The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-22
AGAINST A FINANCE BOARD.
The Common Council Is In Deadly Fear
Of Commissions.
BUSINESS MEN RECOMMEND The BILL
Many Counciimen Also Favor IL but The
Opposition Won the Day After
Long Discussion--tonfe
Committee on Franchises.

| nance. carefully prepared by me Com
mittee on Charter Changes, assisted by
the city Attorney. providing for change
TO the city charter. authorizing the forma-
tion OF a Board OF Finance. 10 which
should be entrusted the apportionment
OF all the revenues Of the city. The meas
ure has heretofore been printed in The
Times in its entirety.
The interest in the bill was evidenced
| last night boy the presence in the chamber
! OF large number OF representative clu-
| zcns. among them Messrs. >. II. haWes'
president of the Chamber Of Commerce,
! John : Ellett. president Of tho state
| Bank: II. l.. Cabell. John A. Curtis, Julian
| BRYANT. representing the Young Men s
| business Association. Jud II. Wood, = W..
/ Travers. l.. G. Younger. J.. y. Catlin, X.
/ " Powers. and others. Representatives
! Of the Old Dominion and Powhatan Demo-
cratic Clubs were also on hand.
BUSINESS MEN FAVOR 1T.
Tioquent speeches were made by citizens
nr,sont. showing that all the business or
l ganizatons Of the city favored the meas
ure. and the clear explanation of the city
| Attory showed the admirable character
! of the bill But little was said in Opposi-
/ fion. and the points made against IL seem
| "a 10 have hut little foundation. The buga-
/ hoo OF commissions however, had been
! bugv among tho councilmen, and they
| turned the measure down.
In addition 10 killing this important BILL
tho Council. under suspension OF the rules
| concurred I'm a resolution OF the Board
| Of Aldermen. making an appropriation 10
! remunerate the 1--WE men discharged from
! the Health Department FOR time lost.
| They also refused 20 concur in the action
Of the Board. granting franchises 10 tho
| Home and the Southern Electric COM
panics. and asked for a Conference Com
| mittee. This was done I'm order mat the
time these franchises are 20 run may DE
| enlarged TO thirty years
II was not until $50 o'clock that the
Council was called 10 order by President
/ Caskie. there being present Messrs. blooui-
berg. Briggs. EbcL Foster. HARRISON, HoD-
/ son. King Miller, Pollock. Ronnree'
RYAN. Tanner. Wallerstein Whalen'
Wltte. Woody. Moshy Jones and o. A.
| Hawkins.
President Caske stated 10 the Council
that the object Of the meeting was 10
! consider a bin creating q Board Of FL
| nance. and defining its powers. lie re-
/ ouestcd city Attorney Meredith 10 read
/ the ordinance % the Council and explain
/ its provision.
THE MEASURE EXPLAINED
! Mr.. Meredith prefaced the reading OF
/ tho bill by the statement the proposed
| Roard Of Finance had none OF the fca-
| lures Of "a commission whatever. It was
! virtually. he said. q third branch OF the
/ Council. 70 took no powers whatever from
| that body. except as 20 the appropriation
! of money. Il being deemed for the good
/ Of the city TO divorce the legislative and
/ cyecutve functions.
Mr.. Meredith showed that no power was
/ taken from the people, but, on the other
| hand. they received more power since
/ six Of the nine membrs were elected d.
rectly by the people OF the city.
Mr. Meredith then went on TO read and
explain tersoly and clearly the interest
| Of each section. He especially called at
tention TO the fact that power was given
| 10 the Council 20 remove by two-thirds
vote from office any member OF the Board
| for good cause shown.
/ Mr.. Meredith showed that the only piece
! OF patronage given che Board was the
right TO elect ihe Special Accountant OF
| the city. who. under The terms Of the or
| dnance, is TO act as secretary Of the
| Board.
! In reply TO a question from Mr.. Bloom
berg regarding The erect Of the ordinance
upon the Sinking FuLd Commiss .Oncrs,
I Mr. Meredith said that So would remove
/ them. their powers being bestowed upon
I the Board. lie explained at length the
section empowering the Board 90 make
all appropriations heretofore In the hands
! Of the Council. lie emphasized the ad-
yartagcs of the provision which requires
| the Board t. have the budget prepared by
December lst OF each year as great con-
fusion Is now caused by the fact tha, the
appropriations made are not now known
I..s s.s nI
departments have no knowledge OF how
10 regulate their expenditure.
no POWER TO ALTER.
In reply 10 "a question by Mr.. CARRIER,
who desired to know whether the Coun-
Gil or Board had the power 10 alter the
amount OF any appropriation made by the
Board of Finance. Mr.. Meredith replied
I'm the negative. IL was tho speciahmerit
OF the ordinance ne said. that the voice
of the Board should De hnal i'm an appro-
prations A lump sum would be appro-
priated 10 each department by the Board.
which could not be Increased, but the
Council shall say how the money shall
be spent.
In regard TO the provision giving power
TO tho Holrd TO specify how much of each
lump sum shall be spent in each quarter
of The year. the city Attorney showed
that great advantage would result from
this. and prevent the several departments
from exceeding the amounts appropriated
20 them.
As 10 the statement that the Board
would have the power 10 reduce The sala-
ries Of the departments Of the city Mr..
Meredith called especial attention to the
following clause In Section 10:
"1'he wages or compensation paid all
mechanics workmen, or laborers in the
dfaorent departmcnte shall be determined
from time to time by the CITY COUN-
Gil"
This, he said. disposed Of that statement
IN the strongest possible language.
The provision IN regard 10 the sinking
fund was clearly and fully explained by
Mr.. Meredith he showing that the fund
in the past had not been managed so as
TO secure the advantage of increasing in
terest on sums set aside. one issue o.
bonds being redeemed with a sum intend
ed 10 cancel another issue.
Section II, which provides that there
shall be 70 indebtness contracted I'm OK
cess Of the current revenues II the city,
without the consent OF the City Council.
was pointed out by Mr. Meredith as fur
nishine safeguard OF which the city had
long been in need.
The concluding section OF the ordinance
gives the board the power from time to
time to examine the books and papers OF
the Fire. Police and School Boards. in
formation so obtained TO be laid before
the City Council
When the reading was concluded Mr..
Rountree said that from the number OF
citizens present II was evident that there
was great interest taken In the bill. He
moved. therefore that any one who want
ed TO speak on the matter he heard