Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-22
NO B0ARD0F FINANCE
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE)


sonally concerned. the duties attending
membership on the Finance Committee
were so very onerous, that II he were
elected 10 the Council again he intended
to ask to be excused from service. The
duties. he added, were intensely Disagree
able, especially In connection with the
two branches of the Council.
Colonel Jones trusted the bill would
pass. The last assertion of the member
who had taken his seat, he contended,
was a very strong argument In Its favor.
BE A POLITICAL BODY.
Mr. CARRIER said that as a citizen, having
the welfare of the city at heart. and
as a member Of the Committee on Char
ter Changes, he arose to say that he
would vote against the constitution OF
the board when you create board,
you create political body" he said, and
there is a tendency TO make poll
ticians of the members. When say they
are politicians" ne continued, Il don't
mean TO say that they are not gentlemen,
for some people can be politicians and
gentlemen as we'll" With the Good Gov
eminent League watching the Council,
and with the assistance OF the Young
Mems Business Association, he contended
that the proper men could be elected 10
the Council. In conclusion, Mr.. CAREER
made the startling statement that III the
light of his own experience IL
was hard for man to serve term In
the Council and vote consclenuousy oI
every question.
Mr. Bloomberg said the closing argu-
ment of Mr. CARRIER was very potent In
favor of the adoption Of the bill Inc
measure had been surrounded with all
sorts of safeguards. England, he SAID
pays 100000 to the National Bank 10
manage the nations finances. The United
States. he thought, should adopt similar
plan. and so should Richmond. Much
had been said Of the power of the pro-
posed board. yet he contended that II
was no greater than that of the Council.
1t was within the power of the presi-
dents of the Council and Board Of Alder
men to control the finances Of the city.
He contended that no single argument
had been adduced against the bill.
WOULD VOTE AGAINST IT.
Mr.. Witte said he would vote against
the bill The ward committees had re-
fused 10 appoint the members Of the first
board. as requested by the Charter
Changes Committee, a fact which ne
thought showed that the plan was not
feasible Such a board as the one pro-
posed. he said, would begin cutting down
expenses. and the cut would fall on the
workingman. THE people who represent
the workingmen I'm this Council" he said,
should not be dictated to by any one.
If we adopt this measure we take from
the people the last thing they've got. 1t
has been suggested that Commissioners
of Police and the Fire Department are
not capable Of serving more than one
term, then why create another commits
sion?'
Mr.. Harrelson thought the great thing
in favor of the bill was that the
board could not go beyond the revenues
of the CITY
Mr. Ebel strongly advocated the bill,
and said If he thought it curtailed any
of the political power Of the people he
would oppose It, but he was convinced
that 1t was one of the best measures
which had ever been introduced into the
Council.
THE BILL is DEFEATED.
The question was then put and the bill
defeated by the following vote:
Noes-Messrs. Briggs CARRIER, Miller,
Mosby, Neale, Pollock, Ryan, o. II. Haw
kins, Walerstein, Whalen, Williams,
White, Woody-13.
Ayes-Bloomberg. Ebel, Foster, Harrel-
son, Hobson, Jones, King, Rountree, Tan
ner Caskie-10.
The absentees were Messrs. b. r. Allen,
Blanks. Cottrell, Gunst, II. A. Hawkins,
and Noble.
On motion of Mr.. King, the resolution
adopted by the Board Of Aldermen to
pay the five members of the Health De-
partment who were suspended recently
for the time lost was concurred in.
COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE.
On motion of Mr.. Bloomberg, the fran
chises of the Southern and Home Elec-
trio companies as amended by the Board
of Aldermen were taken up under a sus-
pension of rules. The Council refused
to concur, and adopted a resolution ask
ing for a conference committee on the
subject, to consist of three members from
each branch.
The Council adjourned shortly before
midnight.