The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-20
REDUCE IT.

/. -... -
A matter which has been hanging
fire too long is to DO considered this
week BY the Council Committee on
Ordinances. Charter and Reform. 1t
ie the proposed ordinance reducing the
excessive allowances made 10 the Col
lector of city Taxes. Councilmcn
Lynch and Pollard ara leading the agi-
tation for such n reduction, and it is
hoped that they will keep ut 1t until a
satisfactory result has been reached.
Nearly half : year ago, air. Pollard
proposed a reduction in the fees of the
City Collectors oficc from n~vc-cighths
TO three-eigliths Of one per cent. OF the
amount collected by tile Office. 1t is
shown by the city records that the
fees for 1910 cost the city Sll,0o7.35.
and 1t Is estimated that with the annex
alton OF Manchester and the new assess
mont the office Will cost the taxpayers
this year from $4,000 to $4,000 for
receiving taxes for the city. Tho
same duties are performed for The state
BY Two or three clerks in the Treasu-
VI = - ~ - = 1 IL Iit
cost.
The committee has kept the ordi-
nance for FIVE months without hearing
from Mr.. Pollard or Captain Cunning
ham. The sub committee to which the
proposition was referred has evi-
denced no disposition TO meet the
issue. In fact, the failure OF
the committee to act on the
proposed ordinance has been equiva-
lent 10 Its indefinite postponement. Real.
izing this, Mr.. Lynch has offered two
resolutions, one instruc,inC the CITY
Attorney to secure from the next Leg
isiature a charter change abolishing
the Office. and the other for Council ac-
ton in the interim. putting the Collec-
tor on a definite salary basis OF sa.50o.
These resolutions should nc swif,,v
and uncquivocally acted tpon hy INA
Committee on Ordinances, Charter and
Reform and reported favorably withou.
delay to the Council for final action.
ms matter has been In the air long
enough. The time has come IL AZ,
W 'FN'i' y iue monument and
his personal qualities should have
nothing to do with the question.
IN the first place, tho entire once
IS lnrecessary and ought TO be nbol-
ashed. BY adding TWO or three clerks
10 Another department or the city gov
eminent great economy wonld be
brought about without tho least dis;,d-
vantage TO the city. The office of civ
Collector is s~upernuors.
Whether or MOI, however. there is
n~sFeenent that the Office can he. ,lis-
pensed with. there must bc n~nanimons
concurrence in tho position that a RAJ
aiiciion is necessary. There arc many
men performing inuch more rduous
h1ncii more responsible. much moro val
liable services At 81, 500 the Near ,ban
ne colieotc. would perform at $500
ana SS,5eo IS about onc-,hird Of t,,c
present income Of the Collector.
chairman II. r.. Pollard. .Ir.. Of Tia
flhance Committee Of the Gin coun-
~ IS generally regarded as ono ~
ne most conservative. faircs, And ms,
Hic'!ip'iS OF tho lcSiSla-
i've branch OF tic city goyernln.n,
'Nhen ne estimates ttat tho salary If
ne City Collcctcl foi. his WIN NH,
range from $4,000 to $4,000. il Il saro
20 say that ne has not oversbot ,le
mark. lie knows the facts nbou, "a,
finances Of TIC city. ana his hgures are
hased on them,
ohe o. 'he main reasons for tic prcs-
tht vigorous attack on nc fen sye,o,,
,hroushont tie stats is that M VIII
fee officers including Tie citv rolIcs
'ors are gcttinF 4 compensation UNI i,
- proportion TO thc serviccs rcidor,d
hnd 10 the cp:npensation reccivcd III
oheers III smaller PLACES for simlla,
scrvicos.
The City coiiector nays ca. o,,
clerk hire and Office eSpeuses Hill.
'aue Of the anlcani roteiy,4I pors i,tr
II oWn# n9clte9- Teltrs .lie arHia
lgnrfs As . hasis II estimate. t,c ti,,
collector, after paving onic, ozpcrs.s
receives 4 conipensation cquai ID tl.a
pr the Governor of Virginia. mara ,ra,
nat OF thH State Auditor tilo s;at,
ireasnrer. the Attorncy- Gcrer..l an,
the other state oniccrs WIN ni,ei
'''re than TIE Mayor. the city Atlornc,
snd more than most VI ttc other eit.
officers.
u hiEh lary a4laat - justiaa
"cfc 'hcre s-erviees performed cotn
MeNsufate with fhe a~liowance, but