The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-17
WORK OF The CITY COUNCIL.
The Special Joint Committee Begins The
Task Of Reorganization.
SHIPPING OF BROAD STREET TRACKS,
The street Committee Adopts substitute
Ordinance for Approsai-free Water
for Hospitals Committee on
Iirrt Market.

The special ioint committee o. the city
Council. appointed under "a resolution Of
fored hv Mt. George y. Davis. for the
purpose Of rccapitmating the work done
oy me CITY Council since July 1. 1891, up
10 the present time. held It's iiTst meet
ing last evening IN room No IL Of tho
CITY Han There were present Messrs.
George IL Davis. James Casne, and
Joseph Walcrstcln. OF the Common Coun-
Oh. and Mr. r. NJ. Noble. of the Board
OF Aldermen. city Clerk b. I. August
stated that Captain J.. j. Reeve was alb
sent owing io a previous engagement.
CITY Attorney G.. y. Meredith and Spc-
clal Accountant Carlton Mccarthy were
also present on special invitation.
ON motion OF AIR. Caskic. Mr.. Davis
was elected chairman, and he then briefly
stated that hc had offered his resolution
in order that the work Of the CITY Coun-
ca mieht Doe rccapitulated 50 as 10 SHOW
the city Of Richmond what really had
been done.
The city Attorney being asked to sug-
gest something as 20 how the work Nigh;
bee carried out 10y the committee I'm the
most satisfactory manner, stated that
the committee would find that the very
narrative Of tho work done by the mem
hcrs of the Council would by no means
represent The truth because the largest
amount ~ work was always done by the
committees. Evcn II the number Of Sos
sions held by the various committees was
mentioned. 70 would not show the amount
OF work done. he referred TO the Com
rniffces on Retrcnchm.nt and Reform.
on Finance. ON Streets. Oh Health, all Of
which had labored very hafo since they
had been In existence, ana ne called at
'niion that the work done by the Council
itsot was "a comparatively small matter
MISREPRESENTATION.
Mr. Walersteiu called attention 10 the
tact that during the past twelve months
q good deal of public discussion had been
held as 10 the condition Of affairs in this
city. and if had been I'm part misrepro-
scented. although this had been done I'M
Intentionally u had been often asserted
that the affairs Of tho City Gas-Works
were rotten 10 the CORE and yet on De-
cemntr lst Che net receipts Of the works !
Dad been $500 during the pas, twelve |
months. II was true this amount would |
not make any allowance for interest ON |
in" capital invested. but surprising the |
'as-N orks represented value Of 81 900 |
"N. AZ per cent interest there would /
ne still LETT n surplus Of 5000 He also |
pointed ont that the present Council had |
inaugurated better method in the dis |
irinution Of tho money appropriated for |
street purposes. IL had brought about |
reduction in tho expenses Of the CITY |
Almshouse. 10 had cut down the cost OF |
tho electric light 20 the city about $4,000 |
efc.
Mr. Noble called attention 10 the faci |
that there was still large waste i'm tie
ise oi gas 10y tho various city depart
ments and Mr. Wall rstein added that
me manufacturing alone OF the gas used |
'n the city Hall during the past twelve |
months had cost the city S2S0.
THE REAL AMOUNT.
city Clerk y. T. August who was ask
Pod no give his views on The subject. stated
Dat no matte: what report would be sub
uItted by The committee 10 would not bee
500 to do The members of the Council |
pffic" because most OF tho COMMITTEES
'crN was merely OF "a preparatory nature.
'ha the really effective work was only |
lone hy the Council itself Therefore IL
ds Impossible to ascertain absolutely |
Doe real amount ~ work done. 10 being
uiiN out Of the question to show MP the
eai value Of The committee work. As
ODD INC work aurc 10y ihe Council alone
i-ee July j. 1884. City Clerk August show
'i the committee over 40 large-sizcd pages
.f resolutions adopted hy both branches
nl a'moVcd hy the Mayor. and over 20
'ar"s oi ordinances passed in the same
Special Accountant Mccarthy. being ask
I Tor his opinion. said chat be deemed IL
Important fur tle committee 10 ascertain
hr t.nct condition of the finances of the
ity 600 July 3. 1894. the status Of it's bond
% and floating debt. and a comparative
iatemcat for thc present time.
Ctv-AttornSy Meredith said that nc
ould truthfuDy state that since he had |
Dcu CITY Attorney no had never seen a
ly Council whose members worked hard
r ana more faithfully than the present
mes. ln this statement Mr. Meredith was
Hilv corrohoratcd by tho members Of the
Icss. whose good or bad lot 10 had been
% $50 up with tho committees or through !
he sessions of the two branches OF the
ity Council neht after night
Mr.. Wallerstein also pointed out that
he'd been charged that the city was
tcr-reachius its means hy some $4,000.
nd yet the one fact. FOR instance. was
'st entirely sight OF, that during the
asst year OF SO the city Collector had
ms amounting 90 $1,000 for street i'm
rrrcments where me abutting property
wners declined 20 pay on account Of
.rtain defects IN the existing law.
FIVE TB-CONMfTTEES
After some further discussion Mr. Cas-
he suggested that the committee divide
SELF into 1--WE subcommittee 90 tackle
ie work before them in the most sys-
matte and practical manner. each sub
mmiiteo 20 consist OF one member The
rst one 20 report the action OF the
onncil In regard TO all financial tranSac-
ons. the second 20 eX, mine the record
the city Council from July T. 1884,
july I. 1896 the third 10 examine the
cord % the Council from July ]. 1895 up
rhc present time. the fourth TO examine
10 work done 10y the various commit
los. tire NTH tho chairman 70 report
ly other matters not included In the
crk Of the other subcommittee.
This was agreed 10. and the chairman {
,polntcd Tho members OF the COMMITTEES '
take charge OF the various divisions as 8
lb-committers, Ia tho following order las q
incd by Mr. Carslles resolution. MIR. c
lskie, Mr.. Noble. Mr.. Reeve. Mr. Wal
lsicin. and Mr. Davis. I
The meeting then adjourned until Tues {
49, March 5ist. when the reports OF the ?
% ious subcommittee are expected to I
presented. 3