Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-22
NO B0ARD0F FINANCE
THIS MEASURE is DEFEATED IN
THE COMMON COUNCIL.
LONG AND INTERESTING FIGHT.
Representative Busincss-Men Ap-
pear in Advocacy OF the Biii-It ls
Voted Down-Mr. Wallace Gives the
Finance Committees view.


Changes. providing for the creation of a
board Of finance.
The decision was reached after a
lengthy and exhaustive debate, and after
listening TO the arguments Of many
prominent citizens. representing the pro-
gressive institutions Of the city. Intense
interest was evidenced in the debate by
the large number of people who attended
the session.
After this question had been disposed
Of the Council took up the electrical
charters as amended by the Board of
Aldermen. and refusing to concur in
their action. adopted a resolution asking
for a committee Of conference.
DETAILS OF THE SESSION.
Ii was $50 when the President raped
the body to order There were present
Messrs Caskie. Bloomberg, Briggs, Ebel'
Foster. Harrelson, Hobson, King, CARRIER,
Hawkins, Jones, King Miller, Mosby,
Neale. Pollock. Rountree. Ryan, Tanner,
WaUerstein, Whalen, Williams, Witte,
and Woody.
Mir. Caskie explained that the Council
had been called to consider plan LOT
the creation Of a Board of Finance.
Mr.. Rountree rose and suggested that
the CITY Attorney should read the pro-
posed amendment TO the city charter.
Mr.. Meredith prefaced his reading by
saying that the proposed board mad rone
OF the features of a commission. Inc
bin merely provided for the creation OF
a third branch OF the City Council, ana
urovided for the election of this board by
hill section by section, and went into an
exhaustive explanation Of each OF It's
provisions. stating very clearly its OBJ
iects. scope. and purposes. When the
CITY Attorney reached the section which
reposes the management of the Sinking
fund lin the hands Of the board, Mr.
Rlcomberg asked what effect this would
have upon the Sinking-Fund Commission
ers. and Mr.. Meredith replied that 1t
would do away with them.
THIS A TURNING POINT.
II was 10 o'clock when Mr.. Meredith
finished the reading. MIR. Rountree then
said that there was so much interest
evidenced in the bill that he would IKE
some of the citizens present TO express
their views either for or against II. lie
made a motion to this effect, winch was
carried but no one came forward, ana
after a brief interval Mr.. Rountree again
took the floor He said he believed thls
bin was a turning-point in the history OF
the city. eve have been doing business
on old-fashioned lines" he said ana 1t
;s time we moved forward" He regret
"a mat the clubs had seen fit TO oppose
the hill. he continued, but he attributed II
TO the general misunderstanding when
evisted II was essentially measure 10
-b-neft- the poor, he thought. he was NOT
welded TO this particular bill, ana wouIu
he clad If anything better could De sug-
gested. 49,. or,
ing clause by providing for the election
of the ward representatives by the seve-
raj wards instead of by the entire city'
He was satisfied, he said, that IL lhe
proper men were TO be chosen to serve
on this board they must be elected III III
their own wards. The men VINO "oulu
canvass the city" he said, ARE pre-
cisely the men we do not want oh 'iiiS
board.
MR.. BRYANT is HEARD.
The chairman was about to put the
question. when Mr.. Bryant asked IL t the
invitation to citizens TO speak on tIie
question was still open. The Chair Iuaeu
~ as the opportunity had not been ac-
The invitation had been closed.
Mr. Rountree moved that the invitation
sbouId again be extended, and his motloh
prevailed. - rorresarted
- Youne Mems Business Association.
He had not risen at the hFst lnNtduoh
because he felt some difitdence IN takihs
the floor in the presence OF so many
rrominent citizens. lie alluded 10 tie
great service Of the Counch IN Ieuuo4''5
tbe evnen.,as OF the city government, anu
sno,,a Darticularly of the services rem
Sf~1d b,, members of the Good Govern
,-sevt I T.eap1e. some of whom had touhd
the duties so onerous that they had sig
nihed their intention Of retiring at thc
end of the present term. He opposed the
amendment "a Mr. Caskie, and expressed
the hope that the measure would pass
THE CHANGE is NEEDED.
Mr. Robert w. Powers said he was
present TO show the deep interest ne lell
IN the measure. The old things We're
passing away, he continued. ana plans
had to be changed TO meet the new co.7 I.
ditions The ordinances Of the common
Council were framed many years ago
and did not apply altogether TO the pres
ent time The need for the proposed
BOARD of Finance. he thought. was so
clear. and so desirable, that he coulu
NOT believe that any one would ofier any
ognosition 10 IL. 1--WE are famishing Tor
uroeress and improvements" he said IN
conclusion. and ne could not see why
there should be any objection 10 the Dill
MANY REASONS FOR IT.
Mr.. Il. A. Catlin next took the floor
The reasons for the passage OF the Dill
were obvious. he said, and it would GER
tainly result In great good. Nearly al
the business associations, he continued,
had passed resolutions in its favor ana
he hoped the Council would act favorably'
Eve have looked into this matter he
said. "and are in favor of it," Only one
objection had been heard against it-that
Il seems 10 be a reflection on the members
OF the Council He was sure IL was not
so intended nor was IL a rehecuon IN
any way This Council had certainly
been in the line Of reform and economy
and he asked the question, Are we al
ways going 10 have such a good CouncllF
He asked the members to look on the
public good and not on SELF He thought
II unwise 10 adopt Mr.. Caskie's amend
ment and he illustrated his point by an
allusion 10 Jackson Ward. There were
good men there. but the chances OF their
election 10 serve on the board would be
very much strengthened If the whole city
had a voice In the election of represen-
tative, and II was not restricted 10 the
ward.
Mr.. s. H. Hawes was next introduced.
lie said that the Chamber OF Commerce
had very carefully considered the bill.
and were unanimous in their approval Of