Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-12

the conferences tnat tHdt pOuy haH 49,
with the company upon the question Oh
cheaper phones, and said the Chamber
simply wished the Council to grant the
Southern company no further privileges.
That body. he declared, was actuated
nv n desire to get for the citizens or
RIchmond the cheapest aud best tele-
phone service. He concluded by saying
that the saving Of go phone upon
loo instruments In the city OF Rich
mond meant a saving OF $4,000 year
10 the businessmen OF Richmond.
on motion OF Mr.. Blake. Mr.. Gunst,
chairman OF the subcommittee on tele-
phones of the Committee on Grounds
and Buildings. was called upon, and ne
explained In detail the questions which
arose before that body. and again refuted
the impressions that he was ever In favor
Of free phones.
After some further discussion the Board
agreed unanimously TO the ordinance re-
pealing the franchise OF the telephone
company.
FROM THE LOWER BRANCH.
Under the head OF business from the
other branch" the profiles OF grades OF
certain parts of Buchanan. Broad, ana
Grace streets came up and were adopted
The resolution providing for the opening
of Spring street through the penlteh-
playground and making the necessary
appropriation for the first years WORK
was concurred in.
Similar action was taken upon the reso-
lutions appropriatIng $500 to the expense
account Of the Health Department; H.O55
TO the payroll account OF the CITY School
Board: 500 10 the credit OF the Superin-
tcndent Of Public Charities. for the pur-
chase OF coal for the colored poor OF the
city and $40 to the expense account OF
lakewood Cemetery.
Mr.. Gunsts street-sign resolution met
with no opposition. II appropriates $coo
for displaying the names and numbers
Of the streets of the city.
A resolution appropriating 800 for the
purchase OF stamps for the purpose or
mailing notices to the delinquent tax
payers Of the city caused some discussion,
| but was finally passed.
THE DAY-LABOR QUESTION.
There was a lengthy and heated argu-
ment upon the ordinance providing that
| the trenches for sewers, gas, and water
| pipes should hereafter be dug by the re
| spective departments governing this work,
and that the pay Of the employees en-
gagged In this labor should be $50 each
per day.
Mr.. Boykin made quite a speech, taking
| the ground that il was impracticable, and
| not economic to have this work done
under the day-labor plan. lie said he had
upon his desk papers giving figures. com
piled in the Office of the City Engineer.
which demonstrated clearly that this
| work would cost the city 100 per cent.
more by the day-labor system than II
would by contract. lie did not think any
man on that floor would employ such a
principle in his own business. and he
should not do so in matters OF business
| for the city. Mr.. Boykin said he had been
| informed that the same men who formerly
worked in the sewer-trenches for the
city at s. a day now made, under the
contract system. from 50 to 50 a day. lie
believed it bad plan 70 let politics enter
into such matters
IT Is NOT TOO MUCH.
Mr.. Turpin (NIr. Starke in the chair
had a great deal to say about the matter
He had always voted for living wages
for these laborers. He had been Informed
by the City Engineer that the men could
not make more than 20 days work In q
year. and he did not consider 500 too
much compensation for any working mar
TO support himself and family upon. lie
wanted tho laboring man 70 be paid living
would voIe to cut down the salaries OF
all the city officials. except two or three
but he was not Wiling to say that a
laborer should not be paid living compen-
sation for his work.
Mr. MJuntcastle also spoke In favor OF
tho measure. saying that he could not see
why some people could get 50 much out
| Of the city government while others could
hardly get a hunk OF meat"
Mr.. Blake. Of Monroe Ward. also had
something TO say upon the question. lie
objected seriously 10 the present system
Of the departments in not employing any
colored persons This he regarded as class
legislation, and It could never be
successful Mr.. Blake said colored
labor was tn best ana cheapest that
could be had. ard 1t had contributed
largely to enrching many of Richmond )
wealthicst citizens.
Mr. Noble was Of the opinion that the
mere pittance offered to the workingmon
in the measure should not be denied them.
lie said the time had come when the
Council should show the white working
people Of the city that It intended 10
stand by them.
Alderman Mitchell, Of Jackson Ward
smoke al length about the treatment the
people OF that section had received at
the hands Of the Council, and said that
the colore1 citizens were beginning to
cast aside party preferences and look
ing toward the advancement OF their in
teTests.
ONLY FIVE FOR 1T.
Further remarks in favor of the ordl-
nance were made by AIr. Snead, anC
when vote was finally reached the pro-
position fell through, the result being as
follows:
Ayes -Messrs. King. Mountcastle, No
bic. Snead. and Turpin-j.
Noes -Mcssrs. Allen, Blake Boykin
Gray. Hardwicke. Mann. Mitchell. Moore
Reeve, Starke Vaughan, and White-l2.
MUCH OTHER BUSINESS.
The Board could not act upon the mat
ter Of directing the Committee on Finance
10 negotiate temporary loans, because thC
necessary three days had not elapsed.
Concurrent action was taken upon the
resolution providing for the payment OF
the salaries and wages of city officials
and employees pending the appearance OF
the budget for 1885.
President Turpin handed down the re
signation OF Mr.. James T. Gray as 4
member of the Board from Monroe Ward
1t was laid upon the table until the next
meeting, with the hope that Mr.. Gray
might CHdIec HIS IbllIi anu IelHdlu IL
the body.
y resolution appropriating 5000 TO pro-
perly fix up the spring at ChimborazC
Park was submitted by Mr.. Manp. II
was referred 10 the Committee Oh Fl
nance.
Alderman MITCH offered resolution
providing for public night schools for tbs
colored children Of the city. He said that
there was a night school for the white
children, and he thought that the same
facilities should be accorded the Other
race.
After the transaction of some other
business the Board adjourned.
Rabbi Calisch on "The Wandering jew. "
The Milwaukee Journal says OF this lee
ture. which Will be delivered at the hall
of the Young Mems Christian Association