The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-04
BUDGET NOW IN
HANDS OF MAYOR
Pressure Being Used to Secure
Approval Of Music
Item.
THINK MAYOR WILL VETO IT
Co,tncilmen Anticipate Action in
Conformity With City Attor-
ney's Opinion,
THINK MAYOR WILL VETO ii

Prompt work was done by city Clerk
Ben T. August yesterday in enrolling
the annual appropriation ordinance
concurred in BY the Board OF Aldermen
on Thursday night. The paper was pre-
scented TO Mayor Richardson early yes
tcrday afternoon. and was followed
later by the public school building
resolution and the ordinance increas-
ing the salary OF Building Inspector
Beck. All Of the papers are now in
the hands OF the Mayor.
Strong pressure is being brought to
bear on the Mayor to have him sign
the music in the parks item, despite
the opinion Of the City Attorney that
the city has. under It's charter. no right
to appropriate money for such pur-
pose. Several advocates OF music called
on the Mayor yesterday. but received
no assurance of his action.
May Veto Any Item.
Under the charter the Mayor has
the right TO veto any single item OF
an appropriation ordinance without ar
fecting the remainder, and 1t is ax-
pected that he Will take the appropria-
ton ordinance section by section and
return II to tho city Clerk either this
afternoon or on Monday. AS soon az
the Mayor has acted the several de.
partments will begin to block out this
expenditures and secure plans and bids
for public work for which funds are
provided
In the Board of Aldermen the view
was freely expressed by a number OF
members. including President Robert
Whittet, that the Mayor would veto
the music item. y majority OF tho
Board is still opposed TO the Item.
which was inserted by the Common
Council over the protest OF the Board
ana OF the Committee on Finance
Up TO the Mayor.
Subchairman Cirundy. OF the Finance
Committee said that he had not with
drawn MS opposition to music. both
because 1t was illegal and undesirable
but that the committee had thought
IL "lsest TO take the budget as amend.
cd leaving the Mayor to strike out
undesirable amendments. In that way
prompt action could he secured. while
II the items We're stricken out and the
paper sent back to the Common Coun-
81 TOT concurrence there was no as
surance but that other amendments
would creep in and the work OF Inc
nance Committee in preparing a
Wen balanced paper go for nothing
city Attorney Pollard is taking no
part IN the fight. He has rendered his
written opinion 10 the COMMITTEES on
finance, supported by many court de-
| cisiohS ana precedents and there the
! mater rests so far as he Is concerned
Most OF the veto messages which Sfuyor
ilchardson has sent 10 the Council
nave been on legal grounds. and even
advocates of the music are not hopeful
tnat he VIII approve the item. in view
uf me opinion OF the City Attorney
'i'e ias' paragraph OF which reads:
Cannot Legally &c Mndc
Alter careful consideration or IN.
provisions Of the charter cannot say
.hat the power 10 make the appropria
ZION referred to can be fairly i,npiicl
m or incident TO-. any one Of tho pow,
frs expressly granted am, therefore
constrained 10 hold that the appropria
tion proposed to be made for music in
INC parks during the summer cannot
ne legally made under the charter of
me city OF Fichmo nd. nor Under any
general law in force applying. 10 ~.
c'tieS and towns OF the Common
wealth. '''o''
Members of the street COMMITTEES ~.
pesinhln2 TO realize that a n,ist,l..
T; was made In taking the music It.n,
from the fund fo- alley paving since
mere are mary alleys which hoth -.
! hcatn and convenience should be in,
pIoNcn this year. and an additional an
F.; pI"Prlauon for that fund will l..
asked. No adheren,s have as vet boaY
salhea TO Mr.. Gunst's proposition IL
use NC $1,000 appropriated for stro.,
cdr tickets for Councilnen to nav for
music in the parks