Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-06-11
"ACTING LIKE ASSES"
DECLARES Mr.. HARRIS
Several Members Say There Is
"Nigger In the Woodpile, and Oh.
iect Strenuousiy TO Motion to Adopt
MIR. Massie Warns Body Against
Result of lnaction.

After remaining in session for near
ly three hours last night, the common
council adjourned without adopting
any part of the budget for the nscai
year beginning July l. Early IN the
meeting a motion WAS made TO strike
out the items providing for appropria-
lions for the salaries of the superln-
tendents of sewers and of streets, but
Immediately several members de-
clared that there was "a niger in the
wood pile" and strenuous objection
was offered to the motion and follow
ing more than hour of arguing and
explaining and what not, the motion
failed Of the twelve votes necessary 10
pass il.
Councilman Christie. of the Second
ward. insisted at the start that when
the council passed on the retrench-
ment report it passed the budget ana
he wanted to start on the budget
where the council left off when the
retrenchment matter was before the
lower branch. He didn't propose TO
act like school boy and be made
a laughing stock of by the board OF
aldermen"
"Acting Like Asses"
Mr.. Harris said that instead Of act
ing like. school boys the counciimen
were acting like asses. and Mr.. Boil
ing chorused: And jack asses at
that"
Messrs. Fellows, w. L. Jones, +.
c. Cox. w. A. Spruill, Christie, Whit
ley and Wallace expressed great fears
at the start that by passing the bud
get they wosld fix the salaries Tor
the officers for the coming year. Tney
argued that 1t was childish for the
council to provide for the reduction
of salaries and then fix them at the
original figures. City Attorney j. A.
Massie, City Auditor J. W. Read and
Councilmen Milstead, Cheadle. Via,
Harris and Boiling spent about an
hour trying to convice them that the
budget fixes no salaries and that to
make any changes in the salaries the
counsel would have to amepd the Or
dinances directing the city auditor
to pay the officers certain sums per
month as salaries.
Mr.. Massie's Warning.
Both Mr.. Massie and Mr.. Read were
asked many questions by Messrs. Eel
lows. Jones. Christie and Cox and in
the course of his argument Mr.. Mas
sic told the council that unless the
budget is passed before July I, the
labcrers employed in the street and
health department will be discharged
because there will be no money to pay
them and there will be no street lights
and no water for the use of the ire
department in fighting fires.
These arguments and explanations
finally convinced Messrs. Cox, Whit
ley, SpruiH and Wallace. but Messrs..
Jones, Fellows and Christie held out,
to the last and as only thirteen mem.
bers of the council were present their
votes tied the budget up.
Several motions to adjourn were
lost during the night and one was
voted down at 10:45 O'Clock. A.. few
minutes before that time. Mr.. CheadIe
had been excused. Mr.. Cox started
to leave the council chamber, but was
called back and he stated that unless
the council acted quickly he would
leave II he had to 'go to Jail for 1t.
A few minutes later, when fourth
motion to adjourn was voted down. ne
grabbed his hat and coat and left the
hall
Only Eleven Left
with his departure there were only
eleven members present and 1t was