The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-18

SPECTdL ACCOUNTANT MCARTHf'S
DIsCOTERr.
Needs Of the Street Department for the
Year-Condition of the Machinery at
the Pump House-Othc Matters.

The Council Committee on Grounds
and Buildings held a rather protracted
session in Room No. . Of the City Hall
last evening and disposed Of a great
amount Of routine business. The fol-
loving members were present; Messrs.
Erps lchairmanl Blake. Briggs, King,
Mountcastle. Seay. and snead.
Captain J. H. Lockwood. Of Troop G,
First Regiment Cavalry, appeared be-
fore the committee and asked that quar-
tiers be assigned TO his command In the
new cavalry armory on north Seventh
street The matter had been under con
sderatiOn for some time, ana from the
| assurance from the proper military au-
thOrities that the new organization was
mustered in as "A city troop, although IL
originally succeeded the Henrico Dra-
gOons, and with the acquiescence OF the
/ commander of the regiment and that OF
Troop 4. the committee decided to grant
the request. The City Engineer was in
structed 10 submit at the next meeting
| Of the committee a report as 10 the
| changes, alterations, and additions 10 the
interior Of the building that might be
! necessary TO carry this action Of the
| committee into effect
THE LAW VIOLATED.
Captain Carlton Mccarthy. the expert
city accountant, called attention 10 the
fact that some tme ago request OF
| Captain Cunningham, OF the Malkef
LisAt Guard, Company IS, f'4st iscei-
ment, had been granted by the body, by
which the big drill hall OF the armoIy
on Seventh ana Marshall streets was
rented Ouf IN a IfryeIg firm As nall Tor
bicycle riders 10 practice in, the proceeds
TO be turned into the treasury Of COM
pany Il. Captain Mccarthy stated tnat
I 7ncn piOctto-..-a nnr i. t'Hiirt "it"
the law, because IL involved an unneces-
sary and illegitimatc use Of gas in the
building. lie added that any revenue de-
rived from sucn a source should be turn
ed into the city treasury under the pro-
visions of the city charter, and could not
be used for the benefit Of any company
OF even the regiment itself.
The committee promptly acknowledged
its mistake and rcscindcd its former ac-
ton. MIR. j. Eddns who was present,
was directed TO inform the bicycle con-
Germ 10 vacate The premises Immediately
The question OF insuring the boilers i'm
/ the basement Of the city Hall was next
taken up and after some little discussion
IL was referred 10 a Subcommittee OF
I three. consisting OF Messrs. King, Mount
/ castle. and Blake. with power 10 act.
4 resolution was next considered which
had been referred boy the Council. and
which asks for Information as 20 whether
rooms can Dee set aside in the City Hall
for the special accountant and also for
| the use of the Board Of Election Com
] missiOners. This matter created some
little debate. sir. Seay raising the point
that the Board Of Election Commission
/ ers was a State board and the city was
under no obligation 10 provide quarters
! for the same. Superintendent Calder OF
! the City Hall. stated that the board had.
with the permission Of the committee,
/ some time ago taken possession of one
/ Of the rooms foo the basement of the build
| ing. where the election booths and other
! paraphernalia were stored. The subject
was finally ON Mr. Scay's motion, re-
| ferrod TO the City Attorney. who is TO
| submit an opinion at the next meeting
az 10 whether or not the city is obliged to
furnish the necessary quarters.
MATTER OF APPROPRIATION.
The needs of the department for the
| present year, as compiled by the City
/ Engineers department, which amount 10
! SsI2C6, including $4,000 for payroll ac-
| count, were next discussed Mr. Briggs
/ urged that under the present condition
| quests for new improvements I'm the
| public parks, etc. be dropped. and hc
/ asked that such amounts as $4,000 for
! the establishing of lake In Shields
woods and $4,000 for the establishing OF
a lake west of ;he Boulevard bee stricken
| out. lie thought it was child's play
TO 80 before the Finance Commit
! tee with such demands at this Time
Mr.. Blake who c0incdcd with Mr.
4
never vote for III. appropriation of one
| dollar outside Of the actual income OF
the city. Mr.. Scay dwcit at some length
on the numerous unnecessary appropria-
| tons that had been made in the past
| and IL was finally decided on Nh. Briggs
motion. TO eliminate from the estimate
| to be submitted 10 the finance Commit
| tee all demands for new work. and tina.
| only the amounts actually necessary De
| asked for
On motion Of Mr. Mountcastle. the city
| Engineer was directed 20 submit az the
next meeting an estimate as TO the r.
| pairs necessary 90 the city jail 10 place
It in proper condition lie also called
| for report of the jail physician in Tee
! gard TO the sanitary condition Of that
| institution
Mr.. Mountcastle next stated that he
| had been informed that good deal OF
| gas was wasted i'm the new Howitzcrs'
armory. where "a billiard table was run
late ar night The suggestion that a SUBJ
committee of three be appointed 10 look
into the matter. and to also regulate the
| hours for the use OF that armory This
vas agreed TO, and the Chair appointed
Messrs. Mountcastle, King, and Blake
members of that committee.
The committee adjourned after dispos-
| ing q some routine business Of minor
| impst
VUUP-HOISE WfCHTNERT
| The snperlniennrni Mnkns a parlinl I.c-