The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-09
THE ALMsHoUSE THIS TIME.
Committee on RetrenChment Orders a
Thorough Investigation.
FIRST ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
Doe. Collecting for One of tho Orders for
rsy,Itis Chargcd-Hours of tho City
Offices Ordered to be From
"a nm P. VI.

night. and made considerable progress.
The following members OF the committee
were present when Chairman Allen called
the meeting TO order. Mcssrs. HARRISON,
king. Jones. Noble. Zimmerman. Koun-
Tree. and Allen chairman.
There was some discussion as 10 wheth-
CT the CITY Attorney should prepare the
ordinance ia reference 20 the condition
OF Broad street, ana whether or not the
evidence taken in the Investigation OF The
condition OF the thorOughlare should De
printed. Alr. Jones moved mat the Clty
Attorney be requested 10 have the oidi-
nance referred TO submitted TO the COM
mittoc at the next meeting ans was
agreed 10. and IT was also decided That
"A COPY OF the evidence in regard 10 the
Broad.strcot investigation be hlcd with the
committee report 10 the Council
The question OF the salary OF the Sec
ond Assistant Superintendent OF the
AlmshOuse next came up and MI. |lm-
mernann moved that the salary attached
TO that position be allowed 10 remain as al
present-NrO per annum.
Mr.. Jones stated that since the COM
mitteo last heard evidence I'm regard 10
this position he had learned that the
First Assistant Superintendent Of the
Aimshouse spent some of his timc goins
collecting for some society, OF which he
was "A member III IL is necessary add
ed Mr.. Jones. "fOr the men % bc 40 their
posts Of duty. as was stated before the
committee j would ike TO find ont how
much time the First Assistant suDerin-
tendcnt spends collecting for this society
before the committee axes action in the
matter" Mr. Jones continued that this
was an important question, and he
thought the committee should gel all the
information they could on the subject be-
fore taking action. lie thought there
were too many people employed there 10
do the work lie did not believe anything
unusual would happen. even If the First
Assistant Superintendent should be ABB
sent for while. now and then. during the
absence Of the Superintendent, while that
gentleman was attending 10 his duties
outside
DIDN'T AMOUNT TO MUCH.
Mr. Zimmerman stated that he did not
think the matter of the collecting ON The
part Of the First Assistant Superintendent
announced TO anything That was small
matter. and very little time WAS spent in
that way. He did not think 10 would Dee
proper TO require the gentleman I'm qucs-
tion 10 carry out the law i'm the min
utest detail
Mr.. Noble stated that as a member Of
the Committee on Poor be would like
10 have an the Information ne could get
''A'if Nptlu- OF tNln matter 1T THESE
reports were correct he thought the
committee ought 90 Fnow IT, lie moved
that the COmmittce 0n Poor be roquesed
10 make a thorough Investigation as to
the duties and hours Of the suDernten-
dents and steward Of the Almshouse. and
report same 10 the Committee on Re
trenchmcnt and Reform.
Mr.. HARRISON stated that he was in-
clned TO agree with Mr. Jones I'm this
matter lie thought 70 was necessary
for the Second Assistant Superintendent
10 be I'm charge of the Colorcd Almshouse.
lie knew that the First Assistant Super
intendent did some collecting for one of
the orders. lie did not know how much
collecting he did.
GETS MONEY FOR TT.
III ho does this collecting" said Mr.
Noble. he receives compensation for it,
Mr. zimmerman stated that he happened
10 know that the first assistant super
intendent OF the AimsnOuse had been DONG
This collecting for the order for fifteen
years but he felt sure that gentleman
would drop this extra work if ne was
sold that it was displcasing 20 the City
Council
Mr. Mobiles motion was then adopted.
The matter of changes i'm the Light De
partment then came mp for consideration.
Mr. Noble stated that since the Light
Committee had not taken any action m
the matter though the attention of the
members had bee repeatedly called 10
~. he thought the Retrcnchment and Re
form Committee competent 10 take action
Mr.. Jones said that tho Superintendent
OF the Gas Works had stated that the
city would save $4,000 per annum if the
ordinance in question was adopted. and
he thought that this ordinance ought 10
be acted upon. He moved that 10 Doe filed
D.. +. ID
Committee 10 the Council and be- part
Of the same This was agreed to-
The ordinance concerning the CITY En-
gineers office and the Department OF
Streets was taken up and considered to-
gether with the recommendations thereto
Of the street Committee. Tho first Sec
tion of the ordinance relative to the office
hours Of the city Engineer was. upon
motion of Mr. Jones stricken out. Sim
liar action was taken in regard 10 the
second section. prohibiting the Engineer
and his assistants from engaging IN
outside work during the hours of work
Tor the city.
The third section. in regard to there
being three assistant engineers and
clerk 10 the Committee on Streets was
adopted as recommended to the Board
by the Street Committee.
Mr.. Jones also moved that the fourth
section IN regard 10 the abolition OF tire
position Of Sewer Foreman. and the per
Torrance Of his work by one OF the
assistant engineers. be stricken out. lie
added that the committee could recon-
mend the abolition Of the position OF
Sewer Foreman in its report il il so saw
NJ. The Sewer Foreman was an en-
ployee and not an officer
Mr.. Harrclson thought the sewerage
business was an important matter and
ought 10 be looked into carefully. Tie
was Of the opinion that the work Of the
sewer foreman could be dor by one OF
the assistant engineers.
THE PEOPLE WOULD DEMAND TT.
Mr.. Allen stated that the work of the
sewer foreman was an important enc.
and he thought that position ought 10 be
properly filled n the interests Of tho
city are 20 Doe looked after There would
De no economy in ah0lishing this posi-
tion. When the city Of Richmond am
nounced that she could not properly look
after her sewers and streets the people
would demand that something be done
oven II the city went into the hands Of a
receiver. There was mistaken idea
spreading around that there was not
cinecr's office. lie know for a fact that
there was q great deal OF work going
ON I'm the city Engineers office. The
men connected with that office were all
WAYS busily engaged IN attending 10 their
duties.
Mr. Allen stated that while ne believed