Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-14
LET THE PEOPLE SAY.
THE EPPs RESOLUTION CONQUERED IN
BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
The City to BE Reviistricted and New
Ward Added-Law Of Betfermcnts-
Much Other Business.

The Board of Aldermen met In the old
Council chamber last evening for the
last time. The most important measure
to arise was what Is known as the Epps
resolution. In this the board concurred
by vote OF IL TO 6.
Those present at last nights meeting
were President Dickerson and Messrs.
Allen, Bahen, Bowden. Carter. Cary.
Gray. Davis, Hardwicke, Mitchell. Moore.
Mountcastie. Reeve. Tanner, Taylor, Tur-
pin. and j. w. White.
Mr.. Turpin stated that II was necessary
for him to leave the meeting 10 I'LL an
important engagement and moved that
the Epps resolution with reference to the
election by the people Of certain officers
now chosen by the Council be taken up
out of order.
There was no discussion upon this i'm
portant measure. President Dickerson ex-
planned that this resolution differed very
materially from the old Epps resolution
In that this paper submitted the matter
to the voters of the city to decide for
themselves what their desires are in the
premises.
THE MEASURE IN FULL.
The Epps resolution is here given in full
"Be II resolved by the Council OF the
city of Richmond 0he Board Of Aldermen
cOncurring). That when the next general
electioi> Is held on the fourth Thursday
In MAJ 1891. for municipal officers, the
question of electing the City En- gineer,
Superintendent Of the Gas Works. the
City Attorney, and the Superintendent OF
the City. Almshouse be submitted to a
vote Of the people, and II at said election
it shall appear that a majority OF the
"a I'm nf aloptinU those Oftl-
GERS by direct vote of the people, the
City Attorney Is instructed TO prepare
and present to the next meeting OF the
Legislature of Virginia bill embodying
an amendment to the charter of the city
Of Richmond, which shall provide that
said officers shall be elected by a direct
vote, Of the people; provided that the cost
shall not exceed $J9."
THE BALLOT TAKEN.
The vote by which this was, agreed to
by the Board was as follows:
Ayes-Niessrs. Allen, Bowden. Carter,
Cary. Davis. Hardwicke. Moore. Mount
castle. Reeve, Taylor. Turpin' ana the
President-12. .
Noes-Messrs. Bahen. Gray, Mitchell,
Tanner. and J. w. White-5; uo,o
From the Committee on Finance came
the resolution providing for the restoration
and repairing of the pictures of Judges
Gugon and Lyons in the Hustings-Court
room. This was agreed to.
a resolution was sent in by the same
committee authorizing the Issuance OF
$4,000 in per cent. bonds Of the city for
the construction of sewer along Harri-
son street, from Bacon's Quarter Branch
to a point designated as an outlet; or
$4,000 In bonds for the construction OF a
sewer in Marshall street; and $4,000 in
bonds for the construction of sewers gene
rally. After an unimportant amendment,
the resolution was adopted
REDISTRICTING THE CITY.
Under the head of business from the
Common Council came the resolution
creating a committee of five. two from the
Board Of Aldermen and three from the
Common Council, with authority To prepare
and submit an ordinance redistricting and
rearranging the several wards of the city,
and providing such additional wards as
may be deemed necessary. The resolution
was concurred IN.
Similar action was taken upon the paper
instructing the City Engineer to recon-
mend some plan for placing safeguard
around the dock that persons may not fall
into that body OF water.
BILL OF BETTERMENTS. n
The much-talked-of bill of betterments"
was read as coming from the Committee
on Streets. This body urged the rejection
OF the measure as originally presented,
but submitted another resolution and bill.
The resolution instructs the City Engineer
to present to the Legislature and to re-
quest its adoption the bill submitted, pro-
viding for the payment TO property
owners of damages sustained by street
and TO charge them for
they derive from said improve
ments.
Mr.. Hardwicke said this measure was
one of such magnitude that he felt that
the Board should have plenty of time to
II fully. He. therefore, moved
that the resolution and bill be laid on the
table and printed at once. Agreed 10.
The resolution appropriating $1,000 for
the purpose of dredging the berths OF
the monitors, the money to come from
the funds for the improvement of the
James river, was concurred in.
THE CARY RESOLUTION.
The Committee on Finance sent in the
following as a substitute for the resolu-
ton of Mr.. Cary. appropriating sl2, 900 to
be spent upon the parks of the city, that
the poor persons out of employment and
suffering for food and shelter might bo
given work:
ResolVed, That while applauding the !
motive prompting the Introduction of
said resolution. ii is the opinion of the |
FINANCE Committee that, after hiring the |
ing the tools which will be needed in |
the prosecution of the work, the number I
Of our citizens relieved will be so small
as not 10 justify so large an expenditure
Of the city's funds, as the same could be
more judiciously used by reasonable ap-
to the outdoor poor. We,
therefore, recommend that the resolution
be rejected.
Mr.. Cary spoke earnestly in behalf OF
his original paper, stating that in con-
ference with the City Engineer and the
chairman of the Finance Committee the
former said the sum of $1,000 could be
very judiciously expended on the city's 1
parks now. The speaker was OF the opin- !
ION that there was a great deal of suffer- I
ing in the city and that the adoption of /
the measure meant encouragement to /
honest labor. Messrs. Carter and Mount |
castle also spoke in favor of the resolu-
ion of Mr.. Cary and Messrs. Tanner and !
Hardwicke. of the Finance Committee, op-
posed 1t on the ground taken by the COM
nittee.
Mr.. Carys measure failed to get the
necessary two thirds vote and laid upon
he table.
THE CITYS DEATH RATE.
Chairman Reeve. of the Committee on
Health. submitted his paper on the death
ate OF Richmond, which was approved by
hat body several days ago. and an alb
'tract of which was published I'm the Dis
,atch. The accompanying resolution au-
horlzing the Board OF Health to eliminate
rom their health reports the deaths OF
III non-residents. and that they add to the
'ensus figures 1-l0 of 2S1-S per cent. for
'ach year since 1t was taken. and also
he number OF deaths not counted In the
ensus each year, was adopted without
discussion.
BY request of Mr.. Turpin Mr.. Hard
vicke offered resolution adding 81 zoo
'er annum to the salary OF the Judge of
he Court Of Law and Equity. II was
eferred to the Committee on Finance.
NE same action was taken upon the
esolution offered by Mr.. Reeve, appro-
riating sl,0c0 TO the Free Dispensary of
he College OF Physicians and Surgeons.
President Dickerson offered a resolution
'roviding for the repaving Of the roadbed
4 Dock street from Twenty-second to
Ash streets.
"AULD LANG SYNE."
The president here announced that as
his would In all human probability be the
asst time the board would ever meet in
Hall, he would consider any