Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-24
MANY OFFICERS TALK
THE RETRENoHMENr COMMITTEE
HEARS MORE STATEMENTS.
THg POLICE COURT AND HEALTH.
r,st,ce John Tells How Many Cases
ne Has 60 Contend With-Strcct-
Cleaning n Subject os Much Testi-
mony-City Plumbing.

frCrchmcut ana REFORM helu thlcc-and~
.bals-hour session last night and gave a
,r,st deal OF time to the departments OF
p,,lth and the Police Court no definite
action was taken as 10 either. The meeting
WAS devoted entirely TO hearing the stater
,rcrts OF those connected with these de-
,,srtmcnts. Justice John J. Crutchheld,
Dr w. II. Oppenhimer. President Of the
Roara Of Health. the other members Of
10 body. the physicians 70 the poor. the
civ Plumber. and others were heard,
with view OF ascertaining where any re-
dr-fions or retrenchment could be properly
made
OPINIONS BROM THE CITY ATTOR-
NEY.
The committee was called TO order at 1880
o'clock by Sub-Chairman Rountree, and
Nf,ssrs. King. Jones, Lawder. Noble. Har-
rslsor. and Ebel were present. After the
reading OF the minutes of the previous
meeting the committee heard the opinions
of the city Attorney with reference to the
commissions OF the Commissioners of the
Revenue and the City Tax Collector The
erect OF this opinion was that the Council
had no power 10 reduce the commission OF
me Commissioner Of the Revenue during
the present year, as most OF ms Work TOT
this wear was completed before February
LIST Mr. Meredith decided, however that
the Council has a right 10 make such
changes I'm the percentage OF the city Tax
collector as IL desired.
The city Attorney also held that the
.ft, need not give the judges of the Narl-
ous courts the 500 extra compensation per
annum. but that the State paid so niue
rbet no good lawyer could afford TO take
hot ]
was. therefore competent for the city 10
give the additional sum appropriated 10
'''' THE POLICE COURT PAYS
These opinions were received and filed,
"A tba committee resumed the work OF
considering the salary list OF the city. Al
the last session Of the cQFnmltJee motions
were adopted inviting the Mayor the fo-
lice Justice. and others, 10 be present at
,bts session. TO explain their duties. The
Niayor being absent Pohce-Justice JOhn
Crutchfeld was the first official called
,in0n and he made "A most exhaustive
statement OF his labOrs. He began oy
saving that during the fiscal year 1870 ne
had tried about 1890 criminal cases anu
about 300 continued cases, Whlch % hu'i
tsen more trouble than II the cases had
baan heard when they first came up
speaking Of the revenues from his court
.Tusttce Crutchheld said that since July,
7GSS TO December 81, 1896, his court hdl
,ecaived So 42887 OF which S6i.lb2b nad
been turned over TO the city. MT CrutCn.
neld asserted that since the recent dCt Ol
the Legislature. giving him jurisdiction III
an misdemeanor cases. MS Woih hau D0'i'
Increased by one third.
The question was asked by what au-
thoritv the fees were turned over 10 tHc
Roard OF Police Commissioners ana Clly-
Clerk Ben. r. August read the section
from the city charter which prescrlDeu
hoo, costs and fees should be collected Dy
.h. C1,icf - Police and turned over 10
t.e police Board Justice Crutchneu
stated that his court had paid twice as
,,ucb as n had cost TO run n. and tnat ne
could not get along with any less "viP
than he had at present lie auueu' ps
~, ~ exclamation. that I'm 1870 the oihce
80 poItce Justice paid 81 600 per annum,
but was cut down by - per cent, ana nau
never been restored. He declared that the
POLICE Court was paying financial ihStl7
tuition. ,,,,,,,n-,r
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Dr W. r. Oppenhimer President OF the
BOARD Of Health, was next caleu' an %
the Health Department was cohsluei y.
along with the position OF Fhyslciah ~
the CITY Almshouse. DR.. OppenhlneI salu
mat the Health Department had to do an
tho s,yeeuing and cleaning OF the sueeVs
and arevs Of the department. HIS 1oIce
consisted of himself at salary OF S4'%V0
Der annum; a clerk. at $50 per aIlhuui'
four sanitary policemen. paid from lhe
police fund. the Inspector OF fluii'Oi,,s'
the four physicians 10 the board, etc -
C,oanbiroer said that his department, III
o55ition IA the regular duties. had the
removal Of garbage and dead ahlihals'
THE cleaning Of street basins was also
mart Of his work as was the dislnlectlhs
~ houses etc. and plumbing Inspection
&c Or. Oppenhimer gave In uelaH Ino
,,,,r,her Of men carts and mules IN the
Health Department OF the city. re 80 80
that the removal of dead anlnals "d9
rovv done bv contract, but this only re-
ferred 10 horses, mules, COWS, and large
animals -.,.., os
Dr Oppenhimer was next questioned as
- the duties to be performed by the IN
snector OF Plumbing. lie detailed az
1tb the advantages of such an othcer
~ the city as 10 health and the prolec-
non 10 property. Mr.. Noble questioned
,he president Of the Board Of Health as
W the unhealthfulness to sewer employees
,,ho have TO 20 down into the man-holes'
pr OpDenhimer said that no special men
were selected for this work and that tlo
London statistics showed that the men
who performed this labor were ruddy'
rosy. and healthy, ana hVed beyOhu 'ii0
average life Of man.
Doctor" asked sub-ChairInan houiti oO'
have you In your experience Deeh con
WINGED that any diseases have oeeh pr
duced by failure TO have a sufficient guam
tity of water on the second floor OF houses
I'm certain sections Of the city,
yes sir: we have been convinced that
diseases have been caused by lack VI
water I'm the higher points OF the Sltg,
said Dr. Oppenhimer; but hardly kno"
what 20 suggest as a remedy FOR thls'
The President Of the Board Of Health
was interrogated as 10 the practicaDihly
M dispensing with the present members
of the Board OF Health and having the
pbvsicians 10 the poor as members OF
that body. and he said that the physiclAhs
10 The poor were ful capable Of filling the
positions OF members OF the board III
response 10 a question propounded by MI, MI,
King DR. Oppenhimer said that the Iolce
was doing its work thoroughly now
and he explained the system Tor the ie-
moval Of garbage.
Dr. Oppenhimer was asked whether or
not he gave all his time 10 the perform
ance OF the citys work. and he promptly
answered In the negative. saying that no
physician Of any sort of prominence could
AFFORD 10 give up his practice for city
position which paid only S,2O) year.
The Doctor said that ne was furnished
with "A horse and buggy by the city and
ne (Dr. OppenhimeD provided his own
driver
''Do you have any regular system for
inspecting the several districts Of the
city, asked Mr. Jones.
"No sir; but l 80 from one END OF
Richmond 10 the other every day and,
therefore. have a continuous inspection.
THE SYSTEM CRITICISEIN
- Na