Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-30
rnE RETRENcHMENT COMMITTEE.
1t Begins Its Work With Closed Doors
Important Changes In Ordinances.

The Council Committee on Retrench-
ment and Reform held its first secret SEES
sion last evening What was done could
not be learned from the members present,
who were Chairman Caskie, and Messrs.
Starke, Hardwicke Blake, and Waller
stein. Shortly after the meeting was
called TO order. II was agreed by resoln-
ton that the committee should hold its
deliberations behind closed doors. AS a
result OF this. when the Dispatch reporter
started TO the committee-room, as usui j.,
he was told that he could not 60 in.
The meeting lasted about two hours.
and matters Of importance. 1t is said,
were considered. When the body had adj
journed. the Dispatch man called upon
Chairman Caskie. and asked some ques-
lions concerning the session.
The Chairman said that he could not
talk concerning what transpired In the
committee-room. 1--WE decided that our
sttings should be In secret" added Mr..
Caskie. 1.-THE Committee on Retrench-
ment and Reform have a number OF dell
cate matters TO deal with. They REFER
to the several departments OF the city
and IL would not he the proper thing 10
permit the proceedings 20 be given out 10
the public"
your committee has no idea OF re-
ducing salaries?" asked the news-gatherer.
THAT question | cannot answer. we
will soon make q report TO the council.
Your Interrogation will be answered then
Changes i'm the Ordinances.
Another long session of the Committee
on Ordinances was held in Room No. II
of the new City Hall. Those in their
seats were Messrs. Bloomberg chairman.
Carter Mcdowell. and Mitchell. Captain
Alexander Coke was also present.
The body continued its work or review
ing and revising the newly-codiiied or
dlnances On Mr. McDowelVs motion II
was decided TO adopt the suggestions OF
the codiher az to the numbering OF GER
tain sections of the city charter when
form amendments, enacted by the LeSis-
lature TO the original charter. 1t was or
dered by the committee that the charter
as arranged by Captain Coke be printed
under his supervision.
The committee then went over care
fully the chapters of the ordinances on
Mayor. salaries of city officers, all the
wards, City Clerk, enrolment OF ordl-
nanccs, concerning the Hastings Court.
concerning the Police Court and bailin.
City Attorney, Sergeant at Arms of the
Council, and made such alterations as
they thought improved the codiiications.
The first important change was IN the
chapter concerning the Police Justice.
That Section setting forth that this Of
fetal shall nominate to the Council three
persons suitable for election as clerk &c
the Police Justice. from which number
the Council shall select every two years
a clerk TO the Justice. was so altered as
TO make the Police Justice nominate one
person as clerk, whom the Council may
or may not elect as such. This change
was agreed on in order that no dunn
mics" could be put up. and that the Coun-
ell might not be bound by the nominee OF
the Justice.
The section Of the ordinances creating
the office OF an Assistant City Attorney
and referring to such an officer was
stricken out.
me chapter in reference TO the au-
thoTity Of the Sergeant-at~ Arms OF the
Council was modified so as TO give that
official control in the Council Chamber
and commttee-rooms, and of the heating
lighting. and cleaning Of these rooms.
Instead OF having the Auditors Office
open from a. NJ TO 8 L. Nj. during cum
mer. and \. NJ and p. NJ. during
winter. the committee decided that the
time should be extended until o'clock
T.. NJ. the year round.
The chapter in regard TO the City Urea
surcr's Office was discussed at consider
able length. The changing Of the hours
during which that Office should be open 10
the public was considered, ana II was
thought best 10 invite Treasurer Phillips
before the body at its next meeting. This
will be done
The committee adjourned. to meet again
next Tuesday evening at o'clock.
THE CITY'S CEMETERIES.
The Committee on Cemeteries met In
Room No Ii of the City Hall yesterday
evening Those present were Chairman
Grimes and Messrs. Cottrell. Briggs, and
Vaughan. Superintcndents Carter DECKER
son, and French were also on hand, ana
submitted their monthly reports.
City-Clerk August handed the commit
tee a copy OF the newly codiied ordil
nances. which were carefully gone over'
and such changes made as were regarded
necessary.