The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-06-18
CITY COUNCIL
Committees Make Report Fol
Fiscal Year.
SALARY OF JUDGE MADE $1,000
Another Meeting to be Held Tues
day Night, Etc.

The regular meeting Of the City
Council for June was held Thursday
night. Present, President Bradley,
Clerk Eastburn, Councilmen Lane, Mel
vile, Rowe, Goldsmith, Garner, Young,
Masters, Warden and Howard.
Mr.. Lane presented report Of Acting
Mayor w. +. Bradley. in which he
stated that sos had been paid by JUS
tice DannehI for fines imposed during
the month; that the police officers
had discharged their duties and asked
that their salaries be paid.
On motion of Mr.. Melville, the report
was received and salaries ordered paid.
Mr.. Lane handed in two bills of S25
each for services of judges and clerks
of the election in the lower and upper
wards, respectively, which he charac-
terized as souvenirs of the late un-
pleasantness; also bill Of $3.44 for
postage paid out by Clerk Eastburn;
also bill of $3.50, salary of City Attor-
torney st. Geo. X. Fitzhugh for fiscal
year, all of which were ordered paid.
Mr.. Lane stated that the 5000 paid in
by The Fredericksburg Electric Light
and Power Coz in the franchise matter
which had been ordered returned by the
Council had been refused by said com
pany on the grounds that it could not
be received until the attorneys of the
company had been consulted.
At the request of Mr.. Lane. Clerk
Eastburn read letter from Assistant
Attorney General of the State w. +.
Bib, in which he stated that the city
of Fredericksburg had no right to in
crease or diminish the salary OF its
Judge during the term of office. Mr..
Lane then presented the following
recommendation of the Finance Com
mite: The City Council having referred
TO the Finance Committee the applica-
ton for an increase of salary of the
Judge Of the Corporation court, unanl-
mously recommend that said salary
be increased from $1,000 to 81 200 per
year, to take effect Sept. !. 1910, pro-
vided there are no legal impediments in
the way. The committee has gotten in
formation from cities corresponding IN
population to Fredericksburg and find
that 81, 200 is an average salary. We
respectfully ask. in view of the letter
received and read from Assistant At
torney General w. +. Bib, that before
any action is taken by this Council that
City Attorney Fitzhugh get an opinion
from Attorney General Williams as to
the legality of the increase.
Signed. II. B. Lane,
J. c. Melville.
w. +. Bradley.
Finance Committee.
The recommendation of the Finance
Committee was not acted upon, Mr..
Garner making a motion, which was
seconded by Mr.. Young. that the sal
AIRY of the Judge be increased from
81, 900 to 81, 800. Then Mr.. Fitzhugh,
who was present, was asked for an
opinion. This he gave, stating he be-
lieved the city had right TO increase
the salary and said he would not take
up the matter with Attorney General
Williams, as the result would only be
an individual opinion.
President Bradley then handed Mr.:
F. the following and asked him to read
it to the Council. Mr.. F. said: What
is it?" Mr.. Bradley replied: Section
1902 of the State Constitution.
Sec. l02. All the judges shall be
commissioned by the Governor. They
shall receive such salaries and allow
ances as may be determined by law
within the limitations fixed by this
| Constitution, the amount of which shall
not be increased or diminished during
their terms of office. Their terms of
Office shall commence on the first day
of February next following their cleo
| ton, and whenever vacancy occurs IN
the office of Judge, his successor shall
be elected for the unexpired term.
After reading it Mr.. Fitzhugh SAID
at amounts to nothing.
Mr.. Melville moved, as substitute
for Mr.. Gamers motion, that the sal
airy be fixed at 81, 200 This resulted in
tie vote and was lost. For-Messrs.
Lane. Melville, Goldsmith. Masters and
Bradley. Against essrs. Rowe, Gar
ner. Young, Warden and Howard. The
vote was then taken on the motion OF
Mr.. Garner to make the salary 81, 300,
which was carried, all Of the members
voting for it except Mr.. Bradley.
Mr.. Bradley. of Public Interest Com
mittee, reported expenditures for year
81, 959. 25, appropriation $500, leaving
an unexpended balance to be turned
back in city treasury of $54O.75.
Mr.. Howard, Of Ordinance, presented
an ordinance creating a health board
for the city, consisting of three physi-
clans and clerk of Corporation court
and with the mayor as president. The
rules were suspended and the board
created to take effect July /, 1910.
Mr.. Goldsmith, of Streets, submitted
report showing appropriation for the
lower War. 81, 459. X
Inner Ward. 81, 1898. Z.
S4,452. 5;
He asked that the sum of Sl52. 50, ex