The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-12

came I'D. were introduced, and upon being
invited 10 JOIN the Board, accepted.
7, w,s then necessary TO call carriage
for the Governor and take him up, which
was done. N.
As FOR the beds at the fre-alarm Once
NJ, v,ore purchased at an assignee
sale for less than billed for at tne lac'oi
The class of goods was purposely se'ec'rN
90 be in lseoping with the general tuIIhsh'
inga of tho CITY Hall. and especlaliy III an
oGice i'm which one day, alone TINS Neeh'
4S9 visitors registered and over -'VV ieo-
ple have inspected them since they We
purchased. The beds are used regularly
every night by the men on duty anu lile
price named includes the cost oil Ihd'''e ''-
e.. etc. , a.. .,o,os,,,.,,
70 consolidate appropriations they always
appealed to the Council who cheertuly
complled without question or hesitation.
THE money from overdrawn payrols
mt in the private bank account was
none, for fines reported after the payroll
had been drawn and i'm both Instances
was offered 10 the City Auditor VINO
stated that he had no account to when
he could credit IT and refused to accept
IL.
THE INCREASED EXPENDITURE.
The statement that the Board IS spend
ing more money for tho maintenance OF
the Department IS misleading as the IN
crease has been by direct vote or inc
Council In increasing the number OF sla-
toned men in the Department ana also
the increase Of the pay OF hremen, out not
ono cent increase has been made IN the
expense account. -
In the matter OF trading, when the
Accountant calls "Pernicious," but little
exclamation is necessary. II we have an
old horse and must get n new one, Which
we viii say is offered to us for so ana
the old horse then the new horse COSTS
tho deuartrnent only 80, but on the other
hand. IL we must pay 500 for the new
horse and turn the $50 for the old morse
into the City Treasury. the Department
practically pays $50 for the new horse.
At this rate you can readily see that OUT
little progress can be made unless the
lamentations arc largely increased.
The Accountant IS right in stating that
In one place on the record the city At
tornc1 told the Board that they had no
right TO elect a physician TO the Depart
rent. but he forgot 10 mention that. later
on. the Attorney said we could elect him
II the force would voluntarily pay him,
which is done by every man In the De
partment.
We desire now 20 close this statement
with the statement that the Accountant
made 10 the Board at their meeting
March 23d. 1896. COPIED from the record
and ask a generous public 70 reconcile, IL
they can the spirit Of the two.
Concerning tho accounts he could tes-
tify 10 the care and accuracy with which
they had been kept and didn't see how
anyone could be otherwise than pleased
with the exhibit.
IL appeared 10 him that every cent re-
ceived was carefully entered on one side
and every expenditure as carefully enter
ed on the other side, while all vouchers
were carefully. accurately, and neatly
kept.
In fact the Board is in a position TO
show the record of their accounts IN de-
tail, which OF itself is a safeguard against
any charge OF dishonesty. and IL the
money had been his personal property he
would feel that every cent had been
carefNly aud properly accounted for.
lie further stated that while the above is
true. and the Board had with the best in
tes.on and rSiult. carefully and iu-
dicially received and expended this money
they had nevertheless dore so without
the authority OF the law although he
would confess that the act creating the
Board seems 10 give II much broader
powers than the Council itself.
BY order OF the Board of Fire Commits
sioners,
GEORGE e. PAINTER,
Secretary.