Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-05
PLAN FOR PUTTING OUT 5000, 900
FOR THIS PURPOSE.
WORK OF CHARTER CHANGE COMMITTEE
Bill Creating q board of Finance,
Elective by Popular Vote, Finally
Agreed Upon-Opposftion Raised to
the Department store.
the Department. Store.

torney 10 De put into proper shape Tor
recommendation to the City Council.
Those present were Chairman Roun-
tree and Messrs. Allen, Noble. Har-
relson. CARRIER and Ryan Of the
and City-Accountant Mccarthy. Clerk
Mcdowell read the very exhaustive
record of the previous meeting. and the
body went at once into the consideration
Of the act. as presented by City-3ttorney
Meredith. Mr. Meredith explained all the
amendments agreed to by the committee.
and at the conclusion Of this talk there
was a general discussion over the Sec
ton providing that the people shall elect
the members OF the board. Chairman
Rountree said that since the last meeting
he had given much thought to this SUBJ
ject, and wanted to hear the views of the
committee as to what was best in this
respect.
This brought Mr.. Harrelson to his feet.
and he argued that the best men could
be gotten for these places by having
them elected by the Council. He felt
satisfied that 1t would be a mistake to
choose these men by popular vote. Unde-
as the Council could select the very best
men for these positions.
PEOPLE SHOULD ELECT.
Mr.. Meredith TOOK the ground that the
best men for the board would be gotten
from the people. A man who would want
the place would rather work for 1t before
forty-eight members of the City Council
than before the whole city. '1f you have
an election before the whole people for
a position to which there is attached no
pay. no patronage, no notoriety by re-
ports of speeches in the Council you are
very apt to get the sort Of men you
want" said Mr.. Meredith. "The only
way to get the men you would like to
have is 10 have them to allow their names
TO be submitted TO the people" Mr..
Meredith thought Mr.. Harrelson's idea
was a mistaken one.
This view was concurred in by Mr..
Allen. who said he had just as soon have
the Finance Committee as to leave Ii to
the Council to elect the members OF the
Finance Board 1.-The election Of these
men should be In the hands of the peo-.
ple," said he.
Mr.. Noble opposed the entire paper
very vigorously, saying that II was legis-
lation fer the classes against the masses.
He felt sure that the Council would never
agree to the bill. unless It put the election
within the power of the people. He did
not think II would ever be adopted, any
how. Mr.. Noble also argued that II the
city was going to have finance board,
the members thereof should be paid for
their services. II don't agree with the
paper at ALL" said he, because by its
provision 1t puts the whole burden upon
the laboring men and employees OF the
city"
After a great deal more discussion Mr..
Aliens motion to print the bill and recon-
mend 1t to the Council was adopted
THE MATTER OF LICENSE-TAXES. p
Mr.. Noble brought to the attention of
the committee the fact that there were
many firms in this city carrying on seye-
raj distinct lines of business upon one
license. 10 the detriment OF the small
dealers. II would like for us to recon-
mend some law which would correct this
evil" said Mr. Noble.
Mr. Harrelson said he thought these
matters were regulated by the City Ordi-
nances but the City Attorney held that
il would require special provision by the
State Legislature in order for the city to
depart from the usual lines OF assessing
taxes employed by the State.
Mr.. Allen said he could see how the
large stores. doing a general merchandise
business, could do great injury TO the
smaller houses, but he could see no way
in which the situation could be remedied.
Mr.. Harrelson spoke of the effect that
these combinations Of various lines OF
trade in one house was having upon
wholesale speciality houses, but after
some discussion the matter was dropped,
without even a motion being made.
ISSUANCE OF SEWER BONDS.
Mr.. Allen then presented a new sub
iect-an ordinance providing for the is
suance of sewer bonds, not to exceed
100000, for. the construction of sewers,
sinking fund Of l per cent. being
formed, and the current revenues from
new sewers built by proceeds from the
sale of these bonds to be pledged to Sc
cure the payment of these bonds. Mr..
Allen said there was crying need for a
better sewerage system in this city, and
he saw no other way to get IL than that
which he suggested. I'VE owe II to the
people who live within the limits of the
city of Richmond to at least give them
the benefits of city lfe-that is, sewers,
water, and gas"
Mr.. Meredith asked Mr.. Allen IL he
meant that these bonds should come
within the bonded limit Of the city.
ooh, no." replied the Madison-Ward
Alderman. 81 mean that we shall es-
tablish an entirely new system, and is
sue these bonds for sewer purposes only,
and that they shall be met by the reve-
nues derived from the sewers thus built
only"
Mr.. Harrelson said he could not see
how the city could carry on this thing
of piling up debt. unless 1t had the reve-
nue. in sight. He spoke OF the cry
throughout the city because the Coun-
eli had not made the appropriation
asked for to carry the public schools
TO the end of the fiscal year. ''Mr.
Chairman, / want to say right here"
continued Mr.. Harrelson, that we have
appropriated every dollar OF our reve-
nues. and now, IL the departments need
more money and the people cry for 1t.
the only way ] see to meet their wishes
is by. increasing taxes.
There was great deal OF debate
touching this question of issuing special
sewer bonds, and Mr.. Allen finally
moved that the City Attorney be IN
structed to prepare bill to allow the
City Council to Issue sewer bonds not
to exceed 100000 for the construction Of
additional sewers. for the payment or
which there shall be separate sinking
fund created by the l per centum per
annum, and all revenues derived from
any such additional sewers-after the
payment of interest on said bonds.
The resolution was finally laid upon
the table until the next meeting, ana
the committee adjourned until next
Thursday night at o'clock.
Grounds and Buildings in Session.
The Committee on Grounds and Build
lngs met in regular session In Room no.