The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-05
TWENTY-FOUR 10 NOTHING
Vas the Vote by Which the Council
Buried Mayor TaylOr'S Veto.
IT WAS THE WEAKEST He EYER SAW.
So Mr.. Wallerstein Characterized the
Mayors sMcssagc-RlchInond Gas Com-
panys Petition-Another Bidder in
the TieId-PeopIe Must Vote.

aIa1Ni : ffr7h-' FH' Nf'+-
panys Petition-Another Bidder in
the FieId-PeopIe Must Vote.
Tho Council held a very interesting
session last nigh: in the Council cham
Der, a large nImbcc OF spectators DeinS
present. Many important matters were
disposed Of. among them the much
talkod-of veto of the Mayor. upon which
the Council set tho seal of its disaD-
proval by a vote Of "A to O.. The propo-
sition TO lease the Gas-WorIs was re-
ferred 10 the Finance and Light Com
mittees, it having been ascertained that
a law passed IN 1880 required all such
matters 10 be submitted to popular
vote.
The Council met at 7.3) o'clock, Press-
dent Caskie ia the chair, ana tho fol-
lowing members present: Messrs. Allen,
Blanks, Bloombcrg, Briggs. Cottreu,
Ebel. Foster. Gunst, Harreis0n, HAWKINS,
Hobson. Jones. Milo Mosby, Noble,
Pollock. R0untree. stokes, Tanner, VIII
uam.. Wauerstoin. Whalen, Wite, and
Woody.
Messr5. John J. King, Lawder and
Scott were reported sick.
MAYOR TAYLORS $ VETO.
The first matter taken up was the
message Of Mayor Taylor vCtoing the
ordinances reducing the salaries OF tho
CITY Engineer. three Assistant Engineers
and the Superintendent OF the Gas
Works.
The following is the communication OF
Mayors Office
Richmond, Va, Dec. -. 1876.
To the Honorable, the Council OIL t"e
city OF Richmond
Gontlemen.-I herewith return to you'
with my dlsapproval, the following pro-
posed ordinances adopted by the Common
Council october Q, 1896. reducing the
salary OF the Engineer Of the city; nN-
ing the salary OF three Assistant Ehsl-
neers reducing tho salary OF the SUI
uerintondont of the Gas-Works.
Tho ordinance originally passed liking
theee salaries were adopted by the re-
ouircd vote of two-thirds OF each
branch Of the Council. 1 cannot UNDER
stand. therefore. how. by simple ma
ioritv vote. can these salaries Dee Zee
duccd. / also send you nay disapproNal
Of these proposed ordinances, because
I beliove the citizens generally, ass wei
4s cha narticular officers affected, should
know why you have treated this matter
partially. and have Disseminated against
officers equally as efficient and deserving
as those NOT touched at all. You nave
talfon two dopartmonts only, leaving lne
.,,ti,rf, I'm doubt as 10 what may bee pro-
nosaI hereafter. and in these two de-
rarfmouts YOU have discrlmintteo amohb
the officers. even among those having '"e
esme salaries and equally as iniDot l-''
d,i+fes. The saving $50 ilr ptop'7eu 'l
about $3.50. ont of pay-roh Ior 'i'
,,.b,l. citv OF over {5OU0. does not ihul-
,,f. tb,t anv substantial reduction VIII
49,. r,ade Ina salaries. IL this insignih-
cont reduction is intended only as 4
,.,rter to Dee followed by n wholesAi1
reduction hereafter Of both salaries a.''
,...eos vybv shouldn't 10 be known why
this picccmcal method
CHEAP NEGRO LABOR.
T. tbore any purpose 10 substitute cheap
rogro labor for any OF our Wn'te ei"
rloyesq our tax-burdencd white people
,,,rt rositfve proof or fair and sun-
e+artlai rctrenchment In expenses ana
Z heli.ve 7 voice their wishes WN'"
saw that they viii not be sati-ilea Win
anything else. ,.o
You are perfectly aware that IL Inc
epDropriatlons TO all the various depart
rnents arc reduced TIN within the IeNe-
nues Of the city you viii iofce e@on
of them TO economy and retrencnilei' ''
n howovcr we are 10 discriminate 3"
his by extravagant appropriations sucn
49, ave- made for the negroes, who pay
lcss than 10 per cent. OF the taxes. and and
or 90 ncr cent. Of the benefits or iaVoi
~ fow departments at the expense oil
others. tho reduction OF salaries either
wbonv or partially. will but meet the
vital oucstion Of the city living "ithlH
/ us income.
hope YOUR honorable bodies VIII re-
consider your action concerning these
proposed ordinances.
Very respectfully.
RICHARD NJ. TAYLOR.
Mayor.
,~.~r, - ttrr-Arr NfEEgAgN