Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-08
THE COMMON COUNCIL CoNCuRs IN
1T AFTER MUCH DEBATE.
SECTARlbN CHARITIES AND METERS.
These Items Caused the Principal
observation-disclosures Changed After
the Session Commemorative AItcra-
lions Made I'm the Ordinance.

looked as if the ordinance would cer-
talnly be defeated. instead Of this be-
ing the result. IL was unanimously
ADOPTED. hut not without vigorous
ana earnest appeal on the part Of those
who were anxious for tho budget 10
so through.
The ordinance. as before stated, ap-
proprlates S.S52S9 in the aggregate.
which. considering the sum Of $4,000 to
the sinking fund. $1,000 TO water meters.
and the increase OF S7O.6ol l.22 In the amount
set aside for interest and redemption,
makes total saving 10y this budget. as
compared with the sum spent last year.
so far as the allowances TO the various
departments are concerned, of N6).60l22.
Last year the city spent $.36S. 1913
The principal objections raised 10 The
ordinance last night were to the appro-
priation Of $1,000 for water meters. the
6onation Of city funds TO sectarian char-
lies and the taking Of $1,000 from the
item OF $4,000 to repay the sinking fund
and place it TO the credit of streets gene
rally.
THE BODY COMMENCES WORK.
Z
those present being President Caskie and
Nessrs. Bloomberg. Briggs. Cottrell Ebel,
Foster. Gunst. Harreson, Hawkins, Hob
son. Jones. CARRIER. Miller. Mosby, Neale,
Rountree. Stokes. Tanner. Wake, Wal
lerstein. Whalcn. Wtte. and Woody
'C.erk August read the call for the meet
ing and MIR. Wallerstein moved to take
the ordinance from the table. and this
was adopted. The sorgeant-aI-Arms
then began tie tedious reading Of the
budget as il came from the Board Of
Aldermen and the Committee Of Confer
ence.
A communication was received from
4. W. Glnn Council. of the Junior order
United American Mechanics, protesting
against the appropriation OF any city
funds to scctarian charities. a similar
letter was received from Stewart Crescent
Council. No. g, Daughters Of Liberty
The communication from Major Nor
man v Randolph. urging the Council TO
make the appropriation to the Little Sis
ters Of the Poor and arguing that TINS
is a purely nOn-sectarian institution, was
read. Major Randolph also gave some
interesting statistics regarding this home.
Sister Madeline. Of ST. Joseph's Orphan
Asvlun also wrote 10 the City Fathers.
appealing TO them. as a matter Of justice
and right, 10 continue TO appropriate the
$50 heretofore allowed that institution
or make some other provision ior the
seven orphan girls who have been ana
are being maintained by the asylum Oh
behalf Of the city.
O,,ito q lengthy protest against apprO-
rriatino city funds 10 these institutions
was read from the ministers OF the Chfls-
tian churches Of the city This com
,nunication has already been published
I'm the Dispatch.
Urges THE BUDGETS ADOPTION.
Mr. Caskie opened the discussion on
The budget by explaining that the taxing
Of $4,000 from the $4,000 FOR the pay
rnent of the debt due the sinking iund
ala not mean the taking away OF 81
from the sinking fund, but the pay
,,,cn+ az SEQ 900 instead OF $4,000 10 II.
rrbere was no place where the city could
mt This $1,000 TO better advantage than
,or ito streets Mr.. Cdskie declared
A. was impossible for the Council TO
mass any budget If every member was 10
insist upon having his personal views
carried out BY the adoption of the or
dinance. even in its present shape the
Council would accomplish more IN the
,,,ay Of retrenchment than the adoption
~ an the reports of the Retrenchment
and Reform Committe, cutting down sal
aries. reducing the number or OH
GERS and employees, etc. MT. Caskle
called the attention of the body TO the
fact that a great many of Richmond's
businessmen were piling up bills against
the city and that these people were III
ueed of their money. II could not be
foretold what would be the result OF
fauure 10 pass the budget at that meet
ing. ....-,.,.
sECTARIAN CHARITIES.
The president next took up the charity
feature of the appropriations ordnance
and urged those differing in opinion as
- charities should be given and
40 vaive their dissensions and vote for
49,. hrdget as il stood. TWO years ago
he offered 10 strike off all the sectarian
charities but I'm this proposition ne was
voted down. lie felt that this step
should be taken. but il was important
for all TO compromise ther personal
views and pass the budget
president Caske went carefully into
the water-moter question and explained
tbe value of testing the meters system
bv making the $1,000 appropriation for
this purpose. .,...
and he vigorously opposed the passage
~ the ordinance. He said he came 10
the meeting prepared 10 vote against the
budget and was sorry that he would
have 10 do so. The contingent fund only
bad e. 90 TO It's credit more than S4OW
OF which was already consumed i can
moi afford to vote" said Mr.. Rountree
"for a budget which / know we VIII
have 10 exceed. This body just snort
while ago made a pledge that II would
moi increase the appropriations made IN
tbts ordinance ! regard this pledge as
hIndlng upon me-" He recognized the
importance Of improving the streets OF
the city but declared that the eNpenll-
ture of $40 000 $1,000 or $1,000 upon klch-
nond's streets could not be seen al the
end ~ the year. What Richmond needed
for her streets was the outlay OF
SlC0OO0O Mr.. Rountree was opposed 10
taking $4,000 from the sinking fund'
which Was sacred.
Mr.. Harreson argued that the Couhcil
had no right 20 donate the city's iunds
10 private institutions, or 10 take the
$1,000 from the sinking fund and put II
on the streets but he recognized that the
members had 20 meet on common ground
and was willing 20 vote Tor the budget
which he trusted would be adopted.
THE WATER METERS FREE.
Mr.. wittq spoke in opposition TO the
wator-meteA allowance. and asked how
these meterA were 70 be put In the prem
ises of citizens. President Caskie an
nounced that they were 70 be placed
free Mr.. Witte then said he did not
see why the city, In these times should
donate $1,000 for meters 70 be given away
10 people ia order 80 cut down their water
rent.
A strong speech in favor Of the budget
was made by Mr. Mallerstein who spoke
the IA n0erS OF tying