Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-14
WILL PUSH THE WORK
THE RETRENcHMENT Committee
TO CONTINUE ITS LABoRs.
Halter TO Be LOOKED INTO.
The Charge Made by Mr.. snead-Thc
Mayor Declines TO Discuss the Mat
scr--ur. Carriers Point About the
Re-Ennctmcnt of Ordinances.

The leading topic Of the hour yesterday
was the action of the Board OF Aldermen
IN passing the ordinance framed by me
Retrenchment and Reform Committee
over the veto OF the Mayor by an IN
creased majority. 1t was foresone con-
cnsion that the Board would endorse the
action of the Common Council but II was
generally believed that very lively ana
lengthy debate would ensue, and that the
majority would be very narrow one.
AS matter OF recorded fact, the as
cussion, though brief. was decideuS
breezy. and Alderman Snead's charge that
n member OF the committee had approach
ed Mayor Taylor with a proposition not
20 reduce the salary of that Official VIII
certainly be ventilated.
Mr.. Snead. it will be remembered, stated
that his information on this point had
come directly from the Mayor, who, he
believed. would willingly give the name
of the individual who had made the OF
fer, II approached.
THE MAYOR Is RETICENT.
Mayor Taylor, when seen by Dispatch
reporter, declared in most emphatic terms
that he had nothing &c say. He said ne
felt very much like a boy who had gone
10 a party and been sat upon-he coul0
only keep silence. He was anxious 10
keep his name out of the public PRINT, as
The notoriety was distasteful 10 him. lie
did not deny that he had given Alderman
Snead the Information that caused sucn
n sensation at the meeting Tuesday hlSht'
lion n .
porter. said that no member of the Re
frenchment and Reform Committee had,
so far approached him in the premises,
nor had he been asked for the name OF
the member who had made the proposition
TO him For the present he said, he was
anxious to keep in the background, but
when the time came he should be healu
from.
When questioned as 10 the necessity TOT
the re-enactment OF the ordinance nNlhg
the salary Of the City Engineer before
that official can draw any remuneration
for his services from the Treasury, con-
tingency which was suggested by Alder
man Carter on Tuesday night ts result
of the Boards action, the Mayor laughed
somewhat significantly, but declined 10
commit himself, nor would he vouchsafe
any further information on any OF the
points in question.
THE WORK TO GO ON.
Alderman Zimmerman. a prominent
member of the Retrenchment Commit
tee when seen yesterday, said that the
members of that body were much graft
fed by the action of the Board last
night With the knowledge of the sym
patty and confidence of both branches
of the City Council. their labors would
be agreeably lightened. Mr.. zimmerman
said the charge against member OF
the committee was very grave one,
and would be closely investigated.
The matter will probably be discussed
at the meeting of the committee TO be
held tonight. and some course of ac-
ton decided upon.
'The committee" said Mr.. thinner
mann, lis confronted with a very I'M
pleasant and disagreeable duty, but we
are prepared to discharge that duty TO
the full extent believing that the peo-
pie are I'm earnest in their demands for
the reduction of the city's expenses
MR.. CARRIERS POINT.
Alderman H. l.. Carter when asked
for the authorities Oh which he based
his statement that re-enactment OF
the ordinance providing salaries for the
City Engineer, his assistants and the
Superintendent of the Gas-Works,
was necessary before any of those
services, cited acts of General
Assembly and the City Ordinances. as
well as parliamentary usages, TO sustain
his position, and 10 show that sucn
amendatory acts must be re-enacted. lie
had investigated the matter very close
ly. he said, and was confident of the
ground he had taken.
Several old parliamentarians and
prominent politicians were seen in the
ffnra "a
lieved Mr.. Carter was mistaken in his
deductions The ordinance. they had as
certained had been framed in the regu-
lar order by the Retrenchment Commit
tee. and could not possibly affect the
old ordinance in any other way than 10y
amending it.
Mr.. c. " Meredith, City Attorney, saic
II would not be proper for him 10 venture
an opinion on the question at present. as
IN all probability, he would be called 70
pass upon IL hereafter.
Several lawyers who were questioned as
to their views on the subject said they
believed the ground taken by Mr.. Garter
undoubtedly presented a technically
which would have to be Strengthened ou
at once.
City-Accountant Mccarthy said he die
not believe the question would ever b'
raised. The Auditor was the only person
who could possibly RAISE IL, With dppl
cation was made to him for salaries by
the officials interested. and if IT wa!
found 10 be the case that the salarie!
could not be legally paid, the mattel
would very promptly be adjusted.
MR.. SNEAD'S PROPOSITION.
The retrenchment proposition submitted
by Mr. Evan Snead to the Board OF Alder
men Tuesday night was for the reduction
of all salaries over 5000 a year TO tn
extent of Is per cent. and the reduction
of ali salaries over $1,000 and under $500
I5 per cent. His resolution would no
touch salaries under $1,000. as might hav'
been inferred from the report which APP
peared In yesterdays Dispatch.
HOW 1T MAY HAVE OCCURRED.
An interchangeable member of the Com
mittee on Retrenchmrnt and Reform SAT-
last night IL believe every member o
the committee will be present on Thurs
day night except Mr. Starke. who has re
signed from The Board OF Aldermen. Eacl
member will be asked in turn II he mad
any such statement 70 the Mayor as tina
charged by Mr. Snead. and ! believe tina
each one will truthfuly answer No.
sI do not think Mayor Taylor ever mad
such a fiat footed statement as was at
tributed to him by Mr.. Snead. Ever,
member OF the committee, and of IN
Council too. is aware OF the fact that IN
ealary OF a city official. elected by tn
people. cannot be reduced during his tern