The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-08
EXAMINE THREE IMPORTANT OFFICES.
Commissioner of Revenue, City Treasurer
and City Collector to Appear Before
the Committeo-A Lively Time in
Grounds and Building Committee

! 4Ai Nll'iitHs
The committee was called TO order at
s O'Clock last night, the members present
being Mcssrs. Otway S. Allen chairman,
| Ebel. HARRISON. Jones, Z. NJ Noble.
! Rountree. end zimmerman.
Colonel Jones. chairman OF the sub-
| committee appointed 90 present O. report
/ on the investigation Of the grade OF Broad
| street. stated that his committee had
not yet held a. meeting Further time was
| granted the committee.
ON motion of Alr. HARRISON. q request
was forwarded TO the Committee on Ii-
| nance that the services of the city Ac-
| countant Mr.. Carlton Mccarthy 5e al-
| lowed tho Rcuenchment and Reform
| Committee % expedite its work
NEED A STENOGRAPUER.
70 being stated that the resolution Of
/ fered Ga the last meeting Of the Coun-
| cu providing 500 10 pay e. stonOgrapher
/ 10 take down tho committees proceed
! ings had become tied up. and was not
referred TO the Finance Committee Col
| onel Jones moved. and the motion was
adopted. that tho matter be brought
| 10 the attention OF tine Board OF Alder
men OF its next mccuu.
on motion of Colonel Jones. 30 was
decided not 90 20 into am investigation
| of tho Health Department until funds
were secured 10 pay stenographcr. This
action was taken on account of the NUM-
| Der Of details involved I'm the examination
Of this department.
10 was decided. ON motion of Colonel
Jones, 10 summon the Commissioned of
! Revenue City Treasurer. and city Coi-
| lcct0r TO appear before the committee
! at IT'S next mccting with data Of tho
workings Of their several departments in
detail, so far as the city is concerned.
a communication was received from The
| City Engineer. and referred 90 tho SUBJ
committee on investigation or the condi-
tion OF Broad street. explaining certain
questions which had not been clearly uu-
! deratood.
The committee. M 090 adjourned %
meet next Thursday night.
MANY PERSONALITIES
The Committee ON Grounds and Build
ings held an extremely lively meeting
last night and the discussion grew disc
| tinctly personal at times. Tho matter
under discussion was whether extra men
should be kept at work in New Eoser-
voir and Chimborazo Parks. they having
declared their willingness TO tako their
| chances of De nr paid out OF the a9ufo-
priation for 1897. The question was dis
posed Of for tho time being by refer
cncc to a subcommittee.
Tho committee met at 1890 o'clock IN
regular session. Mr. Marx Gunst CHAIR
/ mani presiding, and tho following MEM
bers present. Me-srs. Briggs Roun-
tree. Lawder. John VI. King. and Snead.
The bin Of the Cohen Company for
SiiS7. was sent 10 the Board OF Alder
men. with the recommendation that 10
Doe paid ont of tho contingent fund.
The clerk reported that VI. ~. Smith
& Co. had signed The lease for the rental
OF Scalrookc's Warehouse for The ensu-
ing two years ~ 81 SOD per annum. on
motion. tho committee instructed the
chairman 20 anix his signature TO the
lease. SeabrooKe's Warehouse IS about
the best-paying property owned by the
city.
Mr. Gunst stated that tho Regimental
Armory was in an exceedingly duapidated
condition on account Of defective water
spouts. Tie stated that the matter had
been looked into by The city Engineer.
and that its requirements would Dee listed
for the budget of 1897.
THOSE EXTRA MEN.
There was % long discussion as 10
whether extra worzmen should Doc re.
tanned at New Reservoir Park TO DO
some necessary work there and take
their chances Of being paid ont OF next
years appropriation the sum allowed
for tho present fiscal year having been
exhausted Messrs Eountree aud Gunst
spoke strongly again.t anticipating the
appropriation. tho fNmer saying that
30 would be "a case OF the committee lsY-
ing beyond its means.
Colonel Cutshaw explained Chat IL was
almost q matter OF impossibuit- for
committee 10 come our even Iu iis ac-
counts at the end OF O. fiscal year. There
was Of necessity deacit or a. balance
when the accounts We're wound up.
"There should always Dee balance.
then" said Mr.. Rouatrce.
Mr.. Snead thought that the extra men
should be kept on as o. matter Of econ
omy since he thought more would be
gained by continuing the work than d.
stoppiig 1t.
Mr.. Lawder said that stranger in
the chamber would think that q few
members of the committee We're advoclt-
ins some eVtravasance. "Why turn the
screws upon men who are getting but =
dollar and a half day." ho asked.
POLITICAL BOOMs.
Mr.. Eountrco promptly rose TO his feet
and rculied to these remarks. Ile said
that his vote would never be cast Tor
any appropriation above the sum aliot-
ted 10 the committee. whether 10 was te
pay a $50 OF q $1,000 man.
Assertions like these are political
booms." lac said.
Mr. Gunst also replied 90 Air. Lawder g
speech saying that ho was only actuated
hy a desire not to do anything whicA
tinged of the committee living beyond
its means.
81 am always slow 20 make apologize"
said Mr.. Lawdcr. "n0r do ! think that
l have said anything wrong but possibly
my position in lie makes me over
jealous for the Sl.50 man. ! deny that
anything ! said was q political boom"
Mr.. King moved. as q solution OF the
whole matter thar subcommittee be
appointed 10 consider the matter. and
report az the next meeting. The motion
was carried by a vote OF 4 TO ?. aud the
chair appointed Messrs. Briggs. snead.
and Lawder. after Mr.. Eountree had
positively declined 10 serve.
CITY HALL TOWER
The question OF what City Han Official
should have charge OF the tower Of the
hall was then taken up. on motion Of
Mr.. Snead IL was decided that the super
intendent OF Fire Alarm and Police Tele-
graph shall have charge OF the tower.
and that the same shall be cleaned up by
- janitor under The direction Of the
engineer and machnist that the gas in
the clock bo lighted by the day watchers,
and put out by tho night watchers
Mr.. Gunst. with a few touching and ap-