The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-05

After the Finance Committee had de-
iiberated for an hour yesterday afternoon
in executive session and drafted reso-
luton providing for IL special Joint COM
mittee of five to investigate certain spe-s
cjhc charges made By the Mayor in hts
recent addresses. the Common Council
itself had q prolonged and spirited de-
hate last night over the adoption OF the
resolution. IL was twice beaten, but was
finally passed after having been stripped
Of any appropriation. Accordingly, the
provision for clerk and stenographer
had to be stricken out and the commit
tee clerk will have to record the DELFT.
crations OF the proposed committee. The
measure must now go to tho Board of
Aldermen for its concurrence, and its
fate in that body Is doubtful. The ma
jority Of aIdcrnanic members Of the FL
nance Committee are said TO be avcrse
10 the proposition to investigate.
MI. Cannon and Mr.. w. j. White
voiced the indignation OF the Council and
the Finance Committee, and vigorously
condemned tAe Mayors utterances. Mr..
David Meade White and Mr.. w. FREQ
Richardson opposed the Investigation
proposition, Mr.. White declaring that he
endorsed many things tho Mayor said
ard derived profit from them, and that II
the Mayor were an anarchist. then he.
too, would have to be included in thct
category. Mr.. White declared that tha
proposed investigation. II had, would
amount to little more than the Councils
vindicating itself. He indicated that tn.
result was forecast by the sentiment
i shown there at the meeting,
The Council disposed of large accu-
mutation of routine business, none OF 1t
~ great Importance, but ii consumed tho
time until midnight, with the result that
4,
OF matters presented on rolI-call.
Session in Detail.
As soon as the roll had been callel
and the minutes read, the body got to
work without further preliminaries
The clerk laid before the Council n
message from the Mayor relative to
delays on the part of certain city ofi-
GERS In making their reports. The
message was as follows:
apprsvea d. FEBRUARY et'n 10. J." 1885, eS.nauss ths
heads of the departments OF the
city government are required TO for
ward their annual reports to the Mayor
on or before the 18th day of February
OF each year, and tho Mayor is required
to forward these reports, with HIS an
nual message, to the city clerk within
fifteen days thereafter.
The Mayor has cen unable to com
absence OF reports, without which an in
telligent statement OF the condition and
Woepecls OF the CITY government could !.
not be prepared
''rhe, following reports have not yet
reached the Mayors ofriGc;
the Auditors report the report Of
the Collector of City Taxes. tho re-
port or the Collector of Delinquent
Taxes, the report of the Board of
Health, the report of the School board,
the report of the Commissioned OF the
Revenue, the report of the City Gauger,
ana perhaps some other minor reports
1t is hardly necessary to say that
the absence of these reports prevents
any consideration of the paramount In
terests OF the government, including the
.inanral tran nsaetions of the past yeari
the extent and condition of tle bonded
debt and the sinking fund; tho prin-
cipal source OF revenue through taxes:
the increase In assessed values and
other important matters which originate
in the Office OF the commissioner: the
great Interests OF the whole school sys-
TEN OF the city, to say nothing OF tho
vital statistics and other essential feat
lures whinh must appear in the report
of the Health Department
II trust that the officers who are.
responsible for this delay VIII comrIy
With the ordinance in time TO enabie
the Major to present his message nj .he
ell.
perhaps l ought to say in this CON
nection that on tho 30th day Of January
/ addressed a circular letter to each
department head in the city government
caliing attention to the provisions OF
all the importance and necessity III
promp. compliance with lis provisions =
Mr., Hobson moved the reference o
the message to the Board Of Alder
(Coutinued on Second pagcl