The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-12
But the Retrenchmsnt Committee Cut
No Wood Last Night.
CHIPS ARE LIKELY TO FLY NEXT TIME
The Mayors Absence Taken Note ot-he
Has Twice Been Invited, but iailed 10
Respond-The City Engineer Cen"
sured-Dther Committees

! iotted dOwn IN the minds oL lHe SoiAiii''''0O
| tor future references. - l.,
irhe reuort OF the subcommittee on IN
| yestlgauon OF the condltioh oL biV
| street which has been siumoetlhs ou ''S
| table or some months, was taken up anu
| after much discussion, recohsisN'u ~ I'o
] table until next Thursday Wshl' III V4"os
that the city Engineer may appear ana
! make further explanations. Inns -
Thought necessary. - the report lays the
| blame for the unsightly condition o. the
/ street al the Old Street COMMITTEE
whereas certain members OF INC ~ ~
trenchment Committee hold that lhe O"S
| Engineer is IN fault. ...
THE MAYOR ABSENT.
| ,vho comnittee also took notice OF the
fact that the Mayor, who has twice Deeh
| invited to 10 present was not on H'hu'
! though little was said on tne suDJeo'.
! The committee met at O'Clock, Chair-
man Allen presiding, and the menuelS
present being Alessrs. HIreson' houn-
/ tree, Zimmerman, John j. hihs' N"e''
/ Jones, Starke. and Noble.
The first business taken up by the COM
mittee was an investigation OF the duties
| OF tho CITY Hall janitor. Mr.. ;. }. B.
/ Wright. who nils that position, presented
| a written statement TO the committee, ana
/ also explained in person the nature Oh
his duties. The compensation OF MI
/ Wright & so a month, and ne Is III chaibe'
| to a certain extent OF the other Janltor5
in the building. Mr. Wright also men-
| TONED the duties OF the various Janitors,
and said that the work OF all was very
nrduous. especially those Of Mr.. Thomas
Bahen, who has charge OF the thlid nocF
OF the hall.
Mr.. Toler. oier 10 the City Hall, who
receives S45 month, was called before
tho committee and gave an account or MS
duties. The actual work OF oiling the ma
chinery, he said, did not occupy more than
an hour and half a day, but his time
was fully occupied In looking after the
steam radiators, running the elevators at
times, and. in fact, doing anything that
came TO hand
Captain Thomas Cunningham, captain Of
the citys tug Thomas Cunningham, Sr,
was then called upon, and explained his
multifariOus duties. He was kept busy,
no said. attending 10 the dredging ma
chine, towing vessels which came to the
port. the money received from which went
into the cty's treasury. and. I'm addition to
tnis, keeping the harbor clear OF ice in
tho winter. For his services Captain
Cunningham receives 500 per month.
THE CITY ALMsHOUSE.
Superintendent George IL. Davis Of the
CITY AlmshOuse, was the next official CN-
amined. lie gave the committee q fun ac-
count of his duties. for which he receives
Sl.20O d year and house rent. Besides be-
ing Superintendent Of the Almshouse Mr..
Davis also has charge OF the public chau-
ties. und almost every minute of his time
is occupied
ln the course OF his examination Mr..
Davis stated that the amount given by
The Council 10 maintain the outdoor poor
department during 1897 would bee totally
inadequate. and be would April lst Doe COM
N".
thousand poor persons.
Mr.. Davis was asked by Mr.. Rountree
If the outdoor charity could not be
managed by the Ladies' city Mission.
lie replied that he had not given the
matter much thought. but that his de-
partment highly appreciated the noble
work Of the mission. and the assistance
rendered by them.
Mr.. Rountiee asked Mr. Davis q
number of Questions TO ascertain whether
some OF tho medical attendance at the
Aimshouse could not be dispensed with.
The Superintendent, however. was satts-
fed that there was not any more now
than was absolutely necessary. The ex-
animation Of Mr.. Davis lasted for a
considerable time. and he gave the COM
mittee much valuable information.
Mr. Hughes. steward 10 the Aims
house. was. on motion OF Mr.. HARRISON.
permitted 20 make a statement OF his
duties for which he receives So "a month.
lie has charge OF all the Almshouse
supplies, and is on duty from a. NJ.
to Z. ".
AIr. Hughes was the last city ofnciai
examined. The chairman then brought
out the fact that Mayor Taylor was
not present and inquired Of the clerk
whether that official had been invited.
Mr. Mcdowell replied thar he had
written the Mayor "a respectful cone
municaton embodying the resolution
adopted by tho committee some time
ago. requesting his presence and had
himself delivered the same 10 Alr. Tay-
lar.
EXPLAINED TO THE MAYOR.
Sergcant-at-Arms Ruskeil also stated
to the committee that he had personally
seen the Mayor shortly after the last
meeting and explained 70 him that the
summons which had been served upon
him was merely intended as an invita-
ton and was not in the nature OF a
summons. He also informed the Mayor
that be would receive an invitation IN
due form 10 attend the next meeting.
well" said Chairman Allen. me
Mayor has been invited and is not pres
ent. Just make note Of t."
The report OF the subcommittee on
Investigation Of the condition Of BroTd
street which mas oeen on the table ever
since K was made was then taken up and
discussed. The report was laid on TIE
table on account cf being unsatisfactory
10 several members OF the committee.
since Il laid the blame for irregularities
existing on Broad street upon the Street
Committee that recommended the grant
ing Of a franchise 10 the Traction Com
many. Messrs Zimmerman. HARRISON
and Noble took the ground that the city
Engineer should have known that four
tracks would injure the surface OF
Broad street, and informed the co,lmittee
OF the fact.
Mr. Ebel said that he did not think the
blame should De laid altogether on the
CITY Engineer. The trouble had arisen
he said from shifting the tracks O., the
old company. which had not been con-
templated NJ the time the franchise was
first granted. but which had been order
ea hv special resolution OF the Council.
Mr.. Zimmerman stated emphatically |
that he was satisfied that the condition |
of Broad street was due to neglect Of |
duty hy The City Engineers department |
and that his contention was borne out i
bv the appearance OF the street.
Mr.. Rountree said that he thought tho |
CITY Engineer should be heard again be- |
fore any action was taken on the mat |
Ter. on motion OF Mr. Noble the report |
went over until next Thursday night and |