Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-02
CONTEST IN
COUNCIL Is EXPECTED
Various Members viii Fight Recon-
mendatiCns as TO Police Department
or Reduction In Salaries, and lndi-
cations Are That Budget Will Not
be Adopted Until May.


have learned today that the rctrench-
ment committee deemed it necessary
to make a general cut in the salaries
OF the city officers in order to carry
oot It's policy OF retrenchment."
This statement was made yesterday
by Chairman T. l. Ford. of the coun-
ellis retrenchment committee. when
asked by Daily Press reporter for
An expression of opinion on the action
q the committee last Tuesday night
Mr. Ford was called 10 Washington
Tuesday on business and was unable
to be present at the committee meet
ing that night He returned here yes
terday morning. However. at the first
session OF the 'pruners.' Mr.. Ford
went on record as opposing the cut
ting of salaries.
Retained, But Starved"
When asked if he would stand by
the committees work so far as sal
aries are concerned. Mr. Ford declined
10 make any statement. However. he
said that as general proposition ne
did not believe in cutting salaries
with the present high cost of living.
He said that in his business when ne
was compelled to retrenchEdnd he
was compelled to do so not long ago
he cut men off and consolidated po-
sitions in preference to cutting salaries.
BY os;tting man of. he said, the man
is given a chance to get another po-
sition equally as good. bat by cutting
his salary. he is retained in the posi-
ton and iiguratively starved to
death"
Judging from the present tone OF
the councilmen, the regular meeting
OF the lower branch next Tuesday
night will be among the hottest n
the history of the council. Many mem
bers are objecting to different sections
OF the committees report and the. de-
clare that they will fight those sec
tions to a stand still. On the other
hand. most of the members of the
committee and some others of the
councilmen will stand by the report
and make determined fight to put
1t through.
Councilman Boiling Emphatic.
Councilman l.. r. Boiling. of the
is most emphatically opposed TO any
change in the police department and
that he will forever vote against that
section OF the report. He also is
opposed 10 the cuts in the salaries OF
City Attorney Massie. Chief Reynolds.
Police Justice Brown and others Of
the city officers.
Councilman George w. Whitley and
f. c. Cox already have rs:t themselves
on record as opposing the method or
the cut in the police department and
IL was stated at the meetings of che
council committees last night that va
rious other ccuncilmen are opposed 10
the reduction Of salaries ard certain
other changes recommended by tne
committee.
Wants Mounted Police.
While fsvoring the cut in the po-
lice department. Councilman w. {.
Harris believes that more patrolmen
shodld he dropped and that the city
should be patrolled by day by four
morn,ed policemen. He would save
the greater part Of the force fer night
work. one shift to work from O'Clock
in the afternoon until midnight and
the other shift from midnight until
O'Clock in the morning He also
fayoEs the adjustment Of the hoard
Of police commissioners. but the
board is provided for BY the city
charter
u was freely predicted at the cry
hail last night that the bulge; for
the coming fiscal year viii not re
adopted Until late in Nav. II then.
Twelve votes N the common cocnciI
are necessary for the passage o. any
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