The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-06
TRB BUDGET FOR The YEAR.
II Come Up Before tie Common Council
Tomorrow Night.
The WATER METER QUESTION LGLIL.
Only $1,000 IL, Been set Aside for Their
Purchased Fight Likely Over the
$4,000 for Teachers--Mr. Hard
wicke says the Budget is All Right

Them ost important meeting OF the year
will be held by the Common Council to
morrow night, when tho schedule OF ap-
propriations. commonly called the bud
get. which has been prepared by the
Finance Committee. will be presented to
the body for adoption or rejection.
No committee. no matter how wise and
able its members. could apportion the
money Of the city In a manner TO meet
the views OF and satisfy thirty whose SYM
pathies on number OF subjects are a.
far apart as the poles. and II goes with
out saying that there viii be hot de-
bate and numerous amendments onered
before the budget is finally approved
WATER METRE QUESTION.
The water metre question IL not likely
TO raise as great disturbance as had
been anticipated. The Water Commit
tee last year were given $1,000 for the
purchase OF metres. This they have ex-
pended In a wise and judicious manner.
the result being a great Improvement IN
the water supply OF the city.
In pursuance OF their intention to pro-
ceed by degrees until every tap In the
this year asked for $4,000 more II 10
understood on good authority. however.
that the Finance Committee-many MEM
bers of which are not particularly In love
with metres-have Topped OF two-thirds
OF that sum and have only allowed them
s5 900 In the budget This being the case.
the metre advocates Will undoubtedly ift
up their voices In exposiuation. but II -
hardly thought that they will go so far
as TO tie up the budget
On the other hand. the opponents OF
metres may he willing 10 vote TO give
them s5 COO when they would not agree
TO appropriate three times that sum.
The chairman OF the Finance Commit
tee who has had considerable experience
IN budget making who knows the temper
Of the Council. saws that the present IN
strument will meet with favor and that
every one viii vote for II.
ANOTHER HITCH.
II IA probable. though. that the fact has
not been considered that there are some
who will not vote for tho budget at all.
unless provision Is made In II 10 ray the
teach,is 5000 due them: and there are
others who will not vote for II n any
attempt is made 10 put that sum in so
there seem to be two horns 10 the di-
lemma. either equally dangerous.
The main object this wear Is to get the
budget adopted as speedily as possible. I'm
order that the various departments may
know how much they have 10 depend
upon. II has been the case heretofore that
nearly half the year had elapsed before
the departments co'.d find out whether
they were going 10 get what they asked
for or not II was therefore. d'rfcuit
task for them 10 make any plans with a
view to economzing. TIE Council this
year however. is fully alive TO these dim
culties. and will enheavor 10 agree upon
the budget as speedily as may be practi-
cable.
THE RICHMOND CHARITIES
There were rumors prevalent 10 the ef-
feet that there will he a deep cut In the
appropriatons heretofore made to chari-
table institutions in this city. Members
OF the Finan~e Committee however. say
that they have treated all deserving char
tiles as generously as was possible under
The circumstances.
The Committee on Recapitulation OF
the Work of the Present Council is maxi
ing good progress In It's work. and Will
be able to show that much good has been
accomplished.