name having been mentioned first on the
list.
The original resolution, which was
adopted by the Common Council, read as
follows:
BE Il resolred by the Common Council Of he
city of Richmond (the Board of Aldermen
concurring), That officers of the various
departments of tho city government be,
and are hereby, instructed TO afford the
Committee on Retrenchment and Reform
every possible facility in the examination
of their respective departments.
The Board passed this measure, with the
amendment that such questions as are pro-
pounded TO the heads of departments and
Others shall be specific. and that answers
thereto shall be fully entered upon record
by the CLERK OF I1e COmmlJtee.
LENGTHY DISCUSSION.
Mr.. Guigon opened the discussion upon
the question by explaining in detail what
had been done by the Committee on Re-
trenchment and Reform. and the situation
that that body is now in.
MIR. w. L. White SAID he was opposed TO
having the investigation go into the past
unless therewere reasons to believe that the
citv would be benefited thereby financi-
ally or otherwise. In speaking about the
alleged errors i'll the construction of the
new City Hall. Mr.. White asserted that
no man ever erected such structure with
out having many mistakes to creep in from
one cause or another.
Mr. Guigon endeavored to show to the
body that it was very important for the
Committee ON Retrenchment and Reform
TO be able to ask such general questions as
might give them some idea of how 10
ipterrogate specifically. With the amend
ment to the resolution, Mr.. Guigon stated
that the head Of any department could say
| that question was not specific enough,
aud cause the matter to COMO back TO the
| Council.
Mr.. Hardwicke made q fight for the
amendment, as he thought the committee
should state exactly what 1t wished TO
know.
The discussion took wide range and
| the committee decided to recommend the
original resolution for adoption by the
/ Council. only Mr.. Hardwicke opposing 1T.
1t is understood that every member Of
! the Retrenchment and Reform Committee
will resign before they will work under the
amendment to the resolution.
oTHEB COMMITTEES, THE COUNCIL, &C.
A special meeting of the Committee on
| Schools was held at the Office of Colonel
John b. Cary, chairman, at 10 O'Clock yes
| terday morning. Only routine business
was transacted.
The Common Council will hold It's Octo-
| Der session tomorrow night. Among the
matters TO be considered will be the estab-
| lishment of voting-plsce5 IN the city for
the November election. The Board of
| Aldermen will have called meeting at s
o'clock on Tuesday evening to pass upon
| this same matter.