Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-22
GO TO THE COUNCIL.
COMMITTEES ON RerRsNcHMsNr
AND REFORM ADOPT REPORT.


Tho Council Committee on Rctrench-
ment and Reform met again yesterday
afternoon, with Mr.. 0uigon in tho chair.
The City Engineers reply TO the body
when They asked for certain information
about the new City Hall was the main
matter discussed. Mr.. King was called to
she chair and Mr.. Guicon drew up and
presented the following report to the
Council:
THE PAPER or Mn. ouIeoS.
Your Committee on Retrenchment and
Reform respectfully report that they have
begun their Investigations into the various
departments Of TIE city government, as
they consider il their duty TO do. They
began with tho Engineers departments and
particularly with the building OF the new
City Hall, in view Of the general CON-
plants heard froia all sides in regard TO
this work. After sundry meetings care
tul examination of the building resulting
IN the discovery of q great many patent
biunders, alterations. and omissions, your
committee considered IL was necessary TO
have certain information from the City
Engineer and passed the following rcsolu-
tion in writing
e Resoiced, That tho City Engineer be re-
Quested to furnish the committee memo
randum of alterations and mistakes in the
new City Hall with an appropriate esti-
mate OF the costs thereof; and an expla-
nation OF the reasons and causes there
for"
Colonel Cutshaw's reply was as fol-
lows:
snake your questions specific and will
answer them az promptly as can. The
question. as IL is, is too indefinite for me
TO answer without taking great deal OF
time and research over the work for the
pest tour or five years."
WANTED AN APPROXIMATION.
"Your committee reports that it is I'M
possible tor them TO proceed further with
out this information: that the Engineer
was assured that the committee did not
desire precise end exact information, but
would DO satisfied with an approximation,
and that II was utterly impossible to
make the questions more precise without
detailed examinations by an expert OF the
building. the plans, and the pay rolls, and
ell the records OF the Grounds and Build
ings Committee. which, of course. Is an
impossibiIity to this committee.
"Your committee further reports that
the Assistant Engineer, who accompanied
the committee through the new City Hall
and who Is in charge OF the work, did not
impress the committee as being either in
genious OF we'll informed. and unless the
desired information can be obtained tho
committee will be powerless to intelli-
gently pursue its Investigations.
Your committee therefore requests the
passage of the following resolution:
'' Resoiced By the Common Council (the
Board Of Aldermen concurring). That the
City Engineer be directed TO furnish TO the
Committee on Retrenehment and Reform
the information requested by it at its
meeting on July 10TH"
Nm. oBAY VOTES mo"
The report and resolution were adopted
by a vote Of 8 to 1. Mr.. Gray voting mo. .
Mr.. Guigon stated in the meeting that if
the Council did not make this demand he
would refuse to serve longer on the CON-
mittee.
Mr. Murphy said that his sentiment in
regard to the matter was the same as that
of the councilman from Madison Ward.
AN EXPLANATION.
In the DfsPATcHs report of q meeting of
tins committee, held on Tuesday evening,
IL appeared that MIR. Guigon was the only
member who was in favor of investigating
the affairs of each department OF the city
government. Instead of this being the
case, resolution was adopted providing
that such examinations should be made.