The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-04
NO HARD Times
IN CITY COUNCIL
The Corporations May Decrease
Wages, but Municipal Govern
n1ent Is Always Raising.
RESIGNATION OF Mr.. CANNON
Plans for New Light Plant.
Movement for Music in
Parks Is Killed.

Apart from the unexpected resigna
ton OF Mr.. James z. Cannon, OF LIE
Ward, and the adoption of u rcsolu
ton appropriating $500 for plans an
specifications for municipal clectri
light plant ut the old pump house sta
ton, the striking feature of the meet
ing OF the Common Council last nigh
was the rapid manner In which salurie
were raised and tho refusal of thu
body to pass measure providing tina
I3no Increases shall be granted for 100
after the ratification Of the appropria
4 ton ordinance.
i Vigorous Opposition.
! There was vigorous opposition to thu
lighting plant proposition from Coun
cilmen Minor and William L. White
!; Mr.. Minor contendins that If the cit,
| permitted competition 1t could no
with profit, and declaring that the
sentiment OF the people was agains
municipal ownership, without curtail-
Ing the establishments and the drop
ping Of office holders. to tie end thai
| taxes might be reduced.
The resignation of Mr.. Cannon, fol-
lowed by personal statement IN
which he expressed regret that he
was forced to retire because OF his
speech making. Councilman Pollock
introduced resolution urging him to
lreconsider. but at the request OF Coun-
Gilman Pollard. 1t was withdrawn. Mr..
Pollard said that Mr.. Cannon had cour-
age and backbone. which was badly
not reconsider. The resignation. there
FORE was accepted. and a committee
consisting of Messrs. Cary. Pollard and
Pollock. was appointed to prepare suit
able resolution.
Big Raid on the Treasury.
Practically the entire evening was
devoted TO roll call matters. Reports
from the Committees on Streets and
Finance were received after which the
meeting adjourned until Thursday
night. In the Finance Committee re-
port there We're many ordinances relat-
ing to increases in salaries.
Councilman David Meade White, who
has consistently opposed the general
policy Of. giving more, made strong
nj CORPORATIONS" he said, care cutting
wages everywhere Out OF the $1,000
600 expended annually by the city.
100000 IS paid for wages. and that
the city, employees scale is 20 per cent.
higher than wages received by men in
other lines of work"
!. Blu, But they kept on raising. Finally.
wren the resolution to stop that prac-
Mr. White called for a recorded vote
W Ma,n, !. was rather staEsering. An Of
nc, al statement prepared by the City
in 1905 r,nr-ted t. ssa.e75. $3.50
Thought Resolution Unfair
al la ne measure measure was defeated mainly
regard It as fair. inasmucll as the FL
nance Committee wanted to call "a
sudden halt when it--or other commit.
tees-had failed to return ordinances
n, cts
number NJ Of cases being cited to show
the Injustice of this. The vote, how
ever. resulted as follows:
Ayes-Bnrber, Ferguson. Green, Lea.
DIM. ard Peters--lO - 4
Nays.Bli!ey; Davis Don Leavy. Hob
son. j.. a.: Huber. Miner Grimes. Pol
lock. Powers Richardson. e. D.: Rich
w. L., and Williams-15.
Ordinances Introduced.
On roll call the following ordinances
and resolutions were introduced and
BY Mr.. Umlauf. for the onplovment
of n police station natron.
BY Mr.. Powers, to instruct the Chief
or or, po ollt,e TO see that the street cars
Tor passengers when one car is in
sight before the other leaves.
ny Mr.. Powers. to require that every
ward shall be represented on tho III
BY Mr.. Richards, to appropriate So
200 for Thirty-fourth Street.
BY Mr. Batkins. to provide a second
IRON cage In the Police Court for thu
separation of white and colored pris-
By AR. Cary. to appropriate 5000
t 10 the employment Of n landscape
me ordinance to increase the salary
Q, OF the barber master was adopted.
f elas for the new High School were re.
the statement OF Mr.. Pollard that' tl,a
cost would probably exceed the an
propria ton: the resolution appropriat-
1ng S 1900 for band music in the parks
creating the office Of assistant n1,,n,h.
ing Inspector, at salary OF $1,000.