The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-19

8 Of Its duty. He kneWZoA Ho other CITY
where men worked SO Slowly and madss
so little progress and he knew OF M
other city that would put up with it.
AR Gordon said that the new COM
s,nittee was to blame just as much as
was the old, having exceeded their appros..
pr,ation ever since they came into Of
fee, July 1st.
..The committee has gotten itself in this
1;x nv utter disregard of the ordinances
and eIarins enexcusable neglect. 1 want
tc show a few figures. and let you gem
tlener see the status Of the case for
yourselves.
"In the budget of this year SIG os2 was
given to the Health COMMITTEES for
the payroll account OF the Street
Cleaning Department, thus allowing
thine AN average monthly expendi-
ture of 1886 From January until
November. s3S 06l had been expended, or
an average of 3,SO5 per month. saving
$50 each month This was done during
the time that embraces June, July and Au-
gust, fine three heaviest months in the
year.
.On the 1st Of November there was to
the credit OF the payroll account s. 9i
or sufficient to allow an expenditure OF
$3.50 for the last two months OF the
year. But in November huge tact
looms up. lHStettu W iSiiie'iA.Ai9 " ..i'-it
their anpropriatior the committee
extended s4.S95 for the payroll How
thew spent it. 1 don't know, but the books
in the Auditors office show such to be
the case. This is ever 81 600 in excess Of
! any of the previous months. So there
was a balance of sS.0i6 to the credit OF
the account on the first of this month.
Now thos has all been expended, we are
informed and there is. no more money
! l,a RI l1,>f,,1 1r1t
with which to conduct the department
Such is the condition
."rhe committee members tell US that
minute calculations were made by them.
but when? Little over a month ago. and
it is strange that they were not made
until then
Mr.. Hobson interrupted here to say that
| the large discrepancy in the November
payroll was due to the fact that II
covered time made by the employees from
October the 22d. This was satisfactory,
/ bat Mr. Gordon said the case was not
! altered any by this fact
SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED.
1.-The Health Committee should be dis
! ciplined but the citizens should not be
made to suffer for their shortcomings,
and I will say, though may be telling
tales out of school, that on the first bal
/ lot in the Finance Committee it was de-
| cided to recommend that no transfer at
| al! be allowed. The $3.50 recommended
! ton was made only after a most mature
/ consideration. This amount added to the
/ balance to the credit Of the department
on the first Of the month should be SUM
c!ent to meet the payroll, taking the
cost at the first of the year into con-
| sidera ttonand basing the estimate upon
| it. 1t would be crying shame to vote q
larger appropriation ] think. Mr.. Conn
| certainly has gall to expect more, and
| think the case is too plain to be worthy
! of further consideration. This State Of
| affairs has been wrought by the mpru-
ledence of the Committee On Health, and
they should be maze to suffer-
Mr.. Hall wanted to know who was to
| blame for the existing condition and
| Councilman Hicks attempted to answer
| He was ruled out by the chairman. as he
is not a member OF the Board. and MI
Cottrell attempted to reply. MI. MINOR
suggested that Mr. Sheppard. subchair-
nan OF the Health Committee. give the
| desired information.
MI. Sheppard said he was unable to
do this. and presumed that it was due
to wilful neglect, adding that he "ould
| support the recommendation OF the
| Finance Committee.
Mr. Washer said that after having
heard the remarks Of Mr.. Gordon, he
| held an entirely different view from the
one entertained when he first came into
the chamber. He regarded it as q shame
| that a Superintendent of any department
! should bring his force into the Council
/ Chamber in the hope of coercins the
members whereupon Mr., Mann moved
| that Mr.. Cohn be heard from.
MR. COIN HEARD.
There was considerable opposition to
! this but a vote showed that q majority so
desired. and President Turpn invited the
| SUPERINTENDENT to make a statement.
| II have done what l have" said Mr.
| cobn. thinking it was for the best. and
| if | have erred, it has been mistake
| OF the head and not the heart.
Mr.. Cohn said that he would be per
| f,ctlv willing to abide by the action OF
| AZ Council although he would have to
decrease his force: but before he resumed
| his seat Mr. Allen put him through an
/ Interesting cross-examination as to why
/ and on whose authority one hundred and
six men had bsen employed.
Mr.. Allen: "Now. Mr.. Cohn, who az
tlcrized you to put one hundred and SIX
/ rien to work :?
/ Mr. Cohn: II did 1t because such
/ move was necessary.
/ Mr.. Allen: "But who authorized your
MI. COIN: well. really
Mr.. Allen: "No subterfuga I Insist
| on my original question
Mr.. Coin: THE Committee on Health =
Mr.. Sheppard: "When?"
Mr. Cohn: I'm February. think"
Mr. Sheppard: ooh, I was not on the
| committee then
WANTED RECORDS.
Mr.. Burton here suggested that the min
| utes of the Health Committee be brought
/ in. but the suggestion. was lost in the
| shuttle. Mr.. Allen stating loudly that he
would have the grand stand know
! why the condition existed and just who
was to blame for 1t. and Mr. Cohn in
sisted that he was not RESPONSIBLE for
! the nawspaper report. He admitted Ia ter