Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-13
MAJORITY OF BOARD
AGAINST SALARY CUTS
Seeing Defeat Ahead, Committeeman
Move TO Table All Measures and
Motion Is Unanimously Carried
Trouble In the Air from the Start
Money for Schools.

All of the work of the counciis
Joint retrenchment committee and all
of the pow-wowing OF the common
council over the committees recon-
mendations seem to have been ior
uausht The report. or rather the
batch OF ordinances and resolutions
adopted by the lower branch during
the consideration of the report, now
reposes upon the table OF the board
Of aldermen and. unless there is
very decided change in the sentiment
o, the membership of that body. there
ID Is likely 10 remain. Probably every
one who attended the meeting of the
aldermen last night left the hall con-
WINGED that there will be no retrench-
ing In Newport News municipal circles
during the coming fiscal year-as far
rs the salaries of officials and the po-
lice department are concerned, AT
least.
As the matter stands now. every
part OF the committees report as
amended and adopted by the council
and this takes in the whole of The
report except the section referring
to the police department-has been
tabled by the aldermen. The lower
branch has not vet acted upon the
recommendation as to the police de-
partment. and tho indications are that
an agreement upon this matter is not
likely to be reached any time in the
immediate future. And furthermore,
the attitude of at least half of the
members of the board last night SEEM
ed 10 give warning that IL an ordi-
nance making any material reduction
in the police appropriation is adopted
by the lower branch. it will go 10
keep the rest of the report company
on the table.
Law Requires Action.
The budget for the coming fiscal
year must be adopted before the IL
cense tax and tax levy measures are
latter shall be adopted before May
J. Thus il appears that both branches
must agree on these matters some
time during the next seventeen days.
II seems probable that the budget as
originally reported by the finance com
mittee will now be taken up and a
finish fight made over tbs report
Trouble was in the air when Presi-
dent Robinson called the board 10
order for its regular session shortly
after s O'Clock last night. Those
present were Holt, Longan, helms,
West Weston and Robinson. Mir.
Petzold entered the hall few minutes
later. carrying in slim. his left
arm. which was broken few weeks
ago by fall from donkey. Major
Marquis Jones opened the proceedings
with prayer.
Every members nerves seemed to
be al a high tension There had been
some arguments before the meeting
was called to order. and every time
member spoke il almost seemed that
sparks flew. II was apparent from the
start that the members of the re-
treRchmeBt committee, MeSsrs. West
and Nelms and DIR. Longan wolld
stand alone in an effort to sustain
the recommendations OF the commit
tee. President Robinson and Messrs.
Holt. Pe;zoId and Weston apparently
not only had no idea of SUSTAINING the
report. hut did not propose TO vote
fer the salary reductions agreed up
on by the common council. And as
Il required the support OF six of the
seven members present to put
through any one Of the retrenchment