Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-24
PUT Off NO MEN.
Committee On Health Refuses to Adopt
The Special Statement.
CALL MR.. BLAKE TO ANSWER.
want Him TO state Who Are worth
less Employees. and What Menu
Action of the hoard of Aldermen.

The Council Committee on Health last
night held one Of the most important
meetings in it's history. Not less than
three big propositions came before the
body. and were considered at great
length. and with much spirited and even
some fiery discussion.
After the approval Of the bills and
pay-rolls for the half month Mr.. Davis
called the attention Of the body to the
fact that the Board OF Aldermen at its
last session had refused to concur in the
resolution appropriating $500 10 the
payroll account OF the department. lie
also spoke of the charge made by Mr.
Blake, a Monroe-Ward alderman, to the
effect that there were men upon the pay
rolls Of this department getting $50 per
day when they were not worth % cents a
day, and that there were members OF
the Health Committee who knew this.
Mr.. Davis said there seemed TO be a dis
position in the Board Of Aldermen TO
frown down upon the Committee on
Health-a committee which was conduct
ing its department more economically
than any other city in the United states,
population considered, was conducting
the same department. He stated
that there were only seyenty-three TO
seventy-lve men upon the payroll Of
the Health Department, and that accord
ing to a calculation made that would
only allow one man 10 clean the city tor
every 1900 Of population. To cut down the
force now would be 10 impair very seri-
Ously the work Of this department in this
the most critical, season Of the year. lie
thought the committee should proceed
with It's work with its present force, and
when the money gave out 90 back to
the Council for more Then, ir the Board
refused to give 1t. let the responsibility
rest upon its shoulders, and not upon the
shoulders of the committee. for throwing
the men out OF employment and having
the city no longer cleaned.
Chairman Reeve and MIR. Snead did not
think the committee could do this with
due regard for the law and for its own
word The appropriation allowed in the
annual budget had been made for the
entire year. and not for eight or nine
months. they contended.
MIR. BLAKE ASKED TO SPECIFY.
Returning to the allegation OF Mr..
Blake, Messrs Davis and Donleavy took
the ground that the committee had been
nsulted, and that Mr.. Blake should be
taken to task. In this connection Mr.
Davis offered a resolution requesting Mr.
Blake to name the men on the Health
force who were not worth % cents a
day EACH and who were receiving $3.50
per day each. and to also give the names
Of the members OF the Committee on
Health who were aware OF such things,
This was adopted.
Mr. Davis was then called TO the chair
and Mr.. Reeve offered the following:
Resolved. That the Committee on Health
reduce the present force to such an ex-
tent as not 10 allow 1t 10 exceed the
appropriation made by the City Council
This evoked a great deal Of discussion
Many members were of the opinion that
the committee should proceed 10 work
with the present lorce as long as the
funds IN hand lasted but the chairman
and Mr.. Snead could not see the fair
ness Of this. Mr.. Donleayy moved that
action on this matter be postponed
until after the next regular meeting OF
the Board OF Aldermen, stating that he
had reason to believe that that body
would reconsider its recent action and
allow the extra appropriation. Mr.. DON
icavy's motion prevailed by the following
vote:
Ayes-Mcssrs. Davis, Woody Don
leavy Hobson. Moore, Burton and
Trower--7
Noes Messrs. Reeve and Snead-2.
RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION.
Under the head OF reports Of sub-com-
mittecs, the clerk read the statement
from the subcommittee appointed to in
vestlgate the affairs of the department
and the efficiency Of the men on the
force. This was called from the table by
Mr. Hobson, and 1t recommended the dis
. Mo On Ia fargn
on the ground that they were not faith
full energetic men. on motion OF Mr. Don
leayy u was agreed 10 take up these
cases one at a time. One case was gone
into, but before the examination was
completed Mr.. Trower offered the fol-
lowing:
Resolved. That the statement OF this
subcommittee be received and fled and
that the matter be dismissed; but that
hereafter the sanitary officers be directed
to report promptly to the president OF the
Board Of Health the failure OF any em-
plOyees OF the force 10 perform their
duty. and that such employees be dis
charged, I'm accordance with the rules
already adopted by this committee
On a recorded vote the resolution was
agreed 10, as follows:
Ayes-Messrs Snead. Davis. Woody,
Donleavy, TrOwer. and Reeve-6.
Noes-Messrs. Hobson. Moore, and Bur
tons.
NO MORE LOAFING.
In order TO prevent any loafing i'm the
department IN future, Mr.. Burton offered
motion, which was unanimously
adopted. that all the carts Of the Health
Department should be numbered In large
red letters, that persons could report
any idleness 20 the property authority.
The contract FOR repairs and improve
ments TO the stable was awarded 10 Mr..
Frank Newman. the lowest bidder.
The committee endorsed the action OF
the President OF the Board Of Health in
the dismissal OF Q. Perros from the force,
and elected James Caudrey in his place.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.