Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-04
THEANNUAL LBUDGET.
THIS PAPER ADOPTED BY THE CON-
MON COUNCIL LAST NIGHT.
Lee District Gets $50. ooo-smaii Appro-
prfations for Street work-Cars 60
Run on First Street.

priattOnk LOT Street W
Run on First Street.
The Common Council met in regular ses-
sion yesterday afternoon, and though z
o'clock was the stated hour 1t was half
past before q quorum could be counted.
At o'clock there were present Messrs.
Brauer. Carneal. Carter. Davis, Epps, Fer
ritter. CARRIER, Griffin, Grimes. Grooms,
Jackson. King. Mcdowell, Murphy. Noble,
Page. Seay, Smith. Stratton. Thomas.
Trower. Vaughan, Royal White, W. l..
White, and Glover.
THE YEARS APPROPRIATIONS.
Mr.. Cerneal. from the Committee on FL
nance. submitted the budget-an ordi-
nance cancelling appropriations for
1592)93 and making appropriations Tor
1S93'94. Following is statement OF the
principal items. showing when there have
been increases and decreases:
Interest and redemption, S423. .OO0-an
increase of 5000; assessment OF taxes,
81, ,3O0-an increase Of $500: almshouse ex-
penses. 500, ,OO0-a decrease of $4,000. Oak
wood and 81. Johns cemeteries get an in
crease of 800 each, and $1,000 Is appro
priated for the construction of Keepers
house at River View.
The same appropriation is made for the
general expenses of the City School Board,
but the payroll is increased from $4,000
to SOC. 900. The police contingent fund Is
decreased $50. the payroll S2O2. and the
appropriation for the patrol-wagon ls ln-
creased $500. The total appropriation for
the Police Department Is S9S. .777.50. The
amount set apart for guarding the city Jsil
is decreased 800. The contingent fund is
reduced from SO, 1919 to S6,562.29. The
elections appropriation Is reduced from
g, 200 to 81 400.
Electric-light appropriation is increased
from $4,000 to S50,OOO.
FOR FIRE AND GAS.
The same sum of $17. .lsO is allowed to the
general expenses OF the Fire Department
this year, but the payroll account is in
creased from S5i, ,254 to S64,700 The total
sum for the Firo-Alarm Department Is
S6,92O. The Gas Department gets S170,-
TIT against $3.50. 100 last year. This in
in oil account. In the expense account
for grounds aud buildings the appropria-
tion is reduced from $4,000 to $4,000.
The aggregate Appropriation for the
Health Department Is $40 900, decrease
of $500. The James-river appropriation
is increased from Sl0600 to 900. Somo
slight changes are made IN the amounts
crease of 81 900. The Mechanics Institute
IS given the usual $1,000.
The appropriations for the military or
carnations remain the same and aggre-
gate $3.50. In the stationery and print
ing allowance there is an increase of S4O0.
The AMOUNT FOR STREETS.
In the Street Department the general
account gets 100000. as compared with
S85. 900 last year, with an extra allowance
Of $4,000 for opening streets IN Lee Dis
trict. The sum set aside for pay-rollS In
the Engineers Department remains un-
changed, S12,S00. and there is no change
in the amount allowed for hands and
carts. which is $1,000. Hands and carts
and roler-and-crusher pay-rolls get $780,
coo, an increase of 1000. For sidewalk
paving the appropriation is $4,000, a de-
crease of $1,000. The fund for paving
alleys for owners is swollen to $4,000. an
increase of ! 900. The Water Department
gets $50, ,541.7 rs, an increase of -, 800. which
occurs principally III the pump-house ac-
count and the reservoir funds.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT.
The total amount of the budget for the
year is II, ,372, ,375-a larger sum than that
of last year by Si0,7J0. This estimate was
based on the receipts of the city for the
fiscal year 1692I'93. it being calculated
that the revenues from certain sources
would be slightly increased. While the
CITY expects to get about $4,000 less from
taxes. II is Appropriated that her receipts
will be increased: From licenses about
$4,000 redeemed lots. about $4,000; sale
OF gas. about $4,000; water rents. S6,OOO,
ETC., etc.
TO TEsI THE LIGHTS.
Mr.. Glover (Mr. Stratton in the chair
moved that $500 be taken from the con-
tingent fund to purchase an apparatus for
testing c.ectric-lights. Adopted,
Mr.. Trower moved that 800 be taken
from the contingent fund and be added to
the expense fund of Shockoe cemetery.
Adopted.
MIR. Seay moved that $500 be taken from
the contingent fund and added to the ap-
preparation for the Third Market. The
motion was after considerable discussion
lost.
LEE DISTRICT.
Mr. Curtis moved to strike from the
budget the 5000 appropriation for open
ing streets in Lee District.
Mr. W. l.. White said the Council could
not make a better Investment than in
granting the $4,000 and moved that Cap
tain John A. Coke be heard on the part of
the property-owners Of Lee District.
Mr.. Whites motion was carried and
Captain Coke addressed the body. He
sketched the legislation OF both the Gene
raj Assembly and the Council regarding
Lee District. The people of Lee District
treat any amount that may be granted the
district as temporary loan. that they
would pay back with interest. The tax
PAYERS OF Lee District had paid into the
city treasury $4,000 last year and would
pay that amount with interest this year.
He repeated that the 200 would only
be temporary loan. which would be got
ten back when the improvements were
finished and the assessments could be
made. The recommendation of tho Finance
Committee was simply carrying out the
policy of the Council 10 accepting the act
of the Legislature. BY virtue OF the
annexation the city was enabled TO issue
$50, 900 of bonds. He knew of dozen
houses that would go up III Lee District
this year If the appropriation was made.
lf they struck out the appropriation OF
800, 900. did they propose TO give back one
silver of the $4,000 annually received
from Lee District ? The land was assessed
now at 81, 10000 In 1895. when 1t will be
dotted over with houses, 1t will be assessed
at -, ,O0O, 900. There were large number
of people anxious to build upon the lots,
but who would not build without ln-
proyements. There wos no reason in law,
morals, or fair dealing why the people OF
Lee District should receive less consldera-
ton than other citizens.
Mr.. CURTIS RESPONDS.
Mr.. Curtis claimed that when Captain
Coke was before the body urging that Lee
District be taken into the city he SAID
take us in and We will not ask for cent.
Captain Coke explained that the theory
of the bill annexlng the district was that
the abutting property-ovners should pay
the expenses Of Improvements, but the
resolution of the Council contemplated a
temporary loan to be gotten back oy as
sessment.
Mr.. White urged that Richmond would
be repaid with interest every dollar e1-
pended in Lee District.
Mr.. Curtis said he had seen this Lee-Dis-
trict scheme coming Lee District was
land speculation, and so was the Lee
monument.
Mr.. White appealed for the retention OF
the item in the budget both as an invest
ment aud as an act of patriotism. IL was
A 4. 10 s.af n