Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-04
AMEND THE CHARTER
CHANGES SUGGESTED AT MEETING
OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
NOW READY FOR The COUNCIL.
Members Of the Board OF Finance
Agreed Upon-Further Investiga-
tion of the Waddey BilI-Judge
Wits Suggestion.

Il
be recommended to the Council for men,
bers Of the Board of Finance, the crea-
| tion of which Is provided for in a bill
that has been prepared by the Commit
tee on Charter Changes. Their names
were agreed upon by the committee at a
meeting held last night.
Chairman Rountree explained, In call
ing the committee to order. that the
| chief object Of the meeting was the
naming Of members to serve on the pro-
| posed Board of Finance. The plan that
| the ward delegations should name these
| members. he said. had proved to be a
| failure Madison Ward alone having sug-
gested the name of Mr.. A. II. Christian,
Jr., and the other wards having either
declined to consider the matter at all, or,
considering It, had refused to nominate
The mere fact OF naming any one to
serve on the proposed commission would
| not. Mr.. Rountree said. commit the one
nominating to support the measure when
| il came up before the Council. He then
called on members of the committee to
nominate gentlemen from their respec-
board should the measure go through
the Council
THE NAMES SUGGESTED.
Mr. Ryan said that the Jackson-Ward
delegation had arrayed itself so solidly
against the commission. and had de-
clined so positively to nominate any one
to serve upon it, that he felt extreme
Difference in the matter. He subsequently
suggested the name of Mr.. =. II. Dona-
hoe.
Mir. CARRIER named Mr. w. It. Hancock,
from Marshall Ward.
Mr.. Zimmerman said he had discussed
the matter with several members Of his
ward (Monroe) and as a result, he was
of the opinion that the board should
first be created. He. however, nominated
Mr.. II. Clay Drewry.
Mr. Rountree named Mr.. n. w. Bowe,
from Clay Ward and Mr.. G. w. Hard
wicke. from jefferson Ward. In event
that the measure was adopted by the
Council, Mr.. Hardwicke. who is MEM
ber Of that body. would have to resign
his councilmanic honors.
This completed the list and the mat
ter was then put to a vote. every MEM
ber voting in the affirmative, except Mr..
Carter. for the election of the gentle
men named.
The City Attorney at this point pro-
ceeded TO read several amendments to
the charter prepared by him at the re-
quest of the committee.
on motion OF Mr.. Allen, a new provi-
sion concerning the power Of commit
tees and boards to summon and compel
attendance of witnesses and swear them,
etc, was approved.
A new amendment as to the enforce
ment of ordinances inhicting fines and
penalties and Imprisonment was ap-
proved.
Another amendment concerning the
constitution of the Police Board was
adopted.
suggestion that the Fire Department
force should be reduced or increased by
certain specific methods was approved.
An amendment repeating compulsory
appropriation to the Fire Department.
was approved.
There was a long and interesting dis
cussion on the question of granting per-
mits for the erection of buildings. In
this connection letter was read from
Chief Fuller, protesting against the
flimsy way in which buildings are often
put up in the city, and suggesting that
before any structures are built, full par
ticulars Of their nature should be duly
reported 10 some properly-constituted au-
thority. who will duly inspect them.
An amendment was adopted, Mr.. Car
ter alone dissenting whereby building
permits will hereafter be submitted TO
the Chief Of the Fire Department and the
Fire Commissioners, instead of the Com
mittee on Fire Department, as at present.
The bill was then considered as a
whole and adopted. Major Allen desiring
to go on record as opposed to the aboli-
tiou of the Board of Public Interests,
and Mr.. Carter wishing to be recorded
as opposing the sections relative to the
Fire Commission and building permits.
The committee then adjourned, subject
to the call Of the chairman.
The Waddey Bill Up Again.
The Committee on Claims and Salaries
met last night to continue the lIVesI-
cation of the bill sent by the
Everett Waddey Company to the Hust-
ings Court for goods supplied to the city
Sergeant. There was a full attendance
of the members; Judge witt, the City
Attorney. Mr.. Everett Waddey, and MI
Gordon were also present
Chairman Walerstein stated that he
had noticed a card in the paper, signed
by Mr.. Waddey, to the erect that IL the
committee had summoned the CITY ger
geant to their first meeting the whoe
matter would very promptly have been
settled. He wished TO say. in justice 70
the committee. that the City Sergeant
who had ordered the goods n>med In the
M Mr. Waddey said that the office re-
NAMED though Sergeant Epps had un-
fortunately died, and he still thought the
present official would have cleared the
',J1eHt Judge Witt said he wished to place both
Mr. Waddey and the City Sergeant right.
He had heard that payment of the bill
had been refused by the Council! he
understood that the goods were for use
in the Sergeant's office, and he sent q
deputy to the Waddey Company to tell
them TO make out their bill against the
Hastings Court. His intention, II the
city again refused to pay the bill, was
with the City Attorney TO lnvestgate
or was not liable for stationery used In
fhe Sergeants office. His object was TO
legally test the matter.
MIR. zimmerman called attention to the
fact that Deputy Ralston had stated that
ably paid his own stationery bills.
MUST RETAIN THE RECORD.
Judge Witt said he had not been in
formed of the fact The Sergeant ought
not TO be in position to take the books
from the Jail at the expiration OF his
term He would certainly see that the
records should be preserved. They were |
Indispensable, and might be Of great ser |
vice TO the committee. The city, he |
thought. was certainly liable for station |
ery used in the Sergeants office.
Mr.. Ebel said he understood that the
goods billed were for the personal use OF
Mr. Zimmerman asked Judge Witt II
II was his idea that the committee should
reject the bill, so that test case mlgnt |
be made of 1t, and Judge Witt replied |
that that was what he hoped would be |
Mr.. waddey said he desired to make an |
expianation. He had been out or his