The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-20

Mr. Harreson said that the papers had
| printed only one side OF the question. The
| city he declared. did not have the money.
| and n II was appropriated would nave 10
! borrow IL and pay interest on IT,
He denied the statement Of Mr. Briggs
| that the schools would be closed twenty
| days Six days he said. would be the
worst that could happen. He could not
/ vote for the appropriation he said and
| break his pledge. but would give his share
privately.
QUESTION or DECAPITAT1ON.
''The papers" he declared. "havo said
/ that those who vote against this appro-
priation will be decap'tafcd AZ the next
election T want 10 say that I was never
/ q candidate for election. % committee
waited on mo and asked me 20 run. But !
do not want 10 come back n / am 90
F be criticized for doing my duty. ] have
/ got enough Of ~.
/ Mr. Briggs here rose and showed that tho
( statements made I'm regard ~ The length
Of time the schools would close were incor-
rect. Mr.. Briggs showed that the schools
I would bee closed on the 18th ot December
and not re-opened until January I'd, act
ually twcnty-One days, counting the hOii-
days.
Colonel Jones then read 10 the Beard
carefully prepared statement Of the
city's condition. as was fully printed IN
The Times IN the shape Of "a communica-
/ tiCn from him short time since.
In addition ne made o. statement urg
/ ing the necessity OF rctrcncnment 70 once
] as in the rcasscssmcnt in lylJ tncre was
strong probability that the revenues
/ of the city would be reduced One-Iittn.
Mr. Bloomberg said that he had at the
former meeting OF the Council voted for
/ the appropriation, but I'm the light OF
/ facts just presented he felt constrained
/ 10 vote against the measure, but he was
ready TO join hands with those who
would cndcayOr 10 raise the fund by pr.-
[ yate subscription.
Mr. Mosby made a strong speech for
] the appropriation. Tie claimed that
vote in It's favor would not bee sacrifice
/ of honor as the Council. when the pledge
/ was taken not TO appropriate anything
/ above the budget, had distinctly under
stood that 10 was not 10 be binding ia
/ case Of an emergency.
/ For the enlightenment of the people Mr.
/ M0sby said 30 was necessary that the
/ children should Dee educated in order that
/ they might bo enlightened by reading the
/ papers.
do you think" asked Mr.. HARRISON,
chat the papers have fully and fairly
/ stated both sides of the school question.
/ Have ;hci- publications not all been one
/ sided
CARD AFTER CARD.
! "tor the opponents of the appropriations
/ have published card after card. while lit
/ tle or nothing has been printed from the
! other side"
/ Mr. Harrelson again wanted TO know
/ whether anything giving the true finan-
/ cial status of the city had been printed.
/ II think thar there has replied Mr..
/ Mosby.
"Ycs. SIR" said Mr.. O. A. Hawkins.
7 la u.I".h Colonel
/ Jones has just given have been published
| over his signature in the daily papers
Mr.. Hawkins then went on 10 reply
/ 10 the various arguments thdt had been
! advanced touching lightly on each. He
| stated in the outset that ho had not been
/ present when the Council pledged itself
/ not 10 exceed the budget. There was DEE
said "a more serious aspect TO the case,
/ and ne drew attention TO the readiuster
| movement some years since that swept
/ the Democratic party ont of power
/ The masses he said. were more sem
| sitiye on the question Of public schools.
/ and any interference with them might
result in "a disaster more dire than any
/ that lad ever ovcrtakcn the Dcmocra-
/ tic party. and not 90 vote for the appro-
| priauon was lkey 10 invite a combna-
/ tion. the result of which would be- ten
/ times worse than the readiuster move
/ ment
| Mr. Hawkins made n strong speech. and
| the effect II produced was noticeable.
| MR.. EBELS FACTS AND FIGURES.
! Mr.. Ebel said that he himself had been
/ elected upon a. pledge 10 practice strict
/ economy but he could not see that he
would violate that pledge by voting for
| ;lc appropriation Of 5000
"In addition 10 the estimated revenue
/ Of the city for this year. De said. "she
/ will make q saving OF Ni6 co.. From The
| Chesapeake and Ohio I'm taxes has been
received S3S 1000. $4,000 from delinquent
/ taxes collected $500 from a suit COM
| promised: 5000 from money refunded bv
/ the Virginia Agricultural Society. and
10000 provided in the budget for the sink
/ ing fund
Mr Ebc went on 10 make one OF the
most convincing speeches ever heard in
the Council chamber. and concluded hy
strong appeal TO members to vote for
the appropriation.
Mr.. Caekie NIr Witte in the chain
then took the floor and after a refer
cnce to the strong fight which the papers
had made for the appropriation. went
on 10 show how the city FOR years past
had been living beyond its income at
the rate of $4,000 a year. lie recouuted
the formation of the Good Government
League. and the victory won by that
league. Probably twenty-five members
Of the Council. he said. had been elected
on the platform endorsed 10y the Good
Government League. and he did not see
how they could back on that platform.
Mr. Caskie then went on TO state that
the School Board year after year had
spent more money than was given them.
and then came demanding more Very
few, he said. had the courage TO vote 10
refuse their request. and the Board mad
come 10 be the master OF the Council
He drew especial attention 10 the reso-
! luton. Tor which every member of the
| Council had voted, pledging themselves
not 90 appropriate any money in excess
| of the budget. He denied that the need
| OF the School Board was case of cmer-
gency. as he said, every member was
well aware that the Board had asked for
! Sli2Ol0. and had been told that they l.ust
! live within the appropriation.
Further. he said. "a member Of the
| School Board had said that IL could get
along with the sum given H..
| .ThE BOARD ; kEIRENCHMENT
Mr.. Caskie then went on TO show the
nature OF the rotrcnchment of the School
| Board. They had done away with the
| cooking school. which cost 500 yearly.
with seven nig-A schools. costing Sl.700.
which were a failure from the start and
| had decided not TO employ five extra
| teachers. which would have entailed an
| expense OF 81 ,fS5.