Richmond planet., 1895-05-25
ALDERMEN MEET.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
SUSTAINED.
Severe Criticism of the
Health Department.
Incompetent LabOrerS.
THE CITY'S UNCLEA.V
CONDITION.
The Unjust AppOrtiOnment
of Str ct Funds Defeated.
CHANGING THE WARDS.

The Board of Aldermen held an ad-
jOurned meeting, Tuesday, May DIST at
8 Z. NJ. Present: Messrs. Allen,
Bahen, Blake, Burton, Hardwicke,
King, Mitchell. Moore, MOuntcastle,
Reeve, Snead, Starke, Tanner, Vaughan
Turpin. Boykin.
$500 was appropriated to pay the
| semi-annual interest on the debt of the
| Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical
Society and $1,000 was voted this socie-
debt, 4 ss gnu 20 ASSIST )" paying 'ns
No MONEY FOR THE STREET FORCE.
| The resolution appropriating s5l2l 81
to the Health Department came up for
! concurrence. Alderman h. =. Reeve
advocated it claiming that the cleanli-
ness Of the city was very important.
AS one member Of the committee, he
was opposed to having work done, with
no money with which to pay it. He
did not intend TO be coming back year
after year with a deficit.
II the money was not appropriated
the force would have to be reduced.
The Finance Committee had failed to
give the relief asked for and according
ly direct appeal was made TO tn e
Council. Alderman Charles w. Hard
wicke moved that the matter be re-
ferred to the Finance Committee.
! Alderman r. II. Boykin opposed the
appropriation and favored the refer
ence. He criticized the Health De-
partment and showed the necessity for
economy in the handling of the city's
finances.
Alderman John Mitchell, Jr.' declar-
ed that the matter should be referred
TO the Finance Committee. That body
had been verysliberal in it's recommen-
dations. 1t had been given charge of
that kind of work and its adverse rec
concentrations should not be disre-
garded. Richmond was in a filthy
condition, caused by the failure of the
present force to do its work 1t was
due to. bad management. He believed
that the city could be kept cleaner
than it now is with force one third
less.
BAD CONDITION OF THE WARD.
Jackson Ward was in filthy condi-
tion. The dusty streets were swept
and the alleys not looked after. He
had seen three able bodied men around
one little pile of dirt.
! The men would dig holes in the un-
paved streets with their brOoms, the
carts would carry away the dirt and
the City Engineer would have to send
dirt there in other wagons to fill W
the holes again. He would not vote
for the appropriation.
q ALDERMAN BLAKE's REMARKS.
S Alderman George Med Blake said
n that the Health Committee ought tC
n reduce its force or give better service
{ The alley in rear OF his place was In
o filthy condition, and complaints came
n from all parts of the city. There were
q men employed by the health depart
, ment, who received $3.50 per day, bu-
(. were not worth 25 cents per day
g Gentlemen" said he. "are you afraiC
; these worthless men wont vote for yOl
y at the polls? There are too many meI
e ready and willing to work, who hav,
s. nothing to do. Fill these places of th'
worthless ones with them
5. Alderman Snead challenged Mr.
e Blake to name the worthless men, bu
r he referred him to the report of a sub
ie committee which had dealt with tn,
y inefficiency and upon which report tn
n committee had not as yet taken action
I, Alderman VIM. T.. Tanner aske,
Ie that the matter be referred to the Fl
nance Committee.
n Alderman John Mann was Opposel
G. to reducing the street force as h
oi thought too many men were walkin
. the streets begging for-work.
at OTHER ALDERMEN DISCUSS 1T.
rs Alderman Boykin said it was not
rs question as to who was out Of a job,
EFT was whether or not Richmond had tn
10 money to spend for the purpose.
a A WOrdy cOllOquy occurred betwee
n Alderman Snead and Alderman Mitcl
ell, the colored member claiming thu
AI the responsibility for the reduction
Oh the street force would rest upon I'll
n Health Committee, inasmuch as
could carry the present force upon IL
pay-rolls until the Finance Commits
"a. acted. Alderman Hardwicke witt
he drew his motion to refer to the Finan,
IT, Committee and the question came d
i'll rect upon the resolution to appropI
n ate the money. Alderman Snes
he made another appeal in behalf of Il
py measure but it was defeated.
OA UNJUST APPORTIONbdENT.
we The resolution providing for the a
ny preparation on streets generally to
Try divided as follows, was then taken u
ne, Clay ward, $l3,58O; Monroe war
RS $500; Madison ward, $500; Marsh
est ward, 81 $50; Jefferson ward, $9, 20
to Jackson ward, 1850; incidenta
Ids 81 800.
IN This was reduction of the amOu
usually given Jackson Ward by abo
a ~.