Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-02
THE POWER GENERAL
HEADS OF ALL DEPARTMENTS Or
REcTED TO GIVE INFORMATION.
Proposition 20 Finish the City Hall by
Contract Defeated After a Lively De-
bate-other Council Work.


The August meeting of the Common
Council was held last night. II was ex-
pected that the heavy rains in the early
evening would prevent o number of men,
bers from being present, but upon the
calling of the roll IL was observed that
tweaty-six councilmen were in their seats.
The first matter taken up we're two re-
ports of tho Committee on Streets. The
first recommended the granting OF num-
Der of awning and area permits, and was
promptly adopted. The second SUD
mitted the grades of the annexed portion
of Lee District. On Main street at the inter-
section of Madison, and on Beech street at
a section which is flooded by water when
ever there Is q heavy rainfall. These
grades were adopted.
MogEY FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
The Committee on Streets also asked in
report No. tho following amounts for
needed improvements: SS, lG0 for the con-
struction OF sewer on Jackson street
from Second to First, and then on First
street from Jackson to the alley between
Broad and Marshall streets, then through
this alley from First to Adams street S9O7
for the construction of sewer on Bowe
street from Clay northwardiy about 325
feet: 1890 for the paving OF alleys Tor
owners: S615 tor the grading. curbing,
and paving with granite cutters on
the south side of Main street between
Beech and Morris streets; S3,203.zO for
similar work on both sides OF Linden
| street between Cary and Beverley streets
| 81 ,539 for similar work on the south side
of Ashland between Reservoir and Ran
dolph streets; 1913 for similar work on
the east side Of Randolph street between
Ashland and Claiborne streets; S3l7 Tor
| the grading. curbing, and paving, with
granite spalls the intersection OF Ashland
and Randolph streets and the grading and
paving of the sidewalks; sl,36S for the
grading, curbIng, and paving with
granite gutter the west side OF
Randolph between Tobacco and Blalr
streets: $500 for the construction OF
culvert for surface drainage under Ran
dolph street; $4,000 for the construction
of street basins at eleven dlherent points
in CLAW Ward. The portion OF the report
calling for appropriations was referred 10
| the Finance Committee. -.
On recommendation Of the FINANCE
Committee resolution was adopted stlpu,
lating that the Finance Committee should
provide the money for the payment OF the
Judgment of 81 .796.29 obtained by Mary l..
Stephenson, administrative OF william II.
Stephensons estate, in the City Circuit
Court.
THE CITY HALL FUND.
Mr.. Noble, sub-chairman OF the Grounds
and Buildings Committee. presented ON
behalf of that body a quarterly report
upon the new City Hall fund giving III
summary torn the total appropriations
and expenditures, which have already oeen
published in the DISPATCH, and showing q
| balance of cash on hand to the credit OF
| the hall fund Of S2S, ,424.7S. The report
was received and filed.
A resolution from the Health Committee
asking that the wages of the laborers IN
| that department be increased from tl.5O
| to 50 per day was referred to the Finance
COMMITTEES.
resolution from the Committee on
Cemeteries asking for the appropriation OF
| 81 900 for the improvement OF Shockoe-
| Hill cemetery. and instrucung the Finance
! Committee TO provide the funds, was re-
| ferred to the Finance Committee, notwltI@
| standing the vigorous efforts OF MI.
| GRIMES.
| THE DAY-LABoB PLAN.
When the Committee on Retrenchment
/ and Reform was called Mr.. Guigon, sub
| chairman of that body, handed m a 0ndg get
| of papers. The first read by Clerk August
| was resolution instructing the Grounds
and Buildings Committee to complete the
new City Hall by contract.
In regard to this matter Mr.. Gulgon
stated that after looking into the matter
the Committee on Retrenchment and Re-
form stood as a unit in favor OF COM
pletlng the hall by contract. He asserted
that "a great deal of money bad been need
lessly expended in the construction OF the
building. and that even vet there could be
| q great saving of funds by employing the
| contract method.
In answer TO question from Mr.. Noble,
| Nr. Guigon simply referred TO the dis
| crepances and errors alleged to have been
! discovered in the hall. but said these
| things would come before the body tur-
| ther on in the report of the committee.
| Considerable argument followed upOn
| technicality as to the resolution, and Mr..
| Guieon offered it rs an ordinance, lncor-
porating clause providing that all ordi-
| nances or parts of ordinances connecting
with it be repealed.
TOO LATE TO SWAP HORSES.
| Mr.. Carter said that I'VE were near across
| the stream to stop to swap horses now"
after former members of the Grounds and
| Bu ldinos Committee had gone out of office.
Mr.. Crter said that If this work was
| given out under the day labor" plan and
the laborers properly managed the city
| would save the difference; whereas If the
structure was erected by contract the
| contractor would get the difference. He
/ stated that the action of the COMMITTEE on
| Retrenchment and Reform was reflection
| upon that of the Grounds and Buildings
| COMMITTEE, upon the City Engineer, and
| upon the workmen employed on the hall.
| TOO MUCH SPENT.
| Mr. Noble also took Mr.. Carter's side
upon his question and said he believed
| that the building should be completed by
day labor that he did not think there had
| been an unnecessary expenditure ofmoney
| of pmDlOVl0
owing to the management. tie was, he
said IN favor OF finishing the work accord
ing TO the day-laborn plan.
Mr. Murphy. a member of the Retrench-
| mept and Reform Committee. stated that
he had been told by the City Engineer
that fully one third could be saved in
completing the structure by piece or
contract work. He said it would not be
necessary then TO have hall dozen
| bosses over few men.
Mr.. Epps said that he favored putting
the remainder of the work out by con-
tract. providing that the blame for reck-
less expenditures should fall upon who
soever deserved il, and not upon the poor
workingmen.
AMENDMENT AND RESOLUTION LOST.
The vote was then taken upon Mr.. Gui-
| CONS amendment in regard TO changing
the resolution of the Retreuchment and
| reform committee 10 al Oruiuahco' anu IL
| was lost.
The resolution to complete the hall by
contract was lost also by vote of 10 to 10,
as follows:
=AYFs-Messrs. Carneal. Glover, Guigon,
Jackson. King, Murphy. Smith. Thomas,
Royal White, and w l.. White-l0.
NoEs-Messrs. Boykin, Brauer Carter,
Curtis, Davis. Epps. CARRIER, Griffin,
Grimes. Grooms. Mann, Noble, Seay, STRAIT
ton, and Irower-l5.
MUST BE GIVEN INFORMATION.
The second report of the Retrenchment
and Reform Committee was then read
and engaged the attention OF the CouL-
ell for more than an hour. 1t gave the
result of the Investigations made IN the
City Hall by that body and asked in q
resolution that the City Engineer be di-
rected TO furnish to the committee the
information asked by them. Mr. Guigon
made very clear. earnest, and vigorous
speech in explaining the la5ors of the
committee, the results OF their tour through
the hall, and those of their conference with
Colonel Cutshaw.
Mr.. Glover offered substitute resolu-
tion instructing the officers of the various
departments OF the city government to
80. u. NwN