The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-03


When President Buckner called the
City Council to order last night at 8
O'clock nineteen members responded to
their names, the only member absent
being Mr.. Stevenson, from tho Fourth
ward. There was also quite number
of citizens present pursuant to the res-
olution CT Coun Gil, requesting their at
tendance. Among the citizens present
were Fl. S. Trout, G. B. Moomaw, Col.
Thos. Lewis, j. II. Cutchin, c. G.
Shockey, A. b. Antrim, Roy b. Smith,
T. t. Fishburne, E. d. Crabill, Fl. G..
Davies, D. s. Good, w. NJ. Dunlap, T.
w. Spindle, John D. Carr, e. j. Rowan
aud others.
y The clerk read tho resolution of
Council and the call OF tho president
published in the paperd Of the city,
nsktDg citizsns to he present, after
which On motion OF Mr.. Loughery The
new charter WAC taken up for consider.
alton, the Council being in committee
of tho whole.
On motion Of Mr.. Terry all citizens
fore Council for consideration under the
rule.
A snag was struck the first section
the Council undertook to amend. This
was section 4. The smendmett pro.
vided for tho insertion of the words, "a
collector of city tsxes" aud the striking
out OF the words police JUSTICE"
practically creating one office and
abolishtng another. In the considera-
ton OF this eection the standing OF the
Council was fully demonstrated in 80
far as the views OF the mem ers were
concerned.
the test was fret made on the Office
OF police justice; which the charter
committee proposed to abolish. Mr..
Terry moved to insert tho words police
justice and gave his reasons for 80 do
ing, that he did not believe that COM
bination of the two offices would pro-
mote the good government of the city
nor work TO the advantage Of the police
force. he believed that the present
System of running the police court and
managing tho police force wac the best
TINT could be devised for the city.
Mr.. Loughery, the chairman OF tho
charter committee, nde quite lengthy
argument on the preaent condition Of
the city. He spoke of it's Strengthened
financial AFFAIRS showed that the Coun-
Gil had been comps lied TO borrow
money, and that unless the current ex
penses were reduced the city could not
hope to get on It's feet soon in tho way
OF finances. This WAS one OF the plans
the Council should sdopt to reduce OK
penditures. He was satisfied that the
mayor Gould perform the duties now
vested i'll him and discharge thoae of
rnlf,Q ioptfpa 1on !, Il T..
salary and saving tho city from $500 to
500 per nnnum.
Ear. Wilson argued that the duties de.
volving upon the TWO Offices were in
compatible; that good mayor would
not always make good police jussca
Ito did not think there WAS any economy
In consolidating the two offices, az no
mau who took the position Of mayer
would DO willing to perform police JUS
tice duties" unless he was paid an
amount commensurate with the duties.
Mr.. Buckner spoke in favor Of the
amendment He called attention to the
pressing needs OF economy in the
finances OF the city government, and
stated that the revenue was hardly suf-
ficie mt to meet the present running ex-
penses He stated that st present the
mayor gets $50 per month and the police
justice $50, while number of years ago
the lamented William Carr performed
all the duties now devolving upon the
Office Of mayor and police Justice for the
sum of $40. and then $50 per month. and
no better mayor ever filled the position.
II. 8. Trout was called upon to ex-
press his Vows. He complimented the
Council in ita efforts to economics, and
said that he had confidence in what lis
members were doing; that he believed
all WAS being done for the best intereste
of the city. He did not propose TO ssy
anything on the pending amendment.
but there was ma ter which would
come up later, on which he would like
to BIS heard.
The vote was then taken on Mr.,
Terry's amendment to insert the words
police JUSTICE" which was agreed to by
the following vote:
Boehm, Coulbourn, Fox, Guy, Hawkins,
Richmond, mcNamee, Mays, Oney,
Terry, Wilson-l3.
Noeg-Messrs Casey. High, Longhery,
McClellsnd, Starkey and Buckner-6
a. B. Antrim submitted suggestion
to the section under consideration, pro-
viding that the words. "a collector O,
city taxes shall be stricken out, which
WAS moved by Mr.. Wilson. This also
opened debate again, and brought out
facts and figures In relation to oity rev.
enue which sometimes caused huah TO
fall upon the assem bled citizens, while
the high-keyed tonos of the chairman
went on telling what the treasurer re-
ceived in commissions, what amount of