The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-07
TIE REPORT OF HE COMMITTEE ON
REINFORCEMENT AND REFORM.

The City OF Rich nond owes the Com
mittee on RetrenchInent and Reform sin
cere thanks for its able, luminous and
perfectly impartial report upon the iinan-
cial condition OF X edmond. 1t has plain
ly performed the task imposed upon it
methodically. with panstakng care, with
perfect fairness nd the result is that 1t
has laid before the people a very simple
document that. within brief space. gives
us very complete information upon the
most important matters relating to our
financial condition that we are called
upon TO consider. When difficult and
troublesome work has been as well done
as in this case we believe in making pub
lie acknowledgment for the service so
cheerfully rendered by men who receive
no reward for their work but the thanks
of their constituents These the Commit
tee on Retrenchment and Reform will
certainly receive from the people OF
Richmond for the report just made.
one thing In this report Is especially
gratifying to us, and that Is its failure TO
point out any very great reforms posi-
BILE I'm our salary account. The commit
tee practically say that there are little
or no reductions TO be made In salaries;
that is. unless 1t proposes 10 deal with
the offices On which IL has not yet re-
marked on a line OF policy different from
that so far applied. This fact speaks
volumes for our city government When
nm impartial body OF citizens, who have
made a pairsstaking examination, tell us
that our officers are paid very little If
any more than what is fair compensa-
shat he oil OF atY "a
managed pGudently and economically,
and the spreading abroad OF that impress
zion is one of the most valuable things
that can occur TO a city. We attribute
this fact to our system of primary cleo
tons. Every two years the city's officers
have To come before the people-not be-
fore ward meetings-to give an account
of their stewardships. and the result Is
that II is the effort OF each one to come
with the best record for economy behind
him that no can make.
ON one point we are compelled TO d.@er
entirely with this committee. and that
Is In the practical recommendation that
tbs city issue $4,000 more bonds TO buy
new water mains. and. Notwithstanding
the fact that the Council passed reso-
luton providing for 1t. we hope the
Board of Aldermen viii refuse 10 concur
THE Superintendent of the Water Works
tells us that II will require another $4,000
10 increase the pumping capacity SUM-
GENTLY TO make the new mains OF any
value, and IL is impossible for us 10 dis
regard what he says. He knows perfect
" we'll what is the ability in the way of
supply OF our present resources, and he
tells us that they Will not supply the
new mains. He also knows perfectly well
what the additional supply will cost and
ne tells us that IL cannot be provided for
less than $4,000 We, may lAok on IL as
absolutely certain. therefore that II we
undertake TO buy these new mains we
shall be let In for the expenditure OF
Ss5O0 0o and with work done under polit-
zeal influences and day labor 1t Is not
reasonable TO expect that the sum will
be less than 10000. The report OF the
committee shows that we have now only
s4s3,l23 Of margin for bonds. II We make
these improvements at the estimated
cost. we shall have a margin Of only $685.
n left. II. AZ 10 more probable. they cost
a60o. COO. We shall not be able TO complete
them. and all that we spend on them
Mi b thrown away
IT, committee presents the alternative