Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-02-26
MATTER DISCUSSED AT
LENGTH BY COMMIT Zee
Ordinance Abolishine Office Of Super.
intendent Of Streets is Reported I'm.
favorsbly by Highways and sewers
Committee, But Members Agree
That General Revision is Desirable.


eminent so far as the saIar.ed officers
and the various departments are CON
cerned and II is probable that In the
very near future the council Will be
asked to appoint JOIN; revising or
pruning" committee.
The discussion of the revising OF
the executive branches OF the city
government came up when the com
mlttee began the confederation OF
Councilman Cox's resolution TO abol-
ish the Office of supe. ntendent OF
streets and TO place the work of that
Office In the hands of the city engi-
ever. Mr.. Cox spoke briefly in favor
of the resolution. saying that the gov
ernment was not economically car
ried On and that several Offices might
be abolished at a considerable SAVING
TO the city each year
Advocates General Revision.
Alderman Caleb d. West said tnat
he agreed that some of the Offices
could be abolished or consolidated and
that he thought 1t should be done, but
That the proper way TO proceed In the
matter would be to have the council
appoint a committee to work out the
details of a complete revision of the
executive branches of the government.
He did not think that the council
should start the work by doing away
with one officer when several others
might be let go.
Mr. West went on to say that he
thought considerable pruning could
be done In all Of the departments and
that the city could easily save $l0,-
00c year by cutting of some of the
officers and worlSmen and running the
departments In q more business-like
manner. He also said tina; he thought
the police and fire departments were
costing the city too much money and
that several men could he dropped IN
the sewer department.
Want Immediate Action.
Alderman c. C. helms took the
same view as Mr.. West and express
ed the belief that the council should
less no time in the matter. Council
man Harris declared that he had long
advocated a general revision of the
system and that ON no Jess than three
occasions he had introduced resoiu-
lions asking that the legislature
amend the citys charter so that the
Offices OF mayor and police justice
might be combined and also the of
Aces Ct city auditor and city clerk.
He declared that the council could
do nothing In the matter now until
the next session of the legislature.
Mr.. West didn't agree with Mr..
Harris In that settlement. saying that
the Offices Of mayor. city clerk. police
jrstice and city auditor are the only
ones provided for in the charter and
that the council could abolish the oin-
err oficcs II IL saw fl to do So
A question arose as TO whether or
not II would be proper for the CON-
mittee TO recommend to the council
that revision committee be APPOINT
ed and after some discussion 1t was
decided 10 let the matter Re brought
up before the council. However. the
committee unanimously voted TO re-
turn Councilman Cox's resolution to
the council with the recommendation
that il be not edopted.
Contractor Davis Before Committee.
Contractor ! W Davis. who laid
the vitrihed brick paving for the city
last year. met with the committee last
night for the purpose the purpose OF
settling the difference between him
self and thee itv Mr.. Davis asked
that the committee recommend tina;
the. $3.50 OF his money now being
held % On the sand basc matter be
paid and that the city purchase the
trick which was lef; over after the
paving was CON. icted. Mr.. Davis
said that shc surplus brick was or
dered end delivered here before he
was no;Ifed ny the city engineer tha;
Tunty-efehth street would no; be
paved further westward thsn Wick
ham avcnne and thst the city should
paw him for the brick.
There seemed 10 he some question
abouf the time OF the notification Of
Mr.. Davis relative TO this matter end
no agreement could be reached. Alder
man West was opposed 10 The payment
Of all Of the money nov held ~ the
city from the contractor and he de-
cisred thar he he'd the SANE view re-
ra-din< the matter - did Mayor
Jones That was tha; thr city shoHid
lef shc contractor suc To- MS money
and r.. th- courf Determine how much
q n shoslf 10 paid him
Vii lnve1ti1sic Nsft-r.
NJ Davis stated that hc Wished ~
avoid = suH possible and exprcssed
fhe hoge hat ne mighs ~ able 70
CINE 70 scEs agreement With 'be