Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-26
INVOKE CHARTER AID
THE INFRINGEMENT COMMITTEES
MAY no THIS TO SAVE MONEY.
DISCUSSES SALARIES AND WAGES.
mt Can't Reduce Enough Co Toucb
shc Rig sum the CITY Mus,
Iop on 60 Live within Her In
come.
come.

thC CoNntli committee on Rctrenchment
and reform was TO establish fully That
In orsor TO bring the city's expensos
within her income something else must
5e done besides reduce salaries. II was
clear 90 The minds OF some OF the NOM
bers 90 least last night when tho hodv
adjourned that charter aid win have
70 De- invoked. and at the next session
the committee viii probably draw mn
plans and specifications for an appeal 70
Che Legislature, and this will. perhaps
constitute part OF the report OF the
committee 90 the Council
a rcat many positions and salaries
were discussed last night. but no
changes were recommended. as a num-
beg of them had already been INQUIRED
into by committees governing the de-
par,merts 90 which they belonged
The committee sent to the Council
With its endorsement the report upon
the condition OF the road-bed of Broad
street. and recommending the eeenditure
o. Gcp for che purpose OF repairing that
tloro.-hiare
40 nst nights meeting those present
wero Chairman Allen ana Messrs. Ebel
D. q. King. Rountree. HARRISON. and
Jones Nr. zimmerman was absent ON
account Of sickness. There was a great
deal Of argument as TO what the COM
mttee should DO and II was proposed
ly Nr Jones that the body should pro-
coed 90 make up It's report to the Coun-
C.l a'Cn- the lines that the committee
had been over After much debate the
body Ugreed TO Go this. and the first
matter taken up was the report OF the
subcommittee on the condition Of Broad
street. by the existence Of four street
rlWay-tracks upon that thoroughfare
This report which recommends the ex-
peniiture of $500 I'm smoothing down
some of the rough places on Broad
-.reet was printed I'm full in the Dis
Patch when 10 was presented 10 the COM
mtiee The point was raised that Mr.
Iimmermann. who was absent. wanted
to make some change i'm the report
Mr HARRISON said he thought this
question of leaving Broad street in Us
present condition was too serious for
The committee 10 think of standing upon
tle expenditure of so small an amount
az money. He was in favor of recon-
menling the report 10 the Council as it
stood. on motion, the committee recon-
weDded the report. with the resolution
aprrOpriating the $500 for the improve
uent Of the street
PAY OF THE COMMISSIONER.
Mr. Ebel then suggested that the body
take up the remainder Of the work al
ready done by it and make its report.
4lls was agreed TO. and Mr.. Ebel want
eI first a reconsideration of the action
Of The committee reducing the compen-
sltOn Of the Commissioner Of the Reve-
Iue hve-eishths 10 three-eighths per cent.
mr. Jones raised the point that the
committee had had an understanding
that 1t would not reconsider anything
done. unless the same number of mem
hers OF the committee were present as
attended the meeting at which the origi-
nal action was taken.
. Mr.. Ebel thought 10 was unfair to en-
/ Orce such q rule. when II was known
nat this official had produced further
4 Information for the committee. Mr.,
4ones said fl was not unfair TO any
|Dne; that there We're other members Of
! he committee who would like TO vote
4upon this matter, but who did not know
THAT IL would arise. and who were de-
3 aimed at home by one cause or another.
Halter a great deal Of discussion, the
4 chairman held that he could not enter
3 ain the motion of Mr.. Ebel because
Fhere were not a sufficient number Of
tmembers present
NOTHING HEARD FROM THE
MAYOR.
4 The committee then returned to the
shead Of the list. under the regular order
Iof disposing of the unfinished business.
fThe Chair asked Clerk Mcdowell if the
Mayor had been invited to be present,
land received an affirmative reply. The
kClerk said that he had received no com
knunication from his Honor.
Probably the Mayor is at home, Sick
bald Mr.. Ebel
Il saw him to-day was the remark of
GAIr King.
4 The Sergeant-at-Arms explained that
ghe had served a summons upon Mayor
kTaylor. Chairman Allen stated that Ser
fgeant Ruskell had done wrong in this,
tas the committee had only requested the
Mayor 10 appear before IL, to give in
FORMATION. The committee directed that
copy Of the record with reference to
PMS invitation be taken to the Mayor
with the explanation that he had not
&been summoped. but requested to appear
before the committee. to give information
Negarding the duties Of his office.
/ There then followed some debate as to
Che completion OF report covering the
work already done I'm time TO get it TO
Jhe Common Council by next Monday
night Special Accountant Mccarthy
and Clerk Mcdowell explained that it
would be next TO impossible to get up
The ordinances containing the changes
recommended by the committee in time
Tor Monday nights meeting. Mr.. Har-
lelson moved to dispense with any fur
'ther effort 10 pass the report last night
but TO have a special meeting between
now and Monday night.
Mr. Jones said he could see some diff
iculues in the way OF getting in a re-
port on Monday night and that reports
OF the progress made by the committee
Should be made 10 the Council.
REPORTS AS TO PROGRESS MADE. |
The chairman suggested that such re-
ports should be made by the sub-chair-
man in the Common Council. and the
chairman Tn the Board Of Aldermen. at
their next regular meetings. This sug-
Eestion was adopted after Mr.. Harrel-
ton's motion had been Withdrawn.
The committee then resumed its regu-
Jar business by taking up the salary-list |
where Il leit off al the previous meeting. !
The clerk Of the Committee on Accounts |
tnd Printing was called. and explained !
hs duties, and. on motion Of Mr.. Roun-
tree. bis salary was permitted TO remain |
al $40 per annum
The salaries paid the three superin-
tendents Of hands and carts were next /
taken up. and provoked lengthy debates. |
These men receive 500 a year. Mr. Allen |
stated that the Street Committee mad !
already passed upon these positions. and /
had sent It's report 10 the Council; that /
81 was TO the effect that the Street Com /
uittee had power I'm this matter, and /
bad made the proper changes. Mr.. Allen /
added that the three managers Of hands |
ind carts were men OF integrity and /