Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-24
THE RETRENCHMENr COMMITTEES
MADE GOOD HEADwAY.
NOT HLEY CHANGES RECOMMENDED.
Discussion over City-Attorncyship
and Consultations al the Markets
ray "i Judges Remains as at Pres
ent-othcr Matters Considered.


was the consideration of written re-
port, prepared 10y Clerk Mcdowell, at the
instance Of the committee. embracing an
the changes previously agreed upon by
that body and not recommended to the
Council The FIRST item of consequence
reached upon this report was relative
TO the manner I'm which the Board OF
sinking Fund Commissioners had been
performing their duties. Specialize
countant Mccarthy explained that the
charter and ordinances governing the
board were ample. save as 10 the time
OF meeting. which should he thought,
be held about June and December LIST
each year instead of ON the 18th of each
Of the months. He added that this would
be better. IN order 20 enable the board 10
make up IT'S reports TO the City Council.
After some discussion Mr. Noble moved
TO report TO the Council that nasmuch
as the Board Of Sinking-Fund Commits
siOncrs had not complied with the char
ter and ordinances since 1871 that they
hereafter DE required TO hand in their re-
port 10 the Council in conformity with
the charter and ordinances, also, to in
struct the City Attorney to prepare
amendments TO the charter. providing
that 30 shall be the duty of the board 10
hand ia semi-annuany "a report Of the
condition OF the sinking fund.
The ordinance relative 90 the pay OF en-
ployees Of the Health and Street depart
ments. who report for duty on rainy days
was The next feature OF the report taken
up. and The committee returned IL TO the
Board Of Aldermen. with the recommenda-
ton that 10 DE referred 20 the committees
ou Health and Streets. Jointly
Tne subject OF the duties and compen-
sauon OF the Clerk of the Hastings Court,
and the matter Of Cuttiug Off the Sl,VjJ ans
nually paid the Commonwealth Attorney
were debated. but no action taken IN
''Ihe City clerk and Clerk 10 the Board
OF Aldermen constituted the next head-
ing ga Clerk McDOwells report AIR. EDel
stated that in view of the fact that the
committee had misappreheuded the duties
OF this officer. he would move tnat me
City Clerk s. salary bc allowed 20 remain
as al present ana that the acuon OF we
committee designating the Clerk 20 the
Council Committees as assistant TO the
City Clerk Doe recOnsiccrcd. Mr.. EDel
said further that he took this position
with reference TO the assistant because II
was merely nominal designation, ana
the Committee Clerk would perform none
of the duties OF the city Clerk, ana TWO
men would be supposed TO be dolnS eA-
aCtly what one man was DONG
GENERAL CUT rs SALARIES.
Chairman Allen added that he would re-
serve the right 90 bring ln minority re-
port making "a general cut of salaries.
Mr. Ebcl. AS i understand II, any mem-
ber OF this committee could 90 ihiS.
The Chair. Not unless he SO declares
Wr zimmerman: DO 1 understand the
chair t0 mean that after We have finished |
rfis ,.orI- off adjusting aud eQualiMng !
these positions and salaries, one OF us !
could not offer a motion or bring ln MI !
norlty report providing for a general re-
me Chair: oh. no; did not mean to be
understood 10 convey mat idea.
After some further discussion aloIg tIla |
line the point was raised that the COM
mlttee could not reconsider, because lheie
oyere not present as many members as /
when the first action was taken. Inc
ruIes however. did not bear out TINS po-
siriou. and the motion Of MI. Ebel was
Ji,-l8ed and adopted. Another proposition /
of Mr. EbeIs was TO nave the cJihLHlttgc
clerk 10 perform the duties OF lhe CIly
CIerk. when the latter should Doe absent
~ reason OF sickness or absence from the
city TDis was also agreed 10.
T'be committee next took up me duties !
OF the officers Of The Ponce Court MI.
KING Thought The Bailin could very easily
n. fispensel with. as his principal Qulles
were 10 Keep the place clean, ana thdt
these he had performed 10y a negro MI.
King stated that he believed IL lheIt Wass
a place In this city Wheie retreHcHIHenI
could properly De made IL was uila one.
~ ir,affer was thoroughly discussed,
and Mr. Ebel finally said that he dld not
feei fbat the BaINff should be nut or |
until he was heard upon TINS Do 1tttI: lie !
ino-pd that action be deferred untl MI
Gibbons could be heard. =.
MIR King said that the heads or de-
partments were the proper persons 10 ,GeI
such Information from, ana these haI
bceu heard. lie had rather adjourn dl
once and not meet again, thah 10 CditS
mis- thing into an inquiry of every pety
office Let Us act Ike men, salo MI
King "and get through with TINS iepol 1;
We have been seven monlhs on IN. ..ll,,.,, nov.
After further debate, MT. EDel motion
- iosf hv the following tie vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Harrelson' King and
Chairman ANen-5. .-.,,. .., ,,,-...,
mann-6 -,-
RECOMMENDATION AGREED UPON. |
Tn committee agreed 10 the following |
Recommendations previously settled upon
Dyp ypiaduoina the pay Of the Clerk of the
Roard of SlnMng-Fuud Commissioners !
T.as,,ine the salary of the Clerk TO the |
Auditor as az present, but requiring hlm /
10 Derform the duties or transfer clerk |
xyithout additional compensation
Provfding am ordinance nXlng the duties /
OF superintendent OF the Clty hau upon
The Sergeant-at-Arms OF the CouhclI' |
tbereby saving the 81 200 paid 10 the super |
iHfiD'',cs The Committee refused 10 confirm its
former agreement as 70 iC'",, aus. ~
esiarv of the Assistant Clerk TO the Audl-
sor from 81 200 to $1,000 per annum, leaving /
he assistants compensation as az /
CITY ATTORNEYS SALARY.
vvben the Office OF the City Attorney |
was reached Mr.. Noble made a strenuous
sfTort 10 have the ordinance governing |
fis duties so changed as 70 require MN
=, bc @f his office in the city Han from
A Nj tlu =. NJ, arguing by TINS the
Afforney would not have 10 hurry |
Through any of the citys business, anu
81 could be available az an slinoS 70 IL ~
Srffcers and counciimen OF the city. lie
Vas favorable 10 the payment OF larger
salary. ., trorr,,.o,, enol,a i'm
orucsltlon to the views OF Mr.. NODle'
fafing the position that the committee
- bere 10 reduce and retrench, and not
10 increase the expenses or the Guy. MI.
Allen did not think IL would ne any
economy at this time 10 make any chdnnsc
in reference TO this ONCE. Upon hI'
Kings motion this office, as well as that
of CITY Accountant, was allowed 70 re-
main as at present-|2.z0 ana $ioJO re-
THE HARBOR MASTER.
The committee had already decided 10
reduce the pay Of the HarDor Master from
500 10 500 Mr.. Noble moved 20 recon
Ftlar mis- and TO allow the HarbOr Mas
ter 10 collect the fees allowed by law.
14e aid not think this change would IN
anv way injure the harbor.
The committee agreed th"l the saialy
should be $40 per annum'
"A Ia the consolidation Of the offices OF
clerk and Weigh Master OF each OF tne
markets the committee adheled 10 !ta
determination IN this respect, the clerks
10 perforrn the duties Of weigh master
,5t,k kCut oddiUonal cOmponsation The
salary of the Clerk Of the Third Market
was reduced from $50 10 so. ana the JAM