Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-28
WORK BEFORE THEM.
MANY COMMITTEE MEETINGS rOR
TOMORROW AND TUESDAY.
The BUDGET AND REYREHCHNEHr.
These the Most Anportant Topics
for Consid fation-Confere May
Result In Taking on the $4,000
Meter Appropriation.

special significance would attach TO the
announcement. Inasmuch, however an
one OF the committees to meet to-mor-
row is the Committee OF Conference
which is to revise and report upon the
budget Of appropriations to the DEPART
rhents, etc, for the fiscal year 1897, great
interest attaches TO It's deliberations.
This body will convene in Room No. IL
OF the City Hall at $50 O'Clock. and 10
composed OF Messrs. William H. thinner
mann (chairman). John NJ. King. Hard
wcke, Brock. and Bahen. from the Board
Of Aldermen, and Jones. Hawkins.
Briggs Bloomberg, and President Casxie.
of the Common Council.
The committee will meet at o'clock
tomorrow afternoon and visit st. Jo-
seph's orphan Asylum. and probably the
Little Sisters OF the Poor. with view OF
personally acquanting the members with
the work being done by these institutions
In order that they may the better know
whether It is wise 10 vote Tor appropria-
lions to some of the charity institutions
which we're left out of the budget for
1897.
From the manner i'm which councilmen
are expressing themselves, there seems
q be but little doubt that the $1,000 al
lowance for meters Will be stricken on
the appropriations ordinance, and that
this money will be placed where II is re-
garded by them to be more greatly
needed.
WILL, THE SCHOOLS BE CUT?
Considerable opposition has recently de-
yeIoped TO the cutting on OF $1,000 from
he appropriations to the public schools,
which reduction Is contemplated In the
budget as it came from esFinance Com
mttee. and there will be vigorous nght
O prevent this from going through the
wo branches of the Council. II means.
practically, the closing OF the schools
IF the city four months. instead OF three
months. this year or a reduction OF the
talaries of the teachers and principals.
While the School Board has not formally
,onsidered what II would do should this
,urtailment become a law, the men,
5ers OF that body have talked as indi-
sduals regarding what should be done,
md IL IS understood that several OF the
ichool trustees are opposed TO shortening
he scholastic year one day.
The School Board will not take up this
natter formally until after the two
branches shall have passed upon the bud
get and the same shall have been signed
by the Mayor.
These questions and many Others the
Committee OF Conference will have TO de-
eide tomorrow night.
The other committees to hold sessions
tomorrow evening are:
Committee on Streets at O'Clock
Committee on Schools at o'clock; COM
nlttee on Claims and Salaries at
o'clock. and Committee on Accounts and
Printing at $50 o'clock.
ON Tuesday evening at o'clock the
Committee on Retrenchment and Reform
will hold a most important meeting. lt
homes upon this occasion TO make much
further urogress upon it's report 20 the
Council upon the salary list and the mat
ter OF adjusting positions. 1t VIII not Do
forgotten that at last Tuesday night'
session OF the committee Il went over
about one third Of the salary list and put
II into shape for presentation TO the
Council
SALE OF THE GAS-WORKS.
Having learned that Judge Flournoy
recently had an interview with MIR. p. ID.
Starke, chairman of the Joint Committees
on Light and Finance of the City Council,
with a view TO submitting proposition
for the lease OF tho City Gas-Works, the
Judge was yesterday asked by a Dispatch
man what his clients proposed TO 90
about the matter. in view OF the fact
that the spring election was approaching
at which any proposition which might be
adopted by the Council would have to De
submitted to a vote Of the people.
He replied that he had just delivered
the following letter TO Mr.. Starke:
Richmond. Va, March q. 1897.
Edwin ID. Starke. Esq, Chairman OF the
Joint Committee on Light and Finance,
City Council, Richmond. Va:
Dear Sir-We beg 10 respectfully advise
you that we are prepared to submit pro-
position for the lease OF the city Cas-
Works, which We shall do whenever
sealed proposals may be opened.
The leasing Of the CITY Gas-Works Ia
A matter which interests every citizen OF
Richmond. As is well known, the
finances Of the city for the past few
years have been a matter OF concern 70
those interested in the welfare OF Rich-
mond. We believe IL will be 70 the adj
vantage of the citizens TO accept our pro-
position. The city Will then have a
definite revenue, which II does not now
enjoy. and without the uncertainty Incl
dent TO general business depression.
Having such a revenue. the necessity for
increasing taxation may be avoided, and
render unnecessary onerous eHactions
from those engaged in business, ana earn
ing their livelihood In the city. IL Is
always to the advantage OF city TO
attract rather than repel business inte-
rests.
We address this communication 10 you
at this time, as the date IL rapidly ap-
preaching when the matter may DO voted
upon by the people. Very respectfully.
r.. g. MARSHALL,
Ii. W. FBOURNOY.
When asked whom he and Colonel Mar
shall represented. he replied that they
we're representing Mr.. John ID. Nell
heny. OF Philadelphia. and his associates.
who are largely engaged in the gas busl-
ness.
The Judge was asked II he could give
any idea what his proposition would be.
He replied that all he could say now
was that Il would be such proposition
as would be manifestly for the interests
of the taxpayers and citizens OF the
CITY. AID that he and Colonel Marshall
would be ready TO present the PROPOSE
ton In detail at such time as the com ;
nittee would TX. lie further said IL
would be discourteous to give the
proposltlon 10 the public before II was
submitted 10 the committee.
THE REVENUES REDUCED.
The city revenue from special taxes
has certainly been reduced by the ac-
tion OF the Finance Committee. but just
how much cannot, al this time, DE
learned. as the books have not been
odded up. The fact that thirteen sa-
ioopleepers had their taxes reduced from
uoo TO SO Is In itself an item.
In fixing the license taxes for isH the
rInance Committee imposed a tax OF 40
ON the Richmond Telephone Company a
,rotest having been entered by the COM
pany. through It's counsel; MI. Gulson.
The committee has refeireo me quesuen
to city-Attorney {. " M ere na.s WIZ WA
render his decision III &c" uosN'
Homicide I'm Wilmington, y. Z.
MI NiINGTON n. C.. March A-To-