Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-23
RICHMOND DIsPATCH-TUEsDAY, DECEMBER 49, 1902
GETS Too MUCH PAY
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE,

~ etsnan, aaIl, and Minor. Time, ! 80
m. november lS, 1902. Place, Mayors
Office. City Hall.
Inc Mayor was informed that the com
mittee was acting for the whole COM
ihittee under authority Of a resolution Of
the City Council, and that the object Of
the interview was to obtain a synopsis
OF the duties OF the position of the
Mayor.
Ife Mayor was asked to state in
general way the duties of his position.
he replied: Il am ready TO answer any
question that you have to ask me-
.. Have YOU anything to say to the
salary of your position?
a. There Is not a city in the United
States half the size of Richmond which
does not provide a private secretary
for the Mayor and pay the Mayor more
salary.
Q. Have you ever asked the City
Accountant to perform any service under
your direction?
a. | asked the City Accountant once
| to Go some work for me, and he told me
| that he was not subservent to me, but
| to the Finance Committee.
,, Q. Don't you know~that you have the
power to go into any department and
have an examination?
A. l don't think it is expected Of me
| to make personal investigation. I am
no expert. l have never been satisfied
since the Epps defalcation. and made up
my mind then to call attention to the I'M
portance Of my having authority to en-
ploy an expert accountant.
The Mayor then read an extract from a
printed copy of his report to the Council
recommending that he be allowed an ex-
pert accountant
q. Did you ever go into the Auditors
Office for the purpose of making In eX-
animation Of the books?
A. have been into the Auditors
Office and looked through the books, but
did not make any examination. MI
Meredith told me when he was City At
torney that it was not expected OF me-
@. Don't you think if you would call
upon Mr.. Mccarthy that he would make
such examinations as might be suggest
ed by you?
A. Years ago I called upon Mr.. Nc
Carthy to watch every one OF the de-.
partments l told him that ! did not
want to see repetition of the Adams
defalcation. I would not ask him now,
because he was not subservient to me.
His Office Hours.
Q. VIII you please state your office
a. My Office hours are from 10 until
@ but ] don't go off at that time where
no one can find me; go down 10 my
brothers store, and | can easily be
found.
6. What are your duties. Mr.. Mayor?
A. WELL I do ali OF my own CORE
spondence and act as my own messenger
boy.
@. Please state your duties in more
general way How many letters do you
receive and answer q day? Have you a
letter copying book?
A. Well, I receive letters about bonds
and q great many other things. lester
day I received seven letters and to-day
I received four do not keep any letter
book, but sometimes l make COPIES u
important letters.
We would like for You to state III
more general way your daily duties
A do not care to answer any sucil
question, and I decline to say whether
want my salary raised or decreased MY
salary cannot be changed curing t''is
term of the Council. The charter pro
vides that no changes can be mace III .iie
Mayors salary until the term ior which
he is elected has expired.
O. Do YOU consider it part OF your
duties to go into the department o1hces
and investigate the salaries paid the ON
Gals. etc?
A. 1t may or it may not be- have
never done this, and ! don't think II De-
comes me to do SO. think 1t is the GUY
of the Council They are at the head
of such things. I want the power to so
into the departments. but | am no eX-
pert and as told you, have made
Recommendation that such authority he
given me-
Q. Don't you think that if YOU had rca-
son to believe that an investigation should
be made that you should call on Mr. Nc
Carthy that he would render the service
asked?
Not on Good Terms.
A. would not like to ask Mr.. Nc
Carthy to make an examination for me-
| am not on good terms with Mr. NC
Carthy, and l do not personally care to
ask to officially investigate after having
been told by him that he was not sub
servient to me. but to the Finance Com
mittee ! want the power to employ an
expert accountant. and do not think |
would choose the same man every time
l know plenty of good men who could
do the work, and I am not afraid that
my choice would not please.
@. Would you suggest us the names
OF any OF those you would employ!
A. don't care to mention any names
now but if l get the power. l can get
the man / want.
Q. Mr. Mayor, is there not an appro-
priation made every year from which you
can draw?
A. l have a small appropriation OF $500
for secret service, and | do not think
would have the power to draw upon this
for such investigation. Ike amount is
small. and ] don't just know when it
will have to be drawn on for secret SER
vice.
c. Mr.. Mayor would you make any sug-
gestions as to the City Collectors office?
a. ! stand on my message which
sent to the Council in July. and l will
not make any suggestions as to any Of
fee.
Wants to Employ One.
c. Are there any suggestions you
would care to make?
A The only important suggestion that
l would make. is that I be given power
to employ an expert accountant. ] want
some one I can direct to make examl-
nations when think them necessary. and
would not be satisfied unless I went
back for the entire eight years I have
been in Office.
G. Do you think you could draw on the
secret service fund to pay the expenses
of an investigation?
A do not feel at liberty to take any
of the secret service money for any other
purpose than that for which 1t is intend
ed
@. Have you ever made any recommen-
da tons to the Council before you made
the one about the special accountant?
A never bothered the Council with
tons. Mr.. Ellyson told me
long time ago that the Council never paid
SoSt o~c 4