Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-04
Regular Meeting Of Lower Branch
Turns Isl0fa '"Ka0ckers'
Convention"
ATTACK UPON CITY OFFICIALS
President Jones and Mr.. Harris De.
clare That Newport News is run
ming Itself" and That Fault Starts
at the Top-Litte Business Or
Calendar.

Having disposed of the very few
matters Of business on tho calendar
I'm about fifteen minutes. the common
council last night resolved its regular
monthly meeting into sort of
knockers convention The city
officials. everybody in general and
nobody in particular. furnished sub
ject for the informal discussion.
which consumed about an hour of
spare time and lasted until Mcssrs.
West and Cox and one or two others
began to insist upon motion to ad-
journ.
President d. s. Jones unheathcd
his hammer after Clerk Hudglns had
read report upon the committees
which failed to meet during the past
two months. The president opened ty
saying that the conncilmcn were not
displaying enough interest in COM
mittec work and then went on to de-
clare that no one was paving proper
attention to the city's affairs: that
the fault began with the head OF the
city government and stopped ut the
foot. or words to that effect. Incl
dentally he remarked that there were
too many city offices; that some OF
them shonlh he consolidated
Mr.. Harris followed the president
and endorsed what had been sale
He declared that the city was simply
running ITSELF and that while some
of the officers were efficient. others
were utterly worthless. Mr.. Christie
had word or two Ia say, his prin-
ciDal complaint being that the city
attorney does not attend committee
meetings.
Before the body adjourned Presi-
dent Jones spoke again, rcitcrating
what he had said before and adding
that the city is employing -four doc
tors to do work which should be done
by one.
Fund for the Mayor.
During the discussion, the president
said that he was OF the opinion that
small fund should he placed at the
disposal of the mayor of use in emer-
Gencies. He went on to say that
there are times when It Is very neces-
snry to spend little money in hand
ling the city's affairs when there is
no time to get an appropriation. Lat
er resolution appropriating $3.50 to
be placed Mt the mayors disposal was
offered and adopted
Little Regular Business.
There was very little regular bust
ness on the calendar. Several com
mittees had failed to meet and there
was practically nothing from the
board of aldermen. rs that body failed
to hold its last regular meeting
a resolution from the fircdemart-
ment and water committee. tender
ing Superintendent Of Streets S, !.
Harwood vote of thanks for his
work in repairing all three OF the
oitys fire engine houses at cost
not exceeding two-thirds of the low
est bid for repairing two of the
houses, was unanimously adopted.
Fire Chief Stow made ir'ief
statement to the effect that the
engine houses had been overhanlod
and repaired thoroughly and were in
excellent condition.
An ordinance appropriating 5000 to
cover the balance due repairing the
engine houses could not be acted upon
because only ten members were pres.
ent
Those attending the meeting were:
Cheadle. Christie. Cox. Davis. Harris
Kellum, Morgan, Wallace. West and
the president.