Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-12
WANT MORE LIGHT.
urrnrNcuMnNT MEMBERS cRrrI-
ciSE THE ENGINEER.
BROAD STREET NATTER is UP AGAIN.
The Mayor II the Subject OF some
Discussion other Departmental
Duties Inquired into-James river
and Relief OF Poor.

ment and Reform met In Room NO OF
The City Hall last night; with the fol-
lowing members present: Messrs. Allen
fchairman). Rountree. Noble. Ebel, Zim-
hermann. HARRISON. Starke, Jones. and
King.
The session was taken up with the eN-
animation Of the head janitor Of the city
Hall. the oiler. the Superintendent OF the
Almshouse, the steward Of the same
institution. and the captain OF the Guys
tug. No reductions were made
There was a spirited discussion OF the
failure of Mayor Taylor TO attend the
meetings OF the committee, when invited
10 do so. and Colonel Cutshaw was some
what criticised in connection with as
cussion Of the rough condition OF Broad
street. caused by the laying of the four
tracks.
BEGINS ITS WORK.
The meeting was called to order al S'So'
and the minutes the last meeting were
read and approved.
There was some discussion as to the
mode Of procedure. and, upon motion OF
MIR. Rountree IL was determined TO near
heads OF the various city departments
summoned TO appear at the meeting IN
the order in which they appeared on the
docket.
The head janitor Of the City Hall Mr.
s j. Wright, was first called. de pre-
scented a written statement Of his duties
He said he was supposed TO work nine
hours a day. but that his duties were so
numerous and so onerous that II TOOK
him at least twelve hours every day 10
get through with them. he had 10 Keep
90. ola
cept the Fire-Alarm Department, engine
room and Police Court Mr.. Wright
salary is $50 a month; he has six assist
ants. and including the court janitors,
there are twelve in the City Hall
Afr. Toler. the oiler, was next called
He said he was on duty from A. NJ.
10 T. g. or o'clock in Ge afternoon.
He has charge Of all the radiators, and
assists the engineer. His salary Is SO
a month. There was very little oiing
TO be done in the City Hall lie could
do II all I'm an hour and a half. He oils
all the machinery and elevators. He was
the first oiler appointed in the Hail. His
position was misnamed. He not only
assisted the engineer but the fireman,
too, and sometimes runs an elevator. He
was really a helper In the engine-room,
and did odd jobs around the building.
JAMES-RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
Captain Thomas Cunningham. COM
mandant of the citys tug, stated that his
duties occupied his time from a. NJ.
TO Il. NJ. His salary was 800 a month.
His duties were 10 attend the dredging
machine, mud scows. and 10 help YES
sells In distress. lie also had to tow yes
sells and assist commerce as far as lay
in his power At times. when freshets
prevailed. his duties were more onerous,
and occupied his time day and night.
His jurisdiction extended from the locks
down.
THE CITY ALMSHOUSE.
Mr.. George b. Davis, Superintendent Of
the City Almshouse, stated that he was
on duty ali the time and subject to call
DAY or night He had two assistants.
His salary. he said is 1920 a year with
house rent free There were 1850 fami-
lies being supplied with meal and wood,
which is sawed at the almshouse. In
reply TO Mr.. Rountree he said that
there had been some complaints about
the delivery of the wood, but these grew
less frequent as the men became familiar
with their duties. The wood is sawed by
contract at 40 cents a cord. Last year
S8S cords had been given away. This
year about COO or zoo cords had been dis
tributed. Tramps and other inmates were
employed TO saw the wood, thereby
saving money to the poor. a large
amount of meal was distributed through
the almshouse. In January, 1886, $ilS.l3
was expended for this purpose, and in
January 1887, $313.S0. In February, 1886,
Si5l 50 was spent, and I'm 1851, $3.50. Mr..
Davis explained the plans adopted for
distributing the charities TO the poor.
The outdoor charities entailed "a vast
amount Of work on the officials. Mr..
Rountree asked II the Superintendent
thought that the public charities would
not be better distributed through the
- ha To KTrbi no
replied that the suggestion had never
occurred 10 him. He eulogized the work
Of the mission, and said he had received
most valuable service from them. There
had been a net saving Of more than
500 in January and February of this
year over the corresponding months of
last year I'm the administration Of the
affairs of the almshouse.
AS TO THE PHYSICIAN.
MIR. Davis was questioned by Mr.. Roun-
tree as to the necessity for two resi-
dent physicians. He said the almshouse
was practically an emergency hospital,
also, and sometimes the surgeons were
kept going all the time. Questioned as
TO the ability of the physicians Mr.. Davis
said that the young men came there as
medical students, and at first they were
incompetent The two physicians at the
almshouse at present, We're however,
thoroughly capable, but when any extra
ordinary case presented itself they were
Obliged 10 telephone for a surgeon, and
in some instances these delays We're ex-
ceedingly dangerous Mr.. Davis was
further Intercepted as to his duties az
Superintendent of Shockoe Cemetery, and
as 10 the sanitary condition Of the aims
house. In the latter connection, he said
that the house had been condemned and
was in a deplorable condition.
Upon motion OF Mr.. HARRISON, MT
Hughes Steward Of the Aimshouse, was
allowed TO make statement OF his duties
His hours on duty were from A. NJ. UNI
III +. NJ, and he received as compensa-
ton the sum OF $50 a month. lie received
everything delivered at the almshouse,
and was held accountable for everything.
MIR. Davis was then recalled by the
Chairman. and questioned as to his duties
as Superintendent OF ShOckoe Cemetery,
for which he received $i5 a month as
salary.
This exhausted the list Of officials to be
examined.
THE MAYORS ATTITUDE.
There was some discussion as TO the at
titude OF the Mayor towards the commit
tee. For the second time his presence had
been requested at the session of the com
mittee. and proper invitation had been
Gent him. and for the second time the
MAYOR had completely ignored the COM
mittee The chairman Of the committee
drew attention 20 this fact. he said, 10
show that the body had acted with cour-
tesy towards the chief official OF the city
The clerk OF the committee stated that
he had served the notice upon the Mayor
I'm the morning. and Mr. zimmerman