The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-10
RETRENCHMENT and REFORM
A Resume Of The Past Efforts Of This
Important Committee.
OUTLINE OF THEIR FUTURE WORK
Daring This Year Regular weekly Meet
incs wiii,Bc Held, and Each City De
parttn,nt Eigidly Investigated.
Health Department Comes First.

The citizens Of Richmond generally ana
some members Of the two municipal pod
les are deeply i'm earnest In their Efforts
To promote rotrenchmcnt in the city S
expenses and a reform in the manner OF
expenditure. in view OF this interest
which has been aroused. a brief resume
Of the work that has been done VIII not
DO amiss.
Some time ago by a concurrent rcsolu-
ton q special committee was created 10
thoroughly Investigate each aud every ue-
partmcnt of the city, and To nnhs III
such recon mcndatlOus as they lnl5"t
deem proper ia order that the yearly tA-
pcnditures of the city might be- Kept win.
in IT'S income. This committee coHaia''u
OF Major Otway =. Allen, chAiiihdil' ,iilu
Mcssrs. j.. NJ. Noble, Stdrk", ana NlHi-
rnermann. from the Board OF AldttMt ID.
From tho Council were Mcssrs.. HI. " I.
Rountrec, Ebel, Harrclscn, Jones' ana
John J. King.
These gentlemen M once went 10 work
and made a most thorough and cNhana-
tive Investigation of several departments.
The substance of the recommendations
brought m by the committee were as
follows.
RECOMMENDATIO MADE.
Dispensing with the services of tho
barncss-repairer at me Guy a''"'0''
whose salary IS So per month.
Reducing the salary OF the Engineer "a
the city to $4,000 per aununi.
Reducing the salary Of the first assist
ant engineer 10 $lJ}O per anhuni'
Reducing the salary OF tine acc'hd u.s.
sistant engineer to $3.50 per aunum.
Reducing the salary OF tho third assist
ant engineer 10 $3.50 per annun .,
Reducing the salary Of the Superlntehu-
ont Of the Gas Works from S5'opv 10 <-'''O
Reducing the salary Of the foreman Of
the Lower Gas Works 90 N.4u
These recommendations of the commit
session of the Board of Aldermen ana
Common Council. ana were adopieu ~. u
but little discussion. AT the Ieeul"I
meeting Of the Common Council they
were also adopted. but when tney cline
before the Beard OF Aldermen there was
% hot fight which resulted I'm the entiie
icuOrt being rejected
The matter was allowed 20 slumner
while. and then another meeting OF the
Board was called. The same ground was
fought over again. but with no better re.
suit tho whole matter being reieritu
back 20 the Committee on kctrehcu-
mcnt and Reform This committee. now.
over. had been considerably incenscd or
tho treatment accorded ITS report ana
returned the papers promptly 20 the
Board without taking any turSer ac-
ton upon them.
FINALLY ADOPTED.
Another meeting OF the bcdiu OF "a
dermen was then held. and. after hNcly
skirnish. the ordinances reducing inc
salaries of the city Engineer. his three
assistants. and tine superintendent or
the Gas Works were cOncurred IN by
a very small majority.
The ordinances then went 10 the Mayor
for approval. which nO one thought Would
bc withheld. and consequently there was
great astonishmcnt expressed when That
official returned them TO the touncll with
"a lengthy veto message. Despite inc
Mayors objections. however. the Council
at its last meeting. passed the ordinances
oyer his veto by "A unanimous vote. ana
they viii now 90 10 the Board Of Al
dcrmen on next Tuesday night and That
body Also Will doubtless follow the lead
of inc Council, though not with the same
unauimity.
COMMITTEE ENCOURAGED.
After the partial adoption of rs. re-
| port by the Board OF Aldermen. the tom-
mittce on Retrenchment and Reform
seeing that its efforts were net alto-
ecthcr dcspiscd. took fresh courage. ana
began 20 arrange for vigorous campaign
iu tho interest of rctreurhmcui 4 meet -
ing Of the committee was held, ana u
was determined CD meet once week du-
t.fffr fI.. r..r TAI- aud take ,IU the