Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-23

Committee on Retrenchment and Reform
TO investigate the departments. and how
they had been frustrated. II ever mon
arch had control Of people this
could be said OF the late w. G. Adams,
especially as far as his department was
concerned.
RESULT NOT SATISFACTORY.
Mr.. Alien thought II this report was
concurred in by the Board the inyestiga-
ton would be closed up. After reading
the reports In the newspapers. and hear
ing the additional evidence laid before
the Board OF Aldermen, he could not be
satisfied with the present result. The
penalty had been placed upon one man.
who had held his position only since 1891,
and while uD 10 that time the deficit
had figured up 10 about $1,000 the deficit
during his term Of office had increased
only about 5000, and there was no evi-
dence that this deficit had originated In
Mr.. Meredith's accounts. He could not
submit the proposed execution OF
one man under the information presented.
Apparently there had been iOoseness in
the management Of affairs. certainly as
far back as 1856. II not longer. Mr.
Meredith had been charged with incom-
potency and yet the existing deficit could
only be learned from the books which
discharge a man under these conditions.
The city officials. as well as the city
Council and their committees, had been
the negligent parties. as well as the
chief OF the department. Before the root
OF the evil could be reached further inyes-
tigation was necessary. This should be
done by absolutely disinteres.ed people.
In 1892. the Committee on Retrenchment
and Reform had undertaken TO look into
the MANAGEMENT OF the city affairs.
They had thought Il was their duty 10
investigate the various city departments.
The committee made one mistake by
starting out with the biggest part first,
the Investigation of the construction Of
the city Hall. One meeting was held,
and three questions Were asked, one OF
which remained unanswered. In Yindica-
ton OF the committee before the people
Of Richmond. and the people Of Virginia.
he had 10 say that at that time the Board
Of Aldermen adopted resolution which
practically paralyZed the committee from
taking another step. II provided that the
committee should put their questions in
writing and make them explicit. This
was an absolute advertisement 10 his
mind that the Common Council and the
! Board Of Aldermen did not want that in
yeStigatlQu 60 80 on Mr. Alien insisted
upon further investigation.
LAID on THE TABLE.
Mr. King moved 10 lay on the table:
Alderman Mitchell opposed concurrence
in the action Of the lower branch. and
Dir. HanlWicke asked that the report
Of the committee be adopted, which pro-
Z yided that the committee and not the
Superintendent, appoint the book-keeper.
20 that the former might be a check on
his superior. The Council was also asked
In the report 10 give authority 10 the city
Attorney 10 recover the money the city
had been defrauded ont OF. and that was
the only body that could take such steps.
Mr.. Kings motion 70 lay the matter on
the table was then adopted by "a vote OF
10 10 T.
Mr.. Burton offered n resolution pro-
vidng that an ordinance be prepared by
the city Attorney. setting forth that the
bonds Of city officials be hereafter fur
nlsncd by companies engaged for such
purposes. The matter was referred 10
the Finance Committee.
Upon Mr. Bake's motion the ordinance
which provides for the appointment Of a
committee clerk at a salary of $3.50 per
year. the clerk 90 be in the city Han
| every day from a. VI. to 3 +. NJ, was
| taken up, and concurred in by q vote
OF - to >.
Upon motion by the same gentleman
an ordinance was adopted providing for
a special committee OF three members from
! the Board and six from the Common
| Council t. examine into the city ordi-
| nanoes as revised ~ the collier. AMI 20
| recommend such changes as they mas
| deem proper
The president appointed the following
| members Of special committees:
! on Reunion Of Confederate Veterans
! Major Otway :. Allen.
on Selecting a site FOR a Park In Jack
| son Ward-Aldermen Baheu and Mitchell