The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-24
MANCHESTER FINANCES.
CITY COTNCIL DEFEEs ACTION ON
CITY Nam fMPROTEMENTs.
The Money Cannot be Raised for That Pur'
pose at This Time-Nsrrow Margin
of the Bonded Indebtedness,
MAvonrsraR BUREAU RIcHNoSD TMrs,

The City Council Of Manchester heiu
an adjourned meeting last night in the
council chamber for the purpose Of re-
ceiving the report OF the Finance COM
| mittee as to the extension and improve
ment Of the present City Hall, recon-
rnended by the Committee on Land and
Buildings at an expense OF 5000
The following members were present.
| Mcssrs. John O'Bricn chairman. j. X
| Green. w. o. Randlett, Matthew Nor
ton. NJ. A. Campbell, W. W. POOL X .
| Patram. y. c. Nelson and John J.. W.
The following report and resolutions
adopted by the Finance Committee were
| presented by Captain Pool, the chairman
and read by the clerk:
| Resolved. That in view of the present
| condition OF the citys finances ana the
| Necessity OF meeting Obligations already
| incurred this committee cannot recon-
| mend the appropriation OF more IMAM
| one thousand dollars for the improve
! mcnt Of the present building occupied by
city officers.
"Resolvcd. That the Finance Committee
recommend TO the Council at the regular
! November meeting. that committee OF
| four. one from each ward, be appointed,
| and TO be known as the committee OF
! retrenchment Tho duties of said COM
| mittcc shall be TO submit 10 the Council
| prior to the regular meeting IN January
| n report as 10 the present financial con-
| dtiOn OF the city for the use OF JUS sew
| eral committee. That the committee FUR
! nish 4 list of the amount OF salary they
deem sufficient for al city officials and
| employees oil the city and other saving OF
| expenses TO tho city. Further, tnat
after the acceptance Of the fixtures OF
expenses hy The Council that any appro-
| praticn in excess OF that amount for
any purpose shall be governed 10y the
| rule in the charter governing appropri-
ations.'
A LENGTHY DEBATE.
Another lengthy debate at once cnsucd
! over the resolutions offered 10y the Iii
nance Committee. and nearly every mem
Der present had his say I'm the matter
Mr. Campbell opposed the proposition
| OF the committee 90 appropriate only N.oV
/ for repairs and alterations. which amount,
/ he said. would bc really thrown away
for il could not accomplish anything ia
/ the line OF permanent improvement.
Mr. Green expressed similar views. and
| criticized the manner in'which money had
/ been previously spent by the city fathers
| for alleged imprOy emclts. which in the
long run I'D not amount 20 anything.
Mr. Nelson also spoke ln favor Of the
| permanent improvements as recommended
/ by the Committee on Land and Buildings
| which, he said, would in the long run
save money 10 the city. ana The amount
now paid fer the rental Of city offices
would. within few years. cover the
sum now asked for an extension Of tho
| City Hall.
Mr. Morton who is n member Of tho
! FINANCE Committee said that that body
| did not see ITS way clear IS 90 where
lne required funds should come from
Ihis was bad time for attemntirc 10
sell city bonds. thing that De believed
| could not Doe done without great sacrifice
me committee had thought that the sum
! OF $lNp was about an that could De ex
! pended al this time for such "a nurtosa
ana they believed that that amount woul3
| ne Auincient 10 fix up the rooms on the
upper noor Of the city Hall so as 10 ac-
coln'iodaie majority OF the city of
Mr. Campbell said he fborebt ,,o
money would be- thrown a,ya,- for D.
Ieil convinced that no mechanic would
undertake the work for that amount
MI fandlett advocated the views ~
iAe committee on Land and RuiIdir9,
| ana said he would not be i'm favor of ans.
| I'P"HS unless the entire structure was
torn down
THE FINANCES OF THE CITY.
Captain Pool in a lengthy statement
salu the Finance Committee had no
opJecuon 10 the recommended improve
ments If the necessary funds could he
secured At the present time. however
the committee was unable 10 see now tbs
required 5000 could be- raised
III was necessary for the rnorro If
Manchester 10 connect their houses with
the sewers that had just been laid. Out
he felt confident that one-half Of thor.
were not i'm condition to do so. II the
Council'was TO foot the bin. then nearly
all the available money would have TO
be used up that had bean laid aside TO
meet the interests Of tho sewer bonds.
| While the people We're willing TO pay
! the sewer tax. they did not have the
! money TO pay the sewer connections.
| The limit of tho bonded indebtness of the
city was $1,000 and 1t could not spend
| any more money. unless the LEGISLATURE
| gave u the necessary authority. The
| Finance Committee was not I'm accord
| with the recommendation Of the Com
| mittee on Land and Buildings. bu.
| IL was an utter impossibliiy 10 carry
| them ont at this time.
Mr. Campbell here took occasion 20
remark that for the past six years the
! plans Of the Committee on Land and
! Buildings had been fOurth-rated every
| time by the Council when they were
asked 90 recommend Improvements TO the
| City Hall If this 81 90 was 10 be OK
pended at this time. then the Council
should specify the manner I'm which this
should be done.
Mr.. Utz thought the Committee on
Land and buildings was right in recon-
mending permanent improvements for
the city Hall. hut at this time IL was
impossible 20 furnish the money 70.
CARRYING ont the work lie cautioned
the Council TO 20 slowly. Hc ala not
himself feel justified to vote for an ap-
pronrlation of over .e0 at this iuucturc
and the city was certainly not able now
TO spend s. O00 or 5000 for % practically
new city Hall He therefore thought
the wisost thing would De 10 postpone the
proposed improvements for a while.
IF the appropriation was made ana the
city should come into financial straits.
tho Finance Committee would be Indirect
~ held responsible FOR TIE spending OF
the money. The money in the city
treasury was needed 10 pay the interest
on the bonds issued for the construction
Of sewers. only "a few people 50 fdv
rad made sewer connections and II was
impossible for the city 20 90 ahead With
new financial enterprises until definite
source OF revenue was established from
the sewers
Mr. Campbell suggested that II might
be well 10 defer action IN the matter Tor
some time 20 as 10 enable the members
4. ~ en-