Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-20

iNSo 10 meet the increasing
demands upon the department, your com
mittee, as the body charged with the ad-
ministration. as well as execution Of
most Important portion OF the city az
iairs. VIII be looked to for the response
bility,
Very respectfully,
(Signed) ''W. +. CUTSHAW,
IS. e. BATES.
JACKSON BOLTON,
FRANK II. BATES
'P. =. TALLAFERRO.
IS. b. JACOBS"
The committee was here about to go
into consideration Of its report upon
the ordinances referred. but Il was sug
gested by Chairman Allen that the En-
gineering Department might possibly
have some further information that it
might desire to impart. Colonel Cutshaw
said he would make general and COM
prehensive statement, going over all the
ground, but would really prefer a little
time
The committee then adjourned until
o'clock next Monday night.
INFRINGEMENT RECOMMENDED.
The work Of the Committee on Retrencn-
ment and Reform Thursday night was
topic OF general comment upon the streets
and about the City Hall yesterday. If the
]
branches of the Council and approved by
the Mayor. the city will be saved about
/ $3.50 annually in salaries. These recon-
/ mendations were as follows: Reducing the
salary Of the clerk 10 the Board of Sink
/ ing-Fund Commissioners from $500 to 500;
appointing the clerk to Council commit
tees assistant TO the City Clerk; abolish
/ ing the Office of Transfer Clerk to the
Auditors Office, and transferring his du-
60, 10 AID ahnI-
shing the office Of Engineer and Machinist
/ to the City Hall, and transferring his du-
! ties TO the Serseant-at-Arms of the city
/ Council; reducing the salary Of the Haroor-
master from $40 TO 5000 per annum; abol-
/ ishing the Offices of Weighmaster at the
\ First and Second markets, and transfer
/ ring their duties to the clerks of the re-
| spective markets; abolishing the office OF
Janitor TO the Third Market and trans
! ferring his duties to the Clerk Of that
market, and cutting off entirely the salary
/ of the CONFERENCE.-The Attorney, who
now receives $1,000 per annum.
ARE AFTER THE MAYOR.
Besides the above, the committee decid-
ed to invite Mayor Taylor before it to ex-
plain his duties as the first officer Of the
city. The Mayor is paid $500 a year, and
this salary, as well as the duties Of the
office, are fixed by the city charter, and
cannot be interfered with by the city
Council.
The sections o. the charter defining the
Mayors duties which are brief provide,
among other things, that this official shall
from time TO time recommend such mea-
| sures as he may deem to be for the good
of the city.
Section of the passage relating to the
Mayor provides that 1t shall be his duty
! 81, to
| a general statement of the financial con-
dltion of the city, accompanied by such
| recommendations as he may think proper.
These are the only special duties re-
curing any considerable labor which are
imposed upon the Mayor by the charter.
Mayor Taylor, when seen yesterday, SAID
that the committee could ascertain his
duties by reading the charter, and de-
clared that he had no ill-feelings against
any of the members Of that body or
against the committee as a whole. lie
appreciated the courtesy shown him by
inviting him to be present at the next
meeting.
Commonwealth's-Atto Richardson,
who. according to the recommendations
of the Retrenchment and Reform Com
mittee, will lose the 81 900 which has here
tofore been paid each year by the city 10
this officer, takes a philosophical view OF
the situation. When seen yesterday he
said that while he felt that he was en-
titled to the salary that has been paid 10
the office of Attorney for the Common
wealth by the city for the past fifteen
years, he was no supplicant for the citys
bounty.
IF the affairs Of the municipal govern
ment," continued the Commonwealth s
Attorney. ARE in such a condition as 10
render the reduction of expenses impera-
tive to the extent of cutting off the COM
pensation given me, 1 shall simply have tc
devote a commensurate proportion of my
time to outside practice. AS it is now,
give the Commonwealth business my un-
divided attention, and look carefully after
the duties of my office"
Up TO the time Mr.. Richardson came
into Office the position he now nils was
worth from 200 to 5000 a year, but by
recent act Of the General Assembly OF
Virginia il has been reduced almost one
half.
CAN'T CONTRACT WITHOUT MONEY
The City Attorney, who was asked by
the Committee on Relief of the Poor fol
his opinion as to whether that body hac
the right 10 award contracts for the sup
plies for the City Almshouse and outdoor
poor nending the preparation and adop
J ton Of the budget, when the committee
had no fundS, MT. Sauluel H. NolliSli' tH'
} chairman Of the committee, has just re
ceived Mr.. Meredith's opinion, which says
the action of the committee In not award
ing the contracts was In conformity witt
the provisions Of the law. The City AT
torney also takes the ground that tn
committee has no right, according to TIT
letter Of the law, to purchase goods from
= time to time under the old contracts. MIR
? Meredith, however, advises the commit
3 tee. in order the prevent the throwing o
p the inmates Of the institution on the pub
lie TO purchase the most necessary ar
ticles so as TO prevent suffering amonl
, the city's poor
Z The committee win, therefore, meet OF
/ next Wednesday evening and agree OF
the purchasing of provisions that are alb
| solutely necessary 10 the maintenanc
/ and support Of the inmates of the aims
! house.
; SHOWING OF THE WATER-WORhs
/, The City Water-Works makes a fin
showing, financially, for the fiscal yea
1896. The report of superintendent Charlie
u. Boiling shows that the receipts of IN
. water Department gave a net profit TO tn
CITY of over $4,000 which would be equa
TO more than per cent. interest on
! capital OF $2,OOO0O0 which is said TO b
the value Of the property owned by tina
| department
+, The improvements made last summe
o IN the wing wall just below Bosher's dan
Z under the supervision Of Superintendent
a / Rolling. have proven TO be decided sue
Z cess Next summer, during the low-wate
mark. some important improvements wi
Q he made TO the dam itself, which I'm seye
4 Z a. ffxrn