Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-21
1T WILL SAVE MONEY
Tho WORK or RETRENcHMENr
COMMITTEE COMMENDED.
EcCsCAY Ii SALl..lES AND EXPENSES
Thorough Inquiry Into Both peing
nadc, and to lie made-Tho BODY Z"
Continue It's Lasors Next Tuesday
Night.
Night.

There Is no doubt that a majority OF
The members OF the City Council are
bent upon placing the municipal anahs
of this city upon such plane as 70 en-
able the departments TO live withih the
revenues Of the city. They are thorough
~ IN earnest in their efforts TO secure
the needed amount OF retrenchment 10
accomplish this. They feel that the peo'
ple OF the city demand government
mat is self-sustaining, and not one 'ha'
IS constantly plunging the city deeper
and deeper In debt.
The obligations Of the city Oh nv"
'mond have so far never gone oy oe-
fsult and her bonds are now way above
mar: and IL is the desire Of all eonserVa-
tive counciimen and citizens that lhis
state OF affairs shall be perpetuated' ahu
not destroyed.
HAS MADE GOOD PROGRESS.
The Committee on Retrenchment ana
Reform. Il is admitted on all SIDES mas
made good progress within the past le"
months. no, simply In the matter OF re-
commenting reductions In salaries uu'
In examining into the affairs OF the ue,
MISUNDERSTANDING out things here ana
there which should be avoided; adjusting
positions: asccrtaining where the law Is
not fully carried out, and where the
laws controlling departments are uelec-
tive. etc. Ii has also distilled more
waachfulness on the part OF al the oehe'
committees Of the Council
The work done by this body cahho,
vet be estimated. II the City Council
fr.lf oil recon-
mendatlons il has made 10 the Councli,
there would be a saving Of about $iocW
Annually In the salary-list OF the city.
Several OF the departments have not YET
n reached by this committee. but It's
soects will be paid 10 all of them. III
has often been said that the city woule
have an abundance Of revenue 10 meet
tie expenses u people would make proper
returns OF their taxable properties, and
then nav their taxes as assessed; ana
the committee will give this matter Sc
rioas consideration.
OTHER PLANS TO SAVE.
nv certain consultations and changes
In tho Poor and Health departments, the
committee hopes 10 be able to make sug-
eestions TO the Council, the adoption OF
which will save the city $1,000 10 5000
more. The work done by this body at
its session last Thursday night mas been
discussed throughout The lensth and
breadth Of the city, and the consensus of
opinion seems to be that the changes
urged are wise ones The committee
that evening only went one-fifth OF the
way through the salary-and-wage lists.
but when IL meets again. next Tuesday
evening at 80 o'clock, will resume its
labors lust where il left off Thursday
evening great many Of the city Of
ficers have expressed themselves as WILL
ing to have their salaries reduced. II IL
is absolutely necessary to the prosperity
OF the city, providing the reductions are
proper. equitable, and general. The Re
trenchment and Reform Committee, be-
fore the final report goes into the Council,
will very probably make some sugges-
tions as to the expense-account appropri-
atlons of the several departments. 1t is
thought that a fun and free consideration
of these matters will result in large
saving.
TO PROVIDE FOR SALARIES.
A call has been Issued. at the request
Of members of the Finance Committee,
for a meeting Of the Common Council. 10
be held tomorrow night at 730 O'Clock,
10 consider a resolution from the Finance
Committee, authorizing the borrowing of
500 900 for current expenses. sa aries
WAGES. etc. This is the usual resolution
adopted tending the adoption of the an
nual budget.