The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-03
Declares Failure to Return Ordi-
nances Is Impeding Progress
OF City Government.
MANY IMPORTANT MATTERS
Mills Would Abolish Office OF
Tax Observation-Disclosures
Bid for Franchise.

Declaring al the meeting of Council
last night that the Finance Commit
Lee was impeding the progress of the
city government by It's failure to re-
turn ordinances not strictly linanciai
In Offering resolution that the law
relating to staff changes at the City
Hcmt be sent back to the lower
branch at Its next SESSION. severely
arraigned the committee and criticized
Alderman Dabney in particular. lie
said that the ordinance had been de-
layed in transit for nenrly year.
While Dr. Williams was reading his
statement members gave him the clos
est attention, for 1t was evident imme-
dlately after he began that he. was con-
against which there is general com-
riaint
What DR.. Williams Smid.
Councilman Davis, with a sore griev-
anee against the finance Committee.
sald mat he wanted Incorporated in
ordinance, ltigeon-holed by that COM
,nlltee more than year ago, be re
turned forthwith He made an amend
n:nt to that effect, and it was adopted
Win Inc resolution Dr.. Williams said !:
More than twelve months ago the
ssituted through s' Su ~ eos m9Sr o of
seven an inqut1y'1nro this department..
after diliEent inquiry and due and
careful consideration. this suhcommit-
tions The full committee. after fur
tler consideration, on January %, 1907,
unanimously approved them and or
forwarded TO the Council with the
recommendation that they be adopted.
History of Ordinances.
Two of these ordinances were
promptly prepared and sent to the
BOARD 9t Aldermen on February 12th,
mittee on Ordinance, Charter and Re-
form. This committee recommended
their adoption and returned them TO
TIE Board on March 18th, when they
nance. On March 18th they were tabled
by the Committee on Finance, in which
condition they remained until upon the
request OF the superintendent of the
mtttee on Relief of the Poor they were
Whereupon Mr.. Dabney had them
Promptly referred to a subcommittee
snbcomnlittee he was chairman. Early
In November Mr.. Dnbney was urged to
cal! meeting of the subcommittce 70
consider the ordinances. Notwithstand-
ne has been generous with his time in
public affairs connected and dlscon-
heci bsa WITH hta,, rnuniGipal matters he SAFE
9 meeting of the subcommittee anc
make report at the next meeting OF
the Committee on Finarce. During ,he
early part OF the meeting Of the. III.
] asked Mr.. Pollock, a merrber Of the
euhcnmmittee, il there had been a meet,
ing OF his subcommittee, and he an.
swered tina, there had not. A few min,
otss later MI Dabney, came in and
asked him II he would make /, rtpfr
that ntght He said he would. ther
asked Superintendent Davis If Mr.. D. h
ne2 had consulted him fnr any add
t!pnaal l,si,s on these ,1rdinasecs, II,
not been to the CITY HONE Ii thn
seems. that Mr. Dahnev hstwsen III
time he hsd these ordinances r+ferre,
81 the Finance Committee, two montl
later. az which he mad his report
Hetther attsnpted 10 get additional in
formation from those IN change OF IN
Aepartwent. or who. had recrinmerde
4 meeting Of his subcou,r,ittee 10 CIR
g!der tn. question nrd Formulate tn
Ifpnrt which he undertook m make in
Siyldpal,s !, Is S'a,fnea that he an
Hittee OF three, had moments cor
ference during thu session Of the y
vance cnni .,'ttee ins, before Mr.. Ioet
ee% made bis sn-called report of III
subcnm.sit,se The rei,ort Mas t.,
one ordinance he reincted ard tie ~,
eonnmitt0e be cohtinnfd ~ consider II
other. am ted 1hat ! this ranort W.
4 adopted by TIC Finance Crmmtte
Where are now three ordinanees stil;
StiA Finance Committee. which are .
II aligned to carry out the recommend
tt0ns unanimously made by thu Cor
1 rnittes on R.lief ut cf the Poor IN IL
ysnomnended by the conmittee on Q