The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-21
MAYORS SALARY TO Be CUT.
Retrenchment COMMITTEES Recommends
That II be Reduced $500.
The GAS INSPECTOR CUT DOWN $500.
Also the Foreman of the Lower Gas Works
Steps Towards Economy in the Police,
Fire. school, and James River
improvement Departments.

The Committee on Retrenchment and
Reform nearly completed its arduous and
time-consunllng labors at its meetings
yesterday, and there is no longer any
doubt that a general repCrt will be ready
to 20 before the next meeting Of tho
Council on May Srd.
They recommended yesterday that the
Mayors salary be cut down to 5000 per
annum after July 1. ls9s, agreed that
tho salaries OF the Gas Inspector and
foreman of the Lower Gas Works, the
president Of the Board OF Health. and
the physicians 10 the poor be reduced,
and q movement was started which may
result IN Il more economical administra-
tion OF the Police, Fire. School ana James
River improvement Departments.
TIE PROCEEDINGS.
The members OF the committee present
were Chairman Allen ana Aiessrs. Harrel-
son, Jones. j. J. King, Noble, Rountree,
ana Zimmerman. The absentees were
Mcssrs. starhe and Ebel.
Dr. William III. Taylor, the City Coro-
nor. was present, and was permitted 10
speak on the proposition made at the last
meeting OF the ketrencnment and Reform
Committee 10 make the ONCE OF the City
Coroner elective by the Council. lie
thought a change would be ill-advised.
The officer Is now appointed by the Judge
OF the Hustings Court, and custom had
added such duties 10 the position as 10
make II part Of the machinery Of that
court. The Coroner is now an expert
witness for the Commonwealth, ana
should be satisfactory TO the judge.
The Coroners duties in Richmond are
different from those contemplated by the
Code 4 magistrate could do what was
required by the law. IL as candidate for
the office, DR.. Taylor said, he would be
forced to add TO his multifariOus duties
the arts OF the politician, he would be
out Of his element.
Harbormaster Hancock wished the
Council 10 pass ordinances for the coll
lection OF fees on vessels coming into
| Richmond.
Westminster Finnerty, OF the Second
| Market. protested against the substitution
OF fees for salary in his office. lie said
! the position would not pay any man TO
! keep it.
There was no motion to reconsider the
| action OF the committee at its last meet
/ ing. so no action was taken.
STREET CLEANING
The report Of the Committee on
| Retrenchment and Reform. recommends
| ing the creation Of a street cleaning de-
/ partment. which was reported in The
! Times last week, was taken up and dis
| cussed.
The report. after being amended by the
! fun committee. provides for the creation
OF a department Of street cleaning, TO be
under the control of a superintendent at
! a salary Of 500 per year, ana TO give
bond OF Sl.50o. the superintendent TO De
| required In the event his services shall
be required in time Of epidemics, to per-
/ form such sanitary duties as the Presl-
dent OF the Board Of Health shall direct
! Otherwise he Is under the direction or the
Health Committee. The employees OF the
I street cleaning Departments are 10 be uni
formed and wear a numbered badge.
Tbat norton OF the report recommend
! ing the return Of the sanitary police TO
the regular force was adopted but these
police may be called for by the President
| Of the Board of Health in case OF emer-
gency or epidemic.
The Plumbing Inspector was placed m
| der the direction of the Health Commit
tee.
The committee alsb recommended that
| the salary OF the physicians 10 the poor
be reduced 10 $500 and the President OF 'he
Board OF Health to 500
~
The report OF the subcommittee ap-
nonted to investigate the condition OF
| Rroad street resulted in the recommends
tion OF the ordinance which follows:
An ordinance concerning applications
for privileges to occupy any street or po'-
| tion thereof. ,...
Re II ordained by the Council OF the city
Of Richmond. that hereafter any person
or company applying for a priVilese 10
/ occupy and use any street or pot
| thereof for any purpose whatsoever shall
-, uttb the petition asking for such
,ranchlse or privilege, file plan or plans
ond specidcations showing the location.
character and extent Of the proposed
work and how Il would iniure or affect
the then condition and grade Of the side
r,olts cutters. or roadbeds OF the street
or streets or alleys proposed 10 De oc-
cupled. No such petition unaccompanieu
nv the required plans or specifications
shall be considered by the Council
This ordinance shall be IN torce from 10
THE NIGHT SESSION.
The Committee on Retrenchment and
Reform re-convened at $40 o'clock WIN
the following members present: Messrs
r,hel Uarrolson. Noble Rountree, Jones
ana Zimmerman. Mr.. Rountree occupied
the chair. Mr. King came IN later. MI
Usrdwicke arrived at 800 o'clock.
,rhe report of the Committee on Keller
NJ tho poor. recommending that the su-
perintendent. and first and second assis-
| tant superintendents, and steward DC re-
| ,ained as officers at the Almshouse' ana
| that the first assistant superintendent
be exonorated from the charges III re-
gard n the consumption OF the citys
time I'm collecting dues for beneficial
ordar was racfi iNed and rled-
The office OF second assistant superin-
tendent of the Almshouse was then taken
nm and upon motion OF Mr.. Ehel the
committee decided 10 recommend that
that office be retained and the salary at
tached thereto be allowed to remain as at
| present
The committee next took up for consld-
Grafton the Department on James River
| Improvement. Mr.. Noble suggested that
| the committee recommend to the Com
| mittee on lanes River Improvemnt that
| the whole amount OF the appropriation
| for salaries i'm that department which Is
now $40 be reduced 10 per cent, and
| thar the Committee on James River I'm
| provement decide as TO the individual
| salaries ard wagos
THE ELECTORAL BOARD.
Before any action on the matter was
J taken and while the clerk was ascertain
| ing whether the salaries In this depart-
ment were fixed by ordinance the ques-
| ton OF the position OF the Secretary OF
! the Electoral Board was introduced A
| communication from Mr. William ii. Pal
| mer formerly of the Board was read ex-
| planning the duties OF the secretary and
| giving his opinion as to the amount OF
| compensation that would be fair for the
gFrl.n 81