The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-03
COUNCIL MAY FIX
RULE FOR PAVING
Finance Committee Likely to
Designate Streets to Be
Attended to First.
MERCHANTS ARE ANXIOUS
Want Fund 10 Continue Broad
Street Paving Made Sepa-
rate Item.

Council Committee on Finance will
hear from various branches of the
city government In regard to their
fnancil needs in connection with pre-
paration OF the annual appropriation
ordinance. The Fire and Police De-
partments will be heard Tomorrow
night at o'clock. The School and
Health Boards will be heard on Wed
nesday, and opportunity viii also be
given on that night for brief state
ments from the public charities which
receive city aid, and from any out
siders desiring TO be heard in connec-
ton with the budget on Thursday
night the committee will hear in turn
the departments grouped under SUI
pervision of the Administrative
Board. beginning with the City En-
gineer. Members of the Administra-
tive Board have been invited TO sit
with the Finance Committee at all
three hearings. in order that they may
be familiar with the financial situa-
ton
VIII Hurry II Forward.
II the public hearings are concluded
budget subcommittee can complete its
work in another week, and that the
ordinance can be reported to a special
meeting of the Council soon after
the middle OF the month For many
reasons il as urged that the budget be
adopted at the earliest possible tme.
so that plans may be prepared and
contracts awarded for public work. in
the spring. and not let the work hang
over into the fail and winter as has
been the custom heretofore.
Since this Will be the first budget
made UP under the new charter amend
ments creating the Administrative
Board. there is some discussion as TO
procedure. The charter says that the
fairly anticipated revenues of the city
are TO be appOrtioned to the various
in lump sums. For some
years past the Finance Committee has
been endeavoring TO separate pay roll
accounts from expense items, and 10
separate from mere current running
expenses all items that are in the ma
ture of an investment or permanent
This policy Will De con-
tinued, the pay roll and expense items
being made separate from any provis-
ion for permanent improvements
Would Limit smooth Paving.
In connection with the improvement
items, there is some difference OF opin-
ion whether the Finance Committee
should clearly specify in the budget
where and how the funds are TO be
spent. or whether this should be left
to the Administrative Board 10 deter
mine. For instance. some members be-
lieve there should be large lump
sum appropriation for streets. leaving
to the Administrative Board to deter
70
fund should be used TO continue the
Broad Street paving and what amount
should be used for smooth paving and
where ii shall be placed.
Some members of the committee are
said to favor continuation of the policy
of recent years of specifying in special
items all smooth paving, leaving the
fund for streets generally to be used
for grading. graveling and granite
spall paving. curbs and cutters. oillng
and bituminous macadam. This plan
was adopted some years ago TO check
n growing abuse of scattering single
blocks of smooth paving about, with
no connected plan of continuous I'M
provement With almost impossible
conditions in the outlying sections,
many Councilmen do not believe that
any part of the general street funo
should be diverted to smooth paving
MercEantS SctCt diA- O.
have the continuation of the Broad
Street paving made a special item Tor
that purpose alone. and which cannot
be diverted II left to come out OF
the general street fund. the merchants
believe that with the other strong oe-
nands that will be made. the ADMIN
istrative Board will give Broad street
much less than the $4,000 asked lot
to pave seven blocks west OF ihiru
60, 7, is also considered impor-
tant that the unexpended balance oil
last years appropriation for Broad
Street. which has reverted to the treas
ury. be reappropriated OtheEws
fat appropriation of $4,000 for the
work this year would be subject 10 tne
bills for completion of the oid con-
tract. and would mean that 'he
$50. would not be carried as lar
.st as Jefferson Street this year