Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-02
ADOPTS THE BUDGET.
The Common COun il Passes Il With
Slight Amendments.
-
EUST LIVE WITHIN OUR INCOME
Members Pledge Themselves 10 Do This
During This Year.
MANY APPROPRIATIONS REDUCED.
I,Ver,thinE Based Upon the Esu-
uatc Of Receipts. Si,352, ,St9-An-
other Report from the Special Ac-
countnnt.
countnnt.

last nighrs meeting Of the Common
Council was the most interesting anA
,~-rortant that the lower branch has
hold this year The budget making ap-
,~opriatious to the city departments for
.ro fiscal year 1897. was submitted by
.ts Finance Committee and. after much
debate. and some slight changes. was
adopted
Another feature Of the meeting was
trs rerort Of the Special Accountant upon
che weiehmasters Of the First and Sc
c,v8 markets. the Water Department.
and the Committee on Improvement Of
James River.
The session was characterized by
breezy. husinesslike discussion, and, al
,boueh 20 lasted until midnight a great
volume OF business was transacted
II was nearly O'Clock before quorum
of members had assembled in the cham
her but the adjournment Of some Of the
rouncT committees released several q
.rernbcrs. who hurried into the chamber,
and the body was called to order. Those
,.reseut were. President Caskie, and
1lessrs. Blanks. Bloomberg, Briggs, Cot
,reu. Foster. Gunst. Harrelson, Hobson,
Hawkins. Jones. King, CARRIER. Miller,
liosby. Noble. Pollock. Rountree' Stokes.
Tanner. Wake. Wallerstein, Whalen,
Williams. Witte. and Woody.
There came from the Committee on
Streets several unimportant recommenda-
tons. and the Committee on Relief of
t1e Poor presented its plans and recon-
mendations ia regard TO the proposed an
mex 10 the city Almshouse in order TO
accommodate there the colored paupers
Of the city. When Clerk August had
finished reading the papers, Mr.. Cottrel
chairman of the Committee On Relief of
the Poor, stated that. after consultation,
a few minutes previously. with several
members Of that committee. he would
ask 10 have the papers recommitted,
which was done, without objection.
SPECIAL ACCOUNTANTS REPORT.
The Committee on Finance sent up
great batch of documents, the first Of
which 10 be presented to the Council was
che report of the Special-Accountant,
Carlton Mccarthy, touching the weigh
masters Of the First and Second markets,
the Water Department and the Com
mittee on James River Improvement
Following is the fun text Of this report:
Richmond. February 16, 1891.
TO the Committee on FINANCE.
Gentlemen.-Since my last report, ana
under instructions from your chairman,
have examined the books papers, etc,
0f the weighmasters az the flIsl anu
Second markets, the water Depdi uneHl,
aul the Committee on Improvement OF
James River i have also had full ana
satisfactory conference with the bodIu
of Commissioners Of the Sinking tunq.
The Westminster of the First Market
pursuing "a long-establisned custom has
been crediting his patrons until mere
was due the ATTY In fees some twenty
and odd dollars / required the amount
10 be paid into the Treasury at once
and instructed the Weighmaster 10 re-
quire cash hereafter, as the law requires
The accounts of the Weighmaster at
the Second Market, which / tNdmleu
for about two years back, 1 Iouhd 10 De
tn an respects satisfactory. But the re-
GENTS al the Second Market, including
fll credit for all weighing done there Ior
the city, 90 not pay the cost OF the ser
vice by $3.50 per annum.
I found the vouchers, accounts, tlc., Oh
the Water Department In a satisfactory
and creditabe shape, and need only 10
refer 10 d former report on tnls depart
luent and call attention TO the su56es-
lions then made.
] found a great improvement IN the
minutes Of the COMMITTEE on Ihe IN IN
pr0yement Of James RIVER, ana tHe
Vouchers and the accounts in satisfactory
shape. one voucher amounting 10 Slt'9'
dated February l. 1886, and paid June T.
1885 contained items, purchased IN con
r.otiou with the transfer Of the Dredge
AImlral Newport 10 Norfolk, which in
cude: Cigars. 81; whiskey, $50; beer, -
beef tongue. SLJJi lemons. loc.; cheese'
$40; olives 3jc. Total, $50.
TIE SINKING FUND.
In "a former report dated October ~,
$50 j called attention 10 certain matters
concerning the management OF lhe slIh-
irg fund, and recommended that the
Board OF Commissioners Of that iuhd
should be enlarged 10 five members ana
presented an ordinance 10 carry the sug5
g-slOn into effect; Ine CouhGn pass
two new members to the board. Wheh
the board met TO seat the two new mem
ler- ] was present by lnVltdton' anu ldiu
before them the conclusions / had IedCh-
cd after serious consideration OF the
charter and ordinances. and the condluoh
OF the fund. / fully and frankly eN-
pressed my objections TO the past con
duct of the affairs of the fund. ana as
fully urged the necessity for an I'M
mediate and radical change IN lne poilVS,
methods and accounts or the Doaru. j
also Insisted NIpOn the immediate set
temeD. VI any loan made 10 the general
fund contrary TO the limitations IN the
use of the fund set out IN the cnarler'
The board unanimously agreed 10 lhe
lrJprety and justice OF the cIluclsm
made upon the past methods OF the
board. and resolved that herealteH the
law. as defined i'm the charter ana IN lne
ordinances should be rigidly executed,
and every interest Of the fund sacredy
guarded.
IL is not necessary. or desirable that
] should 20 into details here, as the
matter has since been publicly argueu,
The details can be- communicated IN
future report II that IS desired by the
committee or the Council
SHOULD MAKE ANNUAL REPORTS.
deem Il my duty. however, TO call at
tenton now 10 the fact that the city or
of5nces require the Board dt COM
mssioners 90 make an annual report 70
the Council The section reads: section
l3. on OF before the first regular meeting
0f tho city Council in February Of edch
year. the board shall make report 70
the City Council Of their proceedings
curing the previous year. forwarding
herewith copies OF all reports made 10
lhen during such year by the AUDITOR
and Treasurer"
do not find that such a report is made,
ahi mention the fact. because the re-
ports or the Treasurer and Auditor con-
tefnlng the fund. while they give the
receipts and disbursements DO not inform
lAe Council concerning the nature Of the
transactions, which produce the receipts
ana necessitate the disbursements. The
report required By section l3 chapter l8.
pi lne city Ordinances. would give TINS
Information and its omission rs there
ioit, important. Very respectfully.
CARLTON MCCARTHY.
Snecial Accountant
The Annual budget Presented.
The budget canoe ling uncxpendcd ap-
poprduOns for the fiscal year 1885 ana
making new appropriations 10 the various
@.pdi iments, etc, FOR 1871 was presenter
ei lhia point II provides for the expencl-
tlfe Of exactly the amount Of The est
mated receipts, 81 ,352 $40, as follows.