Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-06
REFORM In METHODS.
This More Than Salary Reductions,
Needed In the City Government
SOME WILL RECEIVE LESS.
Considerable Cuts in the Pay Of Several
OHiciaIs Recommcndcd-The BOND IN
sue Too Large-Expenses'


Tho Committee on Retrenchment ana
Reform. which has been hard at WORK
for many weeks looking into the conduct
Of tho citv government. with view 10
seeing where expenses could pc reouvu'
submitted its first report TO the common
Council last night.
II n n carefully-prepared paper. SHOWS
that the committee Is processing IN
svstematic manner with the discharse
Of tie delicate and important duty ana
will he read with interest by the people
=, pichmond. This report Will. as mas
noor indicated in the Dispatch. be FOL
lowed from time TO time with o'hers con-
tanning such further Recommendations as
the pursuance of the inquiry may war
rant.
Here Is the fun text OF the report laid
before the Council last night:
To the Council OF the City OF Richmond:
Your Committee on Retrenchment ana
Reform deems 1t advisable In the com
mencement of this. its first report, to set
o,,, IN full SO much of the ordinance as
nrescribes the duty Of the committee.
The ordinance makes II our duty TO
inouire into any branch OF the city SER
vice the duties OF the officers. and all
other matters connected with the same
as EXPRESSED in the ordinances. and with
the expenditures Of the money OF the
city and that they report as often as
they think proper. making such recon-
Yncndations in the amendment OF the or
dinances or in the duties of officers and
EMPLOYEES as they may deem necessary
IN secure the faithful performance or
duties required, or such changes in their
requirements as may be beneficial TO the
civ and conducive TO the economical
administration OF the government OF the
city"
The duties OF the committee are. there
fore. very extensive. and embrace In sub
stance general supervision OF the con-
duct Of the city government.
MUST BE ECONOMICAL.
Tho committee commenced its labors
irnpressed with the idea that the affairs
of the city should he economically ad-
ministered and that It's current expenses
should not exceed it's current receipts;
that the bonded Indebtedness OF the city
should be carefully watched. so that no
sxtrayagant issue of bonds should be
mnde. and that good margin within the
Is per cent. of bond limit on taxable real
estate values should always be main
tanned.
Holding these vie%vs. and that they are
eound no one will deny. your committee,
naturally. first directed its attention TO
the present financial condition OF the city.
In submitting TO your consideration
the several financial statements herein
contained, your committee desires to call
your attention to the fact that the fiscal
year of the city begins on February LIST
OF each year, and that on February |. 1891,
our last general assessment of real estate
las just gone into effect.
].
February |. 1891
Taxable values of real estate. S43. 7N, 25so 90
Estimated increase since then. e0o.0ooN
November ], 1884
Taxable values ................S fi, 3Oi, 2OSvo
The bond-limlt. is per cent,
on this sum. Is ..............s I,9'o,5o54'
February |. 1884,
Bonds issued .s5,195e3
Bonds unsold ....... Yl,5W
r3'ds since author'd. $4,000
resent floating
debt for which
bonds will have
TO be issued ...... 10000
1872 1890
November Il lo'f--
Margin on bond debt .........s 4S3.12.A
ii.
November ], 1897
Taxable values of real estate .Sii 1904. 25S.0 90
February /. 1881
Taxable values of real estate. 4o.3i3, 555 90
Increase from February ],
1891. to February l, 1894 ....S 1858, 90
November /, 1891
Bond debt ......................S 7,iR.lS3.
February /. 1891
Bond debt NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 6.369ol6.
Increase from February !.
1891. TO November /, 1894 ...S 1,l23 1900
Eighteen per cent. increase
on g. 96S 1903 90 is .......... 713, 1854