Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-14
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vention Of Municipal Electricians meets
here IN OctoberIeg
When the service is completed Rich
mond will have one of the most complete
fire-alarm systems in the United States.
BY the addition of a number of circuits
for the fire-alarm boxes the possibility Of
accident will be considerably lessened-
A temporary overhead cable Is being
used from the wires into the City Hall.
but as soon as the old cables and con-
nections can be pulled out, this. too. will
go.
When Superintendent Thompson finish
es the rehabilitation of the fire-aiarm
wires he has a number of improvements
that he hopes to be able TO add to the
police telegraph service. At present this
is crude: and with comparatively a small
appropriation he will be enabled to make
the service better and one that will be of
great benefit to the members of the po-
lice force.
Thank Mr. Miner.
Councilman E. w Miner, who made the
coura geous stand at the meeting of the
Common Council for the the suppression
of houses of i'll fame in the city, has re-
ceived number of letters from all por-
tons OF the city congratulating him
warmly on the fight he made, although
ne lost.
Despite the fact that the ordinance of
which Mr.. Miner was the patron did not
pass, it has resulted in almost all that
he hoped for had it passed. Since the
mater was debated in the Council, and
aired in the papers of the city, a crusade
has been started which has resulted in
| the removal of many of the resorts from
residential sections of the city to more
obscure locations In addition to this.
occupants of other places have been or
r. tn q
a place to move to.
Several members of the City Council de-
clare that they will not rest until all of
these reputed places have been removed
to a section Of the city where they will
not be reproach to reputable citizens
"Big Committee Nuisance.''
The "big committee nuisance" is be-
coming more apparent every day to MEM
bers of the City Council and to those
| who have to attend the meetings of the
committees night after night and week
after week in the City Hall.
! Most of the committees have eleven
members, and when all of them are pres
| ent each one seems to have burning
desire to have say on every question
| that presents itself, no matter how tri-
| fling it Is. The result of this Is that
where the meetings lasted a half an hour
| to an hour under the old regime they last
from two to three hours now. Another
result is that 1t is very hard to secure a
quorum with as much ease as in former
days.
The consolidation of many of the COM
mittees is recognized as good innosa-
| ton, but there is demand that they
should have fewer members
One member remarked recently that the
large committees were doing not little
| to secure smaller ward representation
IN both branches of the Council. The fact
/ is becoming more apparent each month
/, that both-of the branches would do bet
! ter work and more OF il If there were not
so many members TO debate the ques-
| ton.
To RearrnnEe Salaries.
/ It Is expected that the Committee on
| Ordinances. Charters and Reform will get
/! to work this week on the investigation
i Of the salaries paid by tie city and as to
/ the duties of the attaches of the various
! departments Of the city.
The general impression is that there will
be few changes recommended by the conf
mittee. There may be few increases
Bin pay recommended. and it looks as
though several will be recommended for
J decrease.
The most important work this commit
tee will have before It in this investtga-
tor will be the arrangement of the du-
/ ties of the several employees OF the city.
Members OF the committee claim that ther
are many changes that could be effected
which would would obvtate the necessi-
Fly of increases In salaries and the further
necessity for more help In some Of the
i departments.
The committee may look into tho method
In vogue 81 to caring for the City Hall
and suggest some wholesale changes in
this regard. So
The members OF the committee appear
to be in earnest about the matter. and
i hope their labors will inure to the good
4 OF the city.
szr. A1lcn,s Ordinance.
4 At the July meeting OF the Common
81 Council Mr.. ]. NJ. N. Allen offered q reso
Hutton calling upon the Committee on Or
Il atances, Charter and Reform TO prepar,
Il and report an ordnance prohibiting Nom
Il bers of the Police and Fire Boards OF IN,
s. city from serving more than one term II
4 succession. The committee has taken n,
q action under tho sresolut lion. and II IL doe
9 not do something by the October meetfnl
s. of the City Council. It IS said that Mr.
Allen will take some step looking 20 nay,