The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-14

have recently erected. and stored In
new ana ilimsy structure?
The newspapers describe II as a slow
burning building. Mr. Chairman, am
lawyer and large land owner. In each
OF these capacities, / deprecate and con-
denim the proposition TO remove our rec
ords from a fre.prOof Office 10 a burn
ing building of any kind. l care not
whether II be a quick burning or a slow
burning building. The importance OF
having our records safely kept in fire.
proof building cannot be Over-estimated.
II is incredible to me that you can ser
iously contemplate a change so reckless
and so incompatible with the interests
of our people. one OF the complaints
against the courthouse which is most
persistently urged. is that the Superin-
tcndont Of Public Schools has not SUM-
cient space for the meetings of his school
teachers. Under Colonel Cutshaws plan
he would have a room more than thirty
feet long and more than eighteen feet
wide. for ordinary meetings. while for
extraordinary meetings he could use the
courtroom.
1t is important that his meetings should
have ample room. but il is far more i'm
portant that the children OF the tax
payers should not be deprived OF shoes
winter weather and more important yet
is il that the efficiency Of our public
schools snould be increased. The most
powerful argument used to keep city
families from moving into the county
is that our school system is inferior to
that OF Richmond.
II has been reported TO me that one
Of this board said that was opposed
10 the new courthouse because ! was
opposed TO the public schools. / am op-
posed 10 the new courthouse because
/ am In favor OF the public schools and
of good public schools. l want a high
school now for Tuckahoe district, and
claim that we are much better entitled
TO IL than Fairfield, which already has
one.
You say that you can build this court
house out Of the county revenues with~
out going into debt and without in
crease Of taxes. II that could be done,
how could IL be done? You never nave
any surplus revenues. You could only
DO IL by stinting the public schools or
tho Improvement Of the roads or some
other works Of public Importance. If
YOU have a surplus 10 eXpend, let us
do something 10 benefit the people who
pay the taxes.
Mr. DoOley continued 10 speak at some
length, and in conclusion, said
Ask the people what they want. The
answer will not be a rev and costly pub
lie building, located amidst the bar
rooms Of the city OF Richmond; OF an In
crease Of taxes ard greater comforts for
our public functionaries Oh. no. gentle
men. the answer Will be, we want good
public shosls for our children: we want
efficient protection for life and property:
we want good roads and bridges on which
to haul our produce TO market, and II
there is any surplus. we would Ike 10
have n decrease Of taxation in order that
we. the people. who pay the bills. may
have more of the comforts and conNenien-
cies Of life You, Mr. Chairman, l hope
and trust that 10 may not seem unreas
enable when We are talking OF more COM
forts and conveniencies for our officers
# I suggest there are several hundreds
of poor taxpayers I'm this county who also
want more OF the comforts and conve-
niencies of life, and that those are the
very people who will have 10 be thrust
still deeper into poverty and distress by
this unnecessary expenditure OF the pub
lis funds.
MIR. HECHLER'S EXPLANATION.
A. the suggestion Of Dr Patterson.
Of the county, an exmember OF the
Boardof Chairman Hechler stated why
the Board had decided to build a new
court-hOilse.
He said the Board had employed COM
petent builders 10 examine the building
and they had pronounced IL unfit TO be
repaired
lie further said that il was o~''~o''' in
adequate for the purposes required OF IT,.
lie stated that it could be built without
increasing taxation, and cited the fact
that the new Jail and present system of
Of roads I'm HgnrtgO
county had been secured to the county
by the Board for $4,000 and that they
had been paid for and the taxes had not
been increased.
Mr.. Hechler also took occasion 10 vim
dicate the recent action OF the Board.
He said that they had never met behind
locked doors as had been charged; that
all OF their meetings were public but
that the doors were closed upon one oc-
casi1n while the bids of the different con-
tractors were being considered
Mr. Carl Rheurmund, the architect,
whose plan was adopted. was presnt,
and at Chairman Hechler's request start
ed 10 show his plans 10 the committee.
Mr.. r. b. Chsffin asked him IL ne had
made his detsiled plans and specifications
and he replied that he had net, ana his
plane We're thcrupon not examined by the
OTHER EXPRESSIONS.
Mr. Joseph Bryan. who was also pres
ent. said he was in favor OF anything for
the improvement Of the county but that
lust AT present he could not advocate an
unne, essary expenditure Of public money.
He admitted that the present building was
a reproacl 10 the county. but he thought
IL should be kept in better condition.
number Of other gentlemen spoke along
the same line, and ther were several heat
ed discussions.
After the rentlemen had all been heard,
Mr.. Rose put his motion and II was car
ried. He also moved that Mr.. Rheur-
mund be paid for any expense he had
incurred in getting up his plans, but in
this he was opposed by Mr.. Frazier, who
said ne did not know what Mr.. Rheur-
mund's bill might be, so the matter was
laid on the table.