The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-15
TO CUT DOWN EXPENSES.
COMMITJEE ON HEALTH WILL RE-
DUCE THE FORCE.
Testing Car Fenders-Canuot Recapituiate
the Work To Retain the Market Tax.
other Council Matters

Tho Committee on Health held its regu-
lar semi-mOnthly meeting In room No.
IL Of the City Hall last evening, with the
following members present: Messrs.
Reeve chairman. Don Leavy, Hobson.
Davis. Moore, and Williams.
The payroll Of the department was APP
proved and the usual number Of bills were
ordered TO be paid.
Mr.. Davis. IN abiding TO the death OF
Mr.. Trower. moved that a subcommittee
be appointed to draw up suitable resolu-
tons which was agreed TO. The Chair
appointed Messrs. Davis, HObson, ana
Snead members OF that committee, with
instructions 10 report the resolutions at
the next meeting.
DR. Oppenhimcr stated that In order
of Health, submitted the following state
mcut as 10 the financial condition Of the
department:
Payroll account-Appropriat!o $4,000
expended. si2.3Oi.29, uneXpended balance
on hand. S22.O95.71.
Expense ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS $1,000;
expended. 81 1875; unexpended balance,
s.. s52o5.
Cremat lry account-Appropriat s.
500: exp pended. $i75.55; unexpended bal
ancc, -. 2l.3J
Dr. Oppenfmer stated that in order
TO cut down the expenses Of the depart
ment, it would be necessary 10 DO away
with the substitute list. which fact
would save the city about 1851. Later
il would perhaps also be necessary TO
discharge between ten or twelve men OF
the regular force. lie also suggested
to stop the hauling Of garbage on sun
days from the markets. etc. which would
make another saving OF Sdi3.JO per year.
Mr.. Davis expressed his regrets that
he would be compelled TO vote IN favor OF
reduction of the force, which would
impair the health Of the city OF Rich
mond. Thanks 10 the Efforts of esDe.
cially the chairman Of the committee
and OF the president Of the Board Of
Health. the sanitary condition OF the
city had been greatly improved. and the
death rate had been lowered to such
an extent that Richmond now occupied
fourth place on the mortality list.
Mr. Hobson expressed similar views 10
Mr.. Davis. while Mr.. Don Leaty desired
to be placed on record as being opposed
70 the discharge Of one single man on
the force Of the department. lie thought
the Council practced false economy by
cutting down the Health department,
and there were other departments whore
a curtailing of the expenses could better
toe carried out: for instance, the City En-
gineer's department
Mr. Davis. i'm speaking Of the threaten
ing of contagious diseases. referred TO
the cholera scare OF last year. when the
Council readily appropriated $1,000 OF
which amount the committee finally re-
turned about $4,000 into the city treas
ury
Or. Oppenhimer stated that there were
IS men on the payroll Of the department.
t. of whom cid not work on the streets.
This left only - men for cleaning OF the
streets, anu il the population Of the city
was estimated only at 1000, one man
would be left for every thousand inhabl-
tants TO remove all the ashes, garbage
clean culvcrts and streets, etc. In fact
however, the population was nearly
10000.
Mi Davis added that the city of At
lanta, which was OF about the same size
as the city Of Richmond. employed 800
hands I'm the street cleaning department,
and the appropriation for the latter was
$1,000.
On motion of Mr. Hobson. the COM
mttee decided to do away with the sub
stitutes and the hauling of garbage on
Sundays for the time being.
DR. Oppcnhimer stated that there We're
still some bills unpaid from the last year
and that the department had Overdrawn
its account, according 10 the statement
of the City Auditor, amounting in all TO
S1Oj7.27.
Mr. Hobson moved that resolution be
submitted 10 the committee. authorizing
the committee TO pay the amount Of the
expense account of the department for
the present year.
This was agreed TO- and the committee
adjourned after transacting good deal
of routine business Of minor Importance.