Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-13


sent TO the Council by a certain party.
and when he could not cast his vote az a
Republican he would stay away from
the meetings of the Board Mr.. Bahen
accused Mr. Snead of having entered the
city Council originally as a Reformcr.
and made several remarks about strad-
ding two horses and the like which were
more forcible than complimentary. lie
said Richmond's interests were his inte-
rests. and ne would always vote for what
he believed 10 be the public good.
PROPOSITION TO The MAYOR.
Mr. Smith. OF jackson Ward followed
along the same lines. and Mr.. Sncad re-
piled to the two gentlemen. and defined
his position. which said he, had always
been with the Democratic party and TO
oppose the acquiring OF power 10y the Re
puolicans I'm city affairs.
Al this juncture Mir Zimmerman rose
and asked II he was 10 understand from
the original remarks Of the member from
Clay Ward that "A member Of the Reform
Committee had approached the Mayor
with the proposition above alluded to.
Mr.. Snead replied that such was the
case and said he believed the Mayor
would be willing to give the name Of the
man who had so approached him II he
were asked 10.
TAKES A MAJORITY VOTE.
The President, at this juncture laid
before the Board the following very in
teresting communication.
January r. 1897
W. NJ. Turpin, Esq, President Board OF
Aldermen.
Sir.-ln reply TO your enquiry as 10
what construction should be put upon the
words of the lOSth section of the City
Charter. specifying the vote necessary 10
override "A veto Of the Mayor. | submit
the following: The said section enacts
that the vote must be "a majority OF
the whole number of the members OF
each branch
find the rule Of construction to be that
If "a vote is required OF majority
of a definite body. ii means majority
of the body as defined by law, and not
as varied by circumstances. 1t does not
mean a majority Of so many Of the body
as may exist from time to time when the
votes may be taken II so, circumstances
might arise which would allow veto
10 be overridden by a small majority or
the members Of each branch.
The 18th section of the charter de-
clares that 20 majority of the mem
bers of each branch shall constitute a
quorum" etc.
IL cannot be pretended that il by death
or resignation, either branch should be
reduced TO five. the presence Of three
members would constitute a quorum.
The language I'm the 10Sth section IS
even broader and fuller than the Ian
euage I'm the 18th section. The former
does not merely say "a majority Of the
members Of ca n branch" but 1t says
"a majority of the WHOLE NUMBER
Of the members Of each branch. Ihe
use Of the woids whole number tends
10 strengthen the position that the Legs
lature intended the rule above announced
to apply.
/ am of opinion that as the Board OF
Aldermen is composed by law of eighteen
members. the vote necessary in that body
TO override a veto Of the Mayor must con-
sist Of ten. G. Y. MEREDITH
City Attorney.
THE ORDINANCE ADOPTED.
The question was then put. and the
vote on the direct question-the passage
Of the ordinance over the Mayors veto
was as follows:
Ayes-Messrs. Allen, Bahen, Brock. Bur
ton. Cutchins, Hardwicke, Montgomery
Moore. Noble Smith. Vaughan Zimmer-
| man-12.
Noes-Messrs Carter King. Snead-3.
The ordinance was declared carried
7 Notwithstanding the objections OF the
Mayor.
The recommendation of the Committee
ON Retrenchment and Reform was tnen
| carried. The reduction of the salary OF
! the city Engineer and the fixing or the
salaries of his assistants was carried by
a vote Of IL TO T. Mr. Cutchins voting no
i'm this case The reduction Of the salary
of the Superintendent of the Gas-Works
was carried by a vote OF Z 10 3.
MONEY FOR STREET WORK.
A resolution. to appropriate $3.50 for the
having of NJ street between Twenty-hrst
and Twenty-seCond streets was carried
unanimously as also were recommenda-
tions for appropriations for the paving
| grading. and seweIing of numerous alleys
i'm different parts Of the city.
A resolution appropriating I'o9'fo Ioi
the payment of certain bills for copying
and for stationery was approNeu py.
vote of 10 to 0.
A resolution appropriating $500 Tor the
Committee on Printing was passed. Dy
| like majority.
The appropriation Of 500 for the pur-
| chase of coal for the colored poor Waa
concurred in.
The appropriation Of 81, 600 for the ladies
of the City Mission, TO be used under the
supervision Of the Superintendent OF Pub
lie Charities Tor the purchase OF coal
was concurred in.
A resolution to refund Sab to the West
End Baptist church (colored), for over
charge. was concurred in; so was reso'
luton to pay Mr.. James Gardner OF
| Philadelphia. Sl1592 for goods supplied
! to the gas-works in 1892.
A resolution providing for the appoint
ment of three members 10 serve on ~,
| School Board-two from the city COuhcl
| and one from the Board of Aldermen
was concurred in.
An amended resolution from the Coun
/ ell. that a committee of five should b'
| appointed TO consider the eNpediency o
.stricting and subdviding the severa
wards of the city, was negatived by
/ vote of s to g.
COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE.
4 request for a conference between five
members of the Council and four mem
/ hers of the Board Of Aldermen as TO th'
reduction of the salary Of the foreman
! of the Lower gas-wOrks. the dispensing
with the services of a harness polsher II
/ the CITY stables. and the prohibition Ol
/ any member of the Common Counci IRON
voting for the appointment OF any pioo'
relation or relation by marriage 70 any
nublic position whatsoever which hd'
/ been passed by the Council ana reJecte'
l hv the Board was received.
| Tbe ordinance dealing with conferences
,,,os read and considerable discussion Wa'
| aroused 1t was argued by Mr. haru
,,iclre mat the matter had better be Vote'
! down bv the Board for the request mean
/ e,,,,iv a plan 10 circumvent the acuoi