Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-16


more attention. and he could not travel
around FOR the city without remumera-
ton.
Mr.. Pollock opposed the motion upon
ire ground that the ward members were
supposed TO be acquainted with the de-
taiS OF all the work for which requests
We're submitted to the committee.
MT. B'oomberg stated that he had
often voted for matters when he would
not have done so had he been better ac-
qu0inted with the nature of the work
required There had been too much de-
ference paid by members to each
ether. and ore ward -nenber had voted
Tor measures introduced by others In the
expectation that a similar courtesy
would be extended when occasion rose.
The motion was lost. Mr.. Bloomberg
alone voting in the affirmative.
Joint Session with Health.
After some business Of minor i'm
portance had been transacted compre-
hending the paving OF streets. erection
OF awnings. and other matters. the com
mittee adjourned until S:l5 o'clock. i'm
order 10 meet the Health Committee in
joint session. That committee was rep
resented by Messrs. Hobson chairman.
Cuichins Williams. Moore. and Burton.
The following resolution was pre-
ssnted to the bodies for their considera-
uon and action:
BE IL resolved by the Council of the city
of Richmond (the Board of Aldermen con-
curring). That the joint resolution ap-
proved the 18th day of November. 1881.
as amended the 18th day of December,
1889. concerning the pay Of the hands IN
the Health and Streets departments, be
amended and reresoived so as 10 read as
follows:
I. Whenever hands employed in the
Street and Health departments attend
| Toll-cal. and are prevented from work
| by inclement weather. they shall be dis
missed for the day and receive pay TOT
one-fourth of day. The hands engaged
in digging sewers shall be considered as
part Of the Street Department. and shall
report for roll-call every morning unless
notified TO the contrary by the Engineer S
| Department
,. This resolution shall be in force from
! its passage"
This resolution had been referred to
the Committee on Retrenchment and
Reform by the Board of Aldermen. 1t
was returned TO the Board March g. 1897.
by the Retrenchment Committee. re-
ferring 4. TO the Committee on Streets
and Health.
WHY IT WAS OFFERED.
Mr.. Cutchins stated that he had
originally INTRODUCED this resolution. and
he had done so because he had seen city
| employees shovelling away snow during
snow-storm, and asking them why
they were so employed. had been told
that there was no work for them 10 do
when the weather was so inclement, and
they were obliged to kill time in that
way.
DR.. Oppenhimer gave the committee
| information as to the rules and regula-
tions governing the employees Of the
Health Department.
nN
Ebe and Bahen. on the ground that
the laborer should not be Disseminated
against. and that if clerks and others
were paid. rain or shine. so should the
poor man. whose remuneration for
manual labor was infinitely less than
that Of his clerical bother.
Mr.. Cutchins said ne had no intention
10 do any one an injustice by his resolu-
ton and he had never been able to see
that it would 1t merely provided that
the city should not pay for labor that
| was not given.
MIR. Carter opposed the resolution, and
said he was prepared to prove that the
city had never saved money by contract
labor.
a SUBSTITUTE PROPOSED.
MI Hobson offered this substitute:e"Be
il ordained by the Council Of the city
of Richmond. That II shall be the duty
of the Engineer of the city and the
President Of the Board of Health TO deter
mine whether or not the hands in the
Street and Health departments. respec-
lively shall work or be paid on days
that are inclement. All ordinances. parts
of ordinances. or resolutions in conflict
with this ordinance are hereby repealed
The amendment was put and lost. The
original motion was lost by eight mega
I tiva votos 10 five affirmative
on Mr. Pollock's motion, the resolution
was referred TO the City Council with a
recommendation that it do not pass.
Back on street Work Again.
The Joint Committee then adjourned,
and the Committee on Streets reconvened.
Colonel Cutshaw suggested that the COM
mittee recommend to the Council the
hearing of allegations for the cOnstruc-
ton of a new culvert from Eleventh
street. down Cary to Twelfth, thence to
the dock. The matter was referred 10
the City Engineer by the committee al
its last meeting, and his suggestion was
adopted.
The Engineer then announced that the
sum of Si3.fS in small amounts due to
employees. but uncalled for. had accu-
mulated during the past nine years. lie
suggested that the sum should be covered
into the Treasury. and credited TO sus-
pense account, and be duly paid when
satisfactory proof of identity is offered
by any claimant. The sums range from
Is cents upwards. a motion TO this ef
feet was adopted
no MONEY FOR PAY-ROLLS.
Colonel Cutshaw stated that the hands
and carts payroll had been in the neigh
borhood OF $4,000 to $1,000 each year.
This year the department received only
half this amount, with the stipulation
that $3.50 should be expended by July lst
and $3.50 during the latter half OF tie
year
To-day" continued the Engineer. "the
pay-rol stands overdrawn by the sum
of Sl5l q. and there are no available funds
10 pay the men or to keep the mules.
The Auditor has declined to pay the over
draft. The hands will have TO be dis
charged tomorrow morning unless some
provision is made. If this IS done. we
shall be absolutely cut of, and shall not
have man TO take the mules out to
pasture. TO remain there until July 1st."
Colonel Cutshaw suggested that the
committee should have recourse to the
sum OF $4,000. which stood TO the credit
of streets generally 1t had been esti-
mated that "a sum in the neighborhood Of
$4,000 would be available to the com
noittee. OF this sum the committee couli
use 5000, which. it was thought. would
carry the hands and carts until July lst,
when the other appropriation would be
available Furthermore. the Engineer
suggested that the small repair force.
which was engaged in the patching and
mcnding Of sidewalks should be paid out
of the appropriation for sidewalks. in
stead of being a charge on the hands
and carts. This would relieve the latter
fund Of a sum Of about Sl.5O) year.
Mr. Bloomberg moved that the present
repair force. consisting OF four hands
and two carts. be continued. and be paid
..-l LII. -.