The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-11
rhE CITY CHARTER DISCUSSED.

10 THE EDITOR OF IHE IIMES:-Wlll
you kindly permit the use of . portion OF
your columns for the purpose laying be-
fore the public certain statements Of
facts in relation to the amendments to
the city charter o before the legisla-
ture OF the State of Virginia for oonsid-
GRAFTON?
Since the interval between the adop-
tion OF the amendments by the City
Council Of Roanoke up to this time the
undersigned understanding that certain
representations have been made to Ger.
tain citizens that the amendments to
said charter as they were passed by the
City Council, were not the exact amend.
ments that were sent TO she general
assembly, and In order to set the public
right upon this matter we desire 20 say
that the clerk of the City Council
prepared said amendments very care
fully, as they had passed Council, and
the same before being aent by mail to
3 edmond were carefully gone over by
the chairman of the committee on
amendments to the city charter and
found to be correct to the best Of his
knowledge and belief; and therefore any
representations to the contrary by any
individual are unworthy of considera-
ton. And If any citizen desires fur
Their proof in respect to the truth of this
statement we cordially invite him to
make his own investigation before
signing petitions, the securing OF names
to which depends Upon misrepresenta-
ticns of this kind.
The work performed by the commit
tee on amendments to the city charter,
as has been stated publicly upon the
floor Of the Council on different occa-
SONS, has been done conscisntiously,
with the point In view that the best
interests Of the city should always be
subserved. It WAS 8 labor whish, the
members Of that committee know full
we'll, involved careful investigation and
consideration, and the result was not
arrived at in q moment. The charters
Of five or six of the most progressive
cities Of the State Of Virginia were
carefully examined; and information as
respects the different systems having
been obtained from public officials and
private citizens from several of said
cities, showed that the system which
has 4b5en In vague in the city of Ros-
roke, has not OILY been o system
which compared with the other progress
Give cities and did not accomplish the
results which those cities accomplished
for a much less expense. The COM
mittee. therefore, recommended to the
City Council certain amendments to
the present charter, which, in their es-
timntion, would closely accomplish tho
results required, chief of which being
the creation OF the Office of collector OF
city taxes and placing this oflce and
the Offices of commissioner OF revenue
and the city treasurer, as far as the
collection Of taxes and the compensa.
tions to be paid those Offices was con-
cerned. under the direct control of the
City Council.
nc Far h1aI a q thn 1afErn ~,.k - fCno
the finance committee of the City Coun-
Gil, after acquiring thorough inforna-
tion in regard to the finances of the city
of Roanoke, and after having ad opted
certain measures, which resulted In the
cutting down of expenditures in oil Of
the departments OF the city government
which could be controlled by tho Coun-
Gil, had spoken in meeting assembled in
regard to the very amendments which
were proposed and adopted by the City
Council, that ia, cutting down the ex-
penses of the two Offices above men
toned; aH they did not see and very
properly, too, why the expenses of all
the other departments of the city gov
ernment should be reduced and these
two Offices remain undisturbed.
When this matter first presented it
self to the finance committee as referred
20 above, two points presented them
selves very strongly, n being the
urgency OF increasing taxation or q re-
duction OF expenses. The committee
decided to reduce expenses. It Is O
w~ell.known fact to all members OF the
City Council, and would become q we'll
known fact to all the citizens of this
city. after inquiry and investigation,
that the amounts Of money paid for con-
Quoting the business Of the city and the
SEof re RI fhnun ku,N DfAnno To 1xr4.lts--A
and far In excess of services rendered,
and the proportion the CITY has to pay
far in excess OF her ability.
The committee knew that they could
not disturb the portion paid by the
State, nor did they wish to; but. with
their knowledge Of city ~affsirs, they
did think that by q determined effort,
such as the one now presenting itself,
the opportunity is at hand to materially
decrease the amount OF money paid for
conducting the city's business, and at
Use Same lime have the work OF the
city performed in as good shape, IL not
better, for less money than heretofore.
BY saying this the committee did not
wish TO be understood that 1t was their
desire nor do they think it was the de-
sire of the City Council, as far as they
know, to 30 materially red uce the com
pensation paid to either of these offices
as to make it q nero nominal aft fair; on
tho other hand, they know 1t is the de-
sire OF the Council to provide salaries
for each OF these offices commensurate
with the work lone and the RESPONSE
bility attached thereto.
The committee are in possession at
the present time of information leading
them to believe that q determined OBJ
position to the will OF the Council in
respect to the passage of the amend
ments through the State Legislature
/ will ha NADIA rhia ho nor.nn. Ill 49,