Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-19

Laying aside all personalities in the
matter and facing the issue fairly
and squarely. the retrenchment COM
mittee OF the city council practically
completed its work last night at its
first sitting. Only one department of
The city gCvernment-tire department
and water-escaped the pruning
knife and when the committee ad-
jOurned at 1880 O'Clock the budget
for the coming fiscal year had been
reduced by $3.50. The committee
will finally complete its work al
second meeting TO be held on the
night of March % and the report will
20 10 the council in April. Thus far
nO salaries have been reduced.
All seven members of the commit
tee were present last night and alb
solute harmony prevailed throughout
lie session. There was not single
dissenting vote on any proposition
acted upon and opposition was offer
ed TO only a few suggestions that
were MADE and in each instance such
suggestions were not pressed.
While the committee necessarily act
ed quickly, snap judgment was not
taken in any instance and there was
full and free discussion of every
point Each one OF the committee
men apparently haG made up his
mind On most of the matters consid-
cred and all of their minds ran about
in the same channel.
All Members Present.
= When City Clerk FLOYD Hudgins
raped the committe to order there
We're present Aldermen c. G. helms.
.ns bA srcr I'd Ef-opE D.
OF the Third ward, and Caleb ID.
West, of the Fourth ward; Council
men +. l. Ford, of the First ward;
f. +. Christie. Of the Second ward;
W. L. Jones. OF the Thira ward. and
W. r. Spruill. of the Fourth ward.
Councilman Ford was unanimously
elected chairman Of the committee
Immediately after the naming of
the chairman, Alderman West brought
up the subject OF meeting behind
closed doors. lie said tina; he had
been harassed almost TO death"
about the retrenchment matter al
ready and that il would be worse If
the committee admitted any and
everybody 10 the meetings and the
suggestions CT the individual men,
hers OF the committee were generally
known. lie thought that the meet
ing should be secret for the present
at least. w. r. Spruill concurred "a
his views and W. T.. Jones also OBJ
jecied TO the public being present. lie
said that he did not like TO talk
about cutting the salaries Of city Of
ncialS when those officials were sit
ting across the room from him.
Newspaper Men in Meeting
Alderman helms and Chairman
FCrd objected TO secret sessions II
by tha; il was meant that the news
paper mea should be excluded Final
~ Ut. Lonzan moved that the com
bu; the motion was voted down. FIVE
10 two. only Dr. Jnugan and Mr.
Spruill voting for a.
After some further discussion. the
committee unanimously adopted
motion excluding everyone from the
meeting except the newspaper men
aud the city clerk. II was decided
that the committee should summon
heads a. the departments before II
whenever they were needed 20 give
the committee information.
Start With Mayor.
With the qrcsficn O: executive SOS
eious disposed Of. the committee at
lacked the budget a. recommended
hy the finance committee. The prIIn-
iur knife Wa applied first % the
mayors salary. which is the first item
In ne budget. This salary vas reduc-
81 from $1,000 to Seoo PEI -annuan. but
go = - -.