Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-24
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH-SATURDAY, APRIL "a, 1897
WORK ON ITS REPORT
RETRENCHMENT COMMITTEE FOR
WARDS ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.
WILL THERE Be GENERAL REDUCTION
This Question to he Decided Next
Tuesday Night-IIst Of Ordinances
anc observation-disclosures nj the
Members ms to Minority Reports.

Members ms TO MINORITY HepOrths
The Committee on Retrenchment and
night. Present were Chairman Allen and
Messrs. Ebel, Harrelson, Jones, King,
Noble, Rountree. and Zimmerman. The
object of the session was to review the
previous recommendations OF the COM
mittee with regard to ordinances and
resolutions relative TO the departments
and the salaries and wages of the Of
fcers and employees OF the city. The
meeting was a lengthy one. In which the
recommendations of the committee were
affirmed. and they were put in shape to
be forwarded to the Council.
The committee went into its business
promptly. and first recommended amend
ments to the ordinances relative to the
collection of city taxes. The committee
also affirmed its previous action concern
ing resolutions and ordinances dealing
with the following questions:
Reducing the salary &C the secretary Of
the Board Of Sinking Fund Commission
ers
Placing the duties Of transfer clerk upon
the assistant TO the Auditor, without
extra compensation.
Reducing the salary Of the Harbormas-
ter from $3.50.
Requiring the clerks Of the several mar
kets TO perform the duties of weighmas-
tiers without extra compensation.
Fixing the salary of the Clerk OF the
Third Market at $500 a year.
Doing away with sewer foreman and
allowing the Engineering Department TO
have only two horses and buggies.
Directing the City Attorney to urge the
Legislature to pass an act relative to
the control of the sinking fund, allowing
the purchase of city of Richmond, State
of Virginia. and United States bonds, in
stead Of only city of Richmond bonds
Having the City Attorney to urge the
Legislature to place the City Coroners
compensation within the discretion OF the
City Council.
Placing duties Of Superintendent OF the
City Hall building upon the Sergeant-at-
Arms of the Counch.
Reducing the pafk-keepers from 5000 TO
s7oO per annum, and asking the Commit
tee on Grounds and Buildings to adopt an
ordinance regulating the park-keepers.
ALL ARE JANITORs.
Dispensing with the Office Of the Janitor
of the City Hall building. This places
Mr.. S. ]. r. Wright upon an equal loot
ing with the six Assistant Janitors, ana
all OF them are to be known as Janitors
Of the City Hall building.
AR Noble stated that he had been
informed that It would be impossible Tor
the Gas Inspecting Department 10 as
charge It's duties with five assistant IN
spectors. and moved that there be six
instead of five, each TO be PAID S'V per
annum instead of $500. He said that the
difference In cost 10 the city would oniy
be slight and that the department would
be made more efficient. The motion was
lost. and the former action Oh inc coih-
mittee was affirmed.
Fixing the Office hours of the depart
ments from A. NJ. to 3 p. NJ. with
some exceptions, was, after some dis
cusson, approved.
STREET CLEANING.
Creating a street cleaning department
and providing for the organization and
management thereof was read, ana MT.
Noble suggested that the scavenger ought
TO be empowered TO report nuisances on
premises TO the Superintendent of Street
Cleaning The suggestion evoked
lengthy discussion participated in by the
committee generally.
Concerning the Inspector of Plumbing
and placing him under the direction and
control of the Committee on Health. in
stead of the Board of Health, as here
tofore.
Reducing the salary of the president
of the Board OF Health TO $500 per an
mum.
Fixing the salaries of members of the
Board Of Health to 800 per annum.
Returning the sanitary police 10 duty
in the regular police force and providing
for future details when necessary for
protection against epidemics, etc.
Requiring the president of the Board
of Health to turn over his horse and
vehicle to the Superintendent of the
Street Cleaning when elected.
The committee sent to the Council the
ordinances reducing the salary OF the
Gas Inspector; that of the Mayor and
fixing the position Of oiler OF the CITY
Hall building at s. per day and requiring
him to be a machinist.
AS TO A GENERAL CUT.
Having disposed of all the previous
recommendations of the committee, there
was much discussion upon the question
of urging a general reduction of 10 per
cent. in salaries of city officers and en-
ployees. Mr.. Allen said he certainly
could not support the recommendation
TO fix the compensation of the president
of the Board of Health at 500 per an
mum. and, as chairman. ruled that any
member of the committee would have
the right to introduce majority report
in the Council.
The body then adjourned to meet again
next Tuesday night when the matter or
whether or not a general cut In salaries
shall be recommended will be considered.