The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-01

touch witt tho Council. and there would
| soon be tobbery. Mr.. Carter spoke with
great earEestness. and contendcd that the
plan suggested by him promised the bet
I ter results OF The two.
Does the plan proposed by you, Mr..
! Mercdlth?" asked Captain Mccarthy.
propose 70 abolish the Board Of Sinking
Iund Commissioner
res, sir, replied Mr.. Meredith. "Tho
rian ! have presented tonight Is.
OF course. only skeleton Should 7 be
instructed to draw up This plan in proper
form / would embOdy in 10 an the safe
guards that now surround the sinking
fund"
Mr.. Meredith then addressed the COM
mlttee. lie said in reply TO Mr. Carter's
I remark that there might be JObbcry in.
dulged in by % Finance Commission, that
Dee did not see where 10 could come in.
eff there is jobbery in a commission OF
this kind DE said what would DO the
JOhhcry IN q body that not only has the
appropriating but the spending Of the
money!"
a Finance Commission, said Mr. Mere
dith, would not only give more power 10
the people. but would increase the protec-
tion Of their money 10 would be a third
barricr-anl additional protection.
Mr. Meredith advised the committee TO
take fun time for the consideration Of the
matter. which, he said, was one Of vital
| importance
There was n lengthy discussion between
! Messrs Newton and Carter, the former
defending the position taken by himself
vigorously and at great length.
Mr.. Meredith replying 20 Mr. Carriers
suggestion that the members Of the FL
| nance Committee be not allowed 20 serve
on any other committee pointed out that
by this plan much more work would be
thrown on other members of the Council,
and the committee would lose the ser
vices Of nine Of the best men In the Coun-
ell
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Mr.. Meredith when asked by Captain
Mccarthy whether ne would approve of
amy change i'm the charter i'm regard 10 the
department the appropriations 90 which
are compulsory. replied that in the case
of the sinking FUND he would recommend
no change. n regard TO the Fire Depart
meat however. ne had been told hc said.
that the department did not spend all tho
money Appropriated TO &c.. but carried over
balances from year TO ycar He did not
know that this was o. fact but If II was,
| he would favor the abolishmcnt OF the
section making a certain appropriation 10
this department compulsory.
MIR. HarrelsOn said that. with rev
| changes Mr Morodiths plan struck him
! as good. lie was opposed however. 10
adding the Mayor and Presidents of both
branches of the Council 10 the commits
sion. II there was to bc "a commission
elected from among the citizens he want
! ed them 10 be citizens.
Mr.. fiarreison was Of opinion that the
distressed condition Of the city's finances
arose from the character of the men elect
cd. a nomination was equivalent 10 an
election ne said. ANA men Of ability were
not always chosen. All nominations were
made 10y certain political ring.
After MI Noble had spoken briefly fav-
orng Mr. MCrcdith's idea. the chairman
suggested The appointment Of sub-com-
mittec to report at the next meeting. I'm
lieu Of this. however the City Attorney
was requested 90 amolfy his plan. so that
the committee might understand its de-
tails arA present the same al the next
meeting.
After some further discussion the cOm-
mittce adjourned 20 meet again next Fri
day night at s o'clock, when they viii he
glad TO receive suggestions I'm writing from
am citizens interested iu the matter.
OTHER COMMITTEES.
The Committee ON Water met at 1.3)
O'Clock. Mr. r. r. Briggs. in the chair.
ana the following members pres Mt.
Messrs. Montgomery, Carter. O.. a. liaw-
ldns. Tanner. zimmerman, CARRIER g.. r.
Noble and Cutchins
The business transacted was purely 0f
routine character. ANA there was no dis
cussion except oyer the request of 90 Sec
tion-holdcr i'm Rivcrvicw cemetery TO hc
allowed To use u sprinkler ON his section.
Thc request was finally granted with the
prONlso that a. metre Doc put ON thc pipe
at the applicants expense.
BILLS and pay rolls were approved and
the committee adjourned.
Tile Committee ON Police was called 10
meet al o'clock last evening. but Mr.
Williams was the only member present.
Another attempt TO get 20 quorum will Doe
made at ~ o'clock to-day in the office of
Mr. Montgomery ON south Fifteenth
street
The Committee on Schools mot at 6
o'clock. Mr.. Burton. chairman. presiding.
and Mcssrs. Briggs. King and Monteom-
cry present Only the usual monthly bus-
mess was transacted.
The Committee ON Second Market met
at G;30 o'clock with Mcssrs Zimmerman
Brock and Noble present. Routine hus.-
ness was transacted and the payroll
amounting to $l5615 vas ordered paid.