The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-01
.DABNEY SEEKING
SOME INSIDE FACTS
Wants Information About Gas
and Water Municipal
Plants.
TO TAKE 1T UP IN COUNCIL
Says Expenditures and Receipts
Alone Are Not Satisfactory
to Public.

Aside from the consideration OF the
liquor license report, Committee on
Ordinance, Charter and Reform had a
rather lively meeting last night. cut
ting right and left, but raising a few
salaries as the evening rocked along.
Out In front more than u score Of
employees OF the Water and Gas De-
partments were waiting anxiously for
the increase. Superintendent Boiling
and Knowles were there at the re-
quest of the committee. and they rec
commended higher wages for tho en-
ployes who had asked 1t.
Alderman w. r. Dabney was on the
firing line. What he wanted to know
particularly was not whether the men
deserved a raise, and II the two nu-3
nicipal plants were able to render a
statement to the public outside Of an
itenized account of receipts and en-
penditures He wanted Superln tendent
Boiling to explain for the Water De-
partment, and later on he had charge
of tho cross examination Of Supertcnu-
ent knowles.
I'VE know tho receipts and cXpcndi-
lures" he said: but we want to &c,
at what YOU are doing; we want tc
know If there is a basis upon which
you can figure the business"
whereupon Mr. Dabncy proceeded tc
add with some feeling that he woult
send an ordinance to the Council de-
handing an accounting Of these plants
to find out what they We're doing what
the earning capacity was, and If they
are making money. Well get that
Information when the ordinance Is
passed. he said.
The o. Cent Rate Question.
While Mr.. Boiling was doing his
best. and in an intelligent manner, too
to explain why the men in his de-
partment should receive higher wages
Mr.. Dabney took up the complaint of
property owners that heretofore one
house. using not more than 4.500 gal
Ions of water, had been charged CT
cents a month. and when half of the
apartment was rented to other fam
lily the water rent had been doubled
Mr.. Boiling said that he did not
frame the law, but favored it.
The activity In reporting such houses
had been lately started. he said, but it
followed an opinion by City Attorney
Pollard that the regulations had to be
observed. The discussion was quite
animated. and in executive session an
hour later the committee commended
to the Council the passage Of an ordi-
nance not to charge two families, oc-
cupying the same house, more than 81
cents a month, where not more than
$500 gallons Of water We're used.
Those Who Get More Pay.
Finally as a result OF long discus
sion. the following increases in wages
We're voted upon favorably:
Keeper of the Reservoir, $40 month
instead of $50.
General clerk.in water office. sl,150
instead of S1,100.
Inspector and meter repairer Water
Department 3d. instead OF $3.50 day
Meter readers and messengers, Water
Department s275, instead Of $3.50 a
day.
Meter repairer 1.-TWO Of them, Gas
Department, So each day.
Men in service department (gas),
$3.50. instead Of $2.25 a day.
The committee rejected the ordinance
providing that charge OF SO cents be
made for each death or burial record
secured from the Health Department.