The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-04
The BUDGET
COMMENDED.
IS Pleasing TO All Except In.
One Single Respect.
BUT LITTLE II i: FOR OR CHARITY H II
Under the Construction of the New
Law Many Worthy Institutions
We're Cut off From
I. Benefits.
BUT LITTLE FOR CHARITY

Probably never before. certainly not
within the memory Of any one nov con-
nected with the city government has an,
anual budget been received with more
genuine and universal pleasure than the
document which was passed Monday night
by the Common Council without 80 much
an having been read. The action OF Bthe
lesser body OF the inunlciIal government
is taken as n compliment 10 me ihteBr,ty
Of tho Finance Committee. Heauedt ny AL
James r. Gordon IL
4 Thinking that the budget which VI ms
committee had striven on with such cares
would be received Monday night as lor-.
jrner documents Of n like nature, Mr.. Cor
don, although a member OF the Board OF
Aldermen, was on hand to oHer any eA-
plantations about this or that item Wh' ,:
might not be quite clear. He was walt \
ing patiently In the srnoking-room OF t q.
chamber engaged In CONVERSATION with
ono or two other gentlemen Not one
OF them had the remotest idea that the
budget had been called up. when sudden
~ in walked Mr.NHeslep with the infor-
nation that the paper had boon passed
without a dissenting vote, practically.
WAS a COMP LIMENT.
10 say that Mr.. Gordon was pleased
and equally surprised. is putting It mild
~. He had expected debate OF at least
three hours, and reasonably thought That
several amendments would be made IN
the document. It certainly was q com
5pliment to the Finance Committee,
inquiry yesterday among Councilmen--,
ed that almost to man they are pleased
with the recommended tons OF the Finance
Committee. They seem to realize that
every effort was exhausted to give each
department Just as much money as posi-
BILE, and have no kick to make against
the report Mr.. Marx Hunst, chairman
OF the Relief of the Poor Committee, ana
also member OF the Finance CcEsait-
tee, Is slightly upset over the fact that
In tho budget the estimate OF expenses
at the Almshouse Is cut down $1,000 but
otherwise he joins his fellow members
in applauding the budget. s5t3
.isassaif 3ls' MUSIC IN THE PARKS.
There has been some little talk over.
the item approprlating $3.50 for music
in the parks. while the budget ll Ignores
the charitable institutions OF the city.
Mr. Shea doesn't think this quite right,
but when he advanced his objections,
he evidently was not aware that under
the ruling OF the City Attorney, 1t would
have been unlawful to give any money
to any charitable institution. other than
those in which the city Is directly Inter
jested
1t win be remem bcred that when the
new Constitution was drawn there was
inserted clause allowing no city or pnb-
lie corporation In Virginia to appropriate
any part OF their funds to the maintain
ance OF charitable Institutions When
petition for certain sum for such pur-
poses came up in the Council. the mat
ter was held up on that point. pending
an opinion from the City Attorney
Mr. In ri rarn invasttrafaJ tho
law, after which he reported that 1t would
bn illegal to make any appropriations TO
charitable institutions. 1t was due en-
tirey to this that the Finance Commit
tee omitted In the budget small appro-
priatlons to the different institutions.
WILL BE COMPLAINTS.
SO far no complaint has been heard
the fact fully develops upon the effected
charitable institutions, and an effort may
be made to have the law amended, so as
to make 1t possible to give over small
sums of money to such cause In the
future.
As shown in the copy Of the budget re-
produced In The Times Dispatch! yester-
priated for the erection Of a water
tower" While the language is technl-.
cally correct, the words are misleading
to a degree. and many have been led to
believe that the city contemplated the
purchase of a tower, one of those porta>
BILE affairs. such as are In use In other
towns In the country.
9tAs a matter OF fact, there will
be no water tower in Richmond.
In accord with the strict meaning
Of the term. On the other hand. there
will be n stand pipe, and It will be located
in the Lee District. and 1t is for the con-
structon of such an affair that the large
sum Of money has been provided by tho
financiers.
It will be remembered that several
months ago the Council decided to have
clear water and to also increase the pres
sure In the Lee District A joint body.
composed Of the Water and Finance Com-
mittee, recommended that bonds to the
amount of $3.50, 900 be issued to erect
settling basin, and that the Finance Com
mittee DO Instructed to prepare In its
budget for this year an appropriation Of
$780, 900 for the construction Of a stand
pipe In the Lee District.
The item in the budget simply makes
the appropriation In accordance with the
action Of tho Council
MARKETS PLEASED.
While, as stated. the Councimen are
pleased with the budget, the
of the Committee on Markets
may be said to be even happy over the
and their final adoption
This was the only nnrt Of the govern
mept to be given the amount asked In