Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-17
REVIEW OF IT'S WORK
Councils Special Committed Adopts a
Plan for Getting Up Facts.
GIVEN TO suD-coMMITTEEs.
One of These to Take Up Each
Drunch Of the Uudertaking-Iins
been an Industrious Body-othcr
Meetings Last Might.

The first meeting Of the special joint
committee of the City Council. appoin'eu
under a resolution offered by Mr.. George
Il. Davis. to recapitulate the work accom-
plished by the city's legislative body since
July l. 1894, was held at the City Han
last night. There were present Messrs'
George b. Davis. James Caskie, ana
| Joseph Wallerstein, Of the Common Coun-
Gil, and lIr. L. NJ. Noble. of the Board
OF Aldermen. City-Clerk Il. I. August
stated that Captain +. p. Reeve was
absent. owing to a previous engagement.
Clty-Attorney c. V. Meredith ana Spe-
cial-Accountant Carlton Mccarthy were
also present. by special invitation.
On motion Of Mr.. Caskie Mr.. Davis
was elected chairman, and h. briefly
stated that he offered his resolution In
order that the work Of the City Council
might be recapitulated so as to show
the city of Richmond what really had
been done.
The City Attorney being asked to sug-
gest something as 10 how the work might
be carried out by the committee In the
most satisfactory manner stated that the
committee would find that the very mar
rative Of the work done by the members
OF the Council would by no means repre-
sent the truth, because the largest
amount Of work was always done by the
committees, If the number OF sessions
held by the various committees was men
toned II would not show the amount of
work done. He referred 10 the commit
tees on Retrenchment and Reform. on
Finance. on Streets, on Health, all of
which had labored very hard since they
had been in existence, and he called at
tention to the fact that the work done
by the Council itself was a comparatively
small matter.
THE GAS-WORKS
Mr.. Wallersten called attention to the
fact that during the past twelve months
a good deal Of public discussion had been
INDUCED in az TO the condition OF affair
in this city, and II had been I'm part
misrepresented, although this last had
been done unintcntiC sally. 1t mad been
often asserted that the affairs OF the
city Gas-Works were rotten to the core,
and, yet, on December LIST. the net
receipts OF the works had been $4,000
during the preceding twelve months.
1t was true, he said, that this amount
would not make any allowance for In
NNAN'N VII eiAN NHIlA1i llNfrltus nut sun
posing the gas-works represented value
of 100000. at per cent. interest, there
would be still LETT a surplus OF 5000
Mr.. Wallerstein also pointed out that
the present Council had inaugurated a
better method IN the distribution Of the
money apportiOned for street purposes
II had brought about reduction IN
the expenses OF the city elmshouse. and
II had cut down the cost Of the electric
light TO the city about $4,000, etc.
Mr.. Noble called attention 10 the fact
that there was still large waste in thu
use Of gas by the various city depart
ments, and Mr.. Wallerstein added that
the manufacture alone OF the gas used
in the City Hall during the past twelve
months had cost the city $500.
City-Clerk August, who was asked to
give his views on the subject stated
that. no matter what report should be
submitted by the committee II woulc
not tssgin 10 do the members OF the Coun-
Gil justice, because most of the com
mittee work was merely OF prepara-
tory nature, and the really effective
work was only done by the Council t.
self. Therefore. It was impossible 10
ascertain absolutely the real amount Of
work done. IL being out OF the question
TO show up the real value of the COM
mittee work As TO the work done ny
the Council alone since July |, 1894. Mr.
August showed the committee over i20
large-sized pages Of resolutions adopted
by both branches, and approved by the
Mayor. and over 200 pages Of ordinances
passed in the same manner.
MAKE \ COMPARATIVE STATE
MENT
Special-AccoJntant Mccarthy. being
q, III
ed 1t important for the committee
to ascertain the exact condition Of
the finances of the city on July /. 1884,.
the status of it's bondhd and floating
debt. and to then compile compare
tive statement for the present time
City-Attorney Meredith said that he
could truthfully state that while lie had
been City Attorney he had never seen
a City Council whose members worked
harder, and more faithfully than the
present one.
After some further discussion Mr. Cas-
kie suggested that the committee divide
itself into five subcommittee to tackle
the work before them I'm the most syste-
matte and practical manner. each sub
committee 10 consist OF one member
one TO report the action of the Council
in regard 10 all financial transactions
another 10 examine the record of the
City Council from July l, 1884, TO July !.
1895: another to examine the record OF
the Council from July !. 1895. to the pres
ent time; another to examine the work
done by the various committees. and an
other (he chairman) to report any other
matters not included in the work OF the
other subcommittee.
1t was agreed to, and the chairman
appointed the members of the committee
10 take charge OF the various sub-com-
mittees In the following order (as named
by Mr.. Caskle's resolution): Mr. Caskie,
Mr.. Noble, Mr. Reeve. Mr. Wallerstein.
and Mr. Davis. The meeting adjourned
to Tuesday, March 3fst.