The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-21
EXTRA PAY
ON TIL. JAIL
Chairman Gordon Explains
Finance Committees Action
"a CLAIM ON CONTRACTORS
Money Held to Be Que from Them for
Delay TO Complete the Work
In the Time Agreed
Upon by Them.

Much interest ID felt In certain quarters
regarding tho difference Of opinion be-
tween the Finance and Grounds and
Buildings Committees OF t1S City coun-
oil as to the payment Of S5,s2727 to the
Stewart Iron Works. Of Cincinnati. tor
extra work on the new city jail. 81
The Grounds and Buildings COMMITTEES
has approved the claim and wants It
paid: City Engineer Cutshaw holds that
the city has o counter claim on account
OF Increased expense by reason Of delay
in completing the prison, and appears to
DO sustained by City Attorney Pollard;
the Finance Comnn ttee feels that the mat
ter should be more carefully looked into,
and 10 this end submitted to the Com
mon Council resolution, which that
body rejected, withholding the payment
OF the $4,000 provided In the budget Just
adopted until the question has been adj
justed. The subject will probably be
brought to the attention OF the Council
not satisfactorily adjusted In the mean
time. MI. 4 y6
FINANCE COMMITTEES ACTION.
TIE discussion Of this matter In the
Common Councils special meeting Thurs
day afternoon. and the refusal Of the
body to follow the course suggested by
the Finance Committee was much talked
OF a bout the city Hall yesterday CHAR
man James r. Gordon, Of the Finance
Committee, was seen last night. BY q
Times Dispatch reporter. and asked as
to the reasons that Influenced the COM
n1lttee to ask that the payment Of the
money provided In the budget be with
held. These are the facts as glven5b by MT.
Gordon; 81 Il # IN
5 Long before the present Council came.
into power there was passed an ordnance
authorizing the construction Of new
city Jail to be built under the supervis-{
ION OF the Committee OH Grounds and
Buildings. An appropriation OF $Ss 800 was
made for the purpose, and the city en-
gineer drew, plans and specifications. gssiE
The con tract Was awarded to the Stew
art Iron Works, Of Cincinnati, and the
work was undertaken. 1T was to DO
completed within hstated time. or, 80 the
Finance Committee thinks. the city was
to be reimbursed for any extra expendi-
lures on Its part for the rental of suit
able building In which to contine tho
prisoners.
The work was delayed, first for ono rea-
SON and then another, until long after
the time limit had expired. But during
the construction mum bers of changes were
made in this plans, and extra expense Wao
entailed upon the contractors, 80 they
claim. 65 z}s.i
Finally, the prison was completed, and
the question OF extra compensation for the
con tract came up. It was adjusted BY
awarding $5,S2T.22 for the extra work, and
tho Grounds and Buildings Committee re-
ported O resolution to tho Council, ask
Ing that this amount be appropriated TO
pay the additional expense. No areduc-
ton was made for the money expended
for renta! by the city. .
The resolution was sent to the Council
and referred as usual, to the Finance
Committee. At the same time the budget
was nearing completion and the depart
ments Of the city were more or less idle
FOR the want Of money with which to
carry on the work aa q. INV
MONEY no COMPLETE TT,
lust before the budget was finally made
.up and recommended to this Council.
CITY Auditor Warren went to the City
Engineer to learn how much would be
needed for the new Jail fund. fIe was
informed that $4,000 was necessary ac-
cording to figures made by this Grounds
and Buildings COMMITTEES, This included
the settlement for extra work. and did
not embrace any reduction for the delay
oocasj oned and the expense incurred by
the city.
81 The resolution asking, for the money,
with which8to pay the extras was not
referred to the Finance Committee until
the night the budget was reported. They
had never seen tho paper, and tho lump
sum OF $4,000 had been inserted on the
statement OF Mr., Warren, after no had
Investigated.
Z The budget was passed and became a
law. the $4,000 being placed to the
credit Of the Grounds and buildings
Committee as n new jail fund, no effort