The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-02
BECK Wins FIGHT
With JAN|T0RS|
City Hall Custodian at Last Has
Authority to Employ and
Discharge.
LOT TOO HIGH
Bowman Suggests Installation
ofTelephone Exchange
at City Hall.


What may prove to be the last chap
ter In the long drawn out controversy
between Building Inspector Beck, WHO
Is custodian of all city buildings, and
the force of janitors at the CITY Hall
was reached when the Council Com
mittec on Grounds and Buildings last
night adopted report which has the
double effect of increasing the pay OF
the. janitors from $55 to $50 per month
each. and puts the force directly under
the building Inspector to appoint ana
discharge. a subcommittee headed by
Alderman Atkinson. presented the re-
port. which also carried with 1t an
increase In pay for the City Hall
watchman from s65 to SIS per month.
Mr.. Don Leavy objected to the words
employees who should be elected as
heretofore by the Grounds and Build
ings Committee for two-year terms.
He thought 1t tended to make the de-
partment head, the Building Inspec-
tor, larger than the committees" and
gave the janitors no assurance of per-
nranent positions. He thought that at
present the inspector could suspend
any employe for cause and report to
the committee. and that that was
Avoids Ward Politics.
Mr.. Atkinson said that the commit
tee had thought 1t best that the cleaning
force OF the City Hall have one boss
not twelVe--and that with the commits
tee in charge any discharged man
have 1t fixed up" Mr.. Beck was
held responsible for the building. he
said. and should have authority to
keep It in order.
Chairman Batkins was opposed to
the Increase In pay, but was for the
should be hired by the day. and not
be on q monthly pay roll. to be paid
whether they worked or not, as at
present when the number of sick ex-
cuses for apparently able bodied men
has been abnormal.
Mr.. Blake thought the Building In
spcctor should have absolute control,
and the report was adopted. Messrs
Don Leavy and Batkins voting no, the
salary increases being recommended to
the Council.
1t was also recommended to the
Council to create the position of
keeper of Washington Square. who
shall also be janitor of city Offices in
South Richmond, at s55 per month.
The City Engineer was instructed to
advertise for proposals for the boat
and refreshment privileges at William
Eyrd Park for 1911
Ground Now TOO High.
The Fairgrounds Committee report
luton for purchase of property on
North Tenth Street, the price of which
has risen from $40 to s55 per front
foot since 1t became known that the
city wanted it, and the paper was re-
jected.
On advice of City Engineer Boiling
the committee recommended to the
Council the purchase of four acres
between William Byrd Park and the
Shields Grove property, for an en-
largement OF the park, the price not
to exceed $4,000. On motion of MIR
Bowman the subcommittee on build
ing was instructed to report on the ad-
visibility of installing a private branch
telephone exchange for all municipal
telephones in the City Hall and else
where. He urged that beside the
question of cost, it would be con-
venience to the general public in Sc
curing Information.