Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-28
FINANCE COMMITTEE IN
FINAL SESSION OF YEAR
Will Pass Upon All Appropriations
That VIII Not BE Referred
to Budget.
WANT $4,000 FOR REUNION
Confederate Organizations Ask Assis-
lance From Council to Entertain
Old Soldiers, Who Will Probably
Never Meet Again In Richmond.


Appropriation measures OF the first
Importance will confront the Council
Committee on Finance when 1t meets
at o'clock tonight in executive ses-
sion To pass upon all ordinances and
resolutions calling for money. that will
not be referred to the budget. II will
be the last meeting OF the committee
during the current calendar year.
The committc. at Il three-hour session
on Tuesday night, heard at length from
individuals and organizations inter
ested in the several measures that are
pending before II. BY the time the
hearings were concluded the hour was
too late to permit the consideration of
business. and the committee adjourned
until tonight II will sit behind closed
doors and put In an evening Of hard
work.
WANT s25,OOO FOR
CONFEDER ATE: REUNION
Among the resolutions that will re-
ceive attention is the one appropriate
Ing $4,000 toward the entertainment
OF the United Confederate Veterans,
who VIII hold their annual reunion In
this city next year. When the reunion
was held in Richmond seven years ago
the City Council made an appropriation
Of 10000 OF this amount the general
committee in charge of the local en-
ury refund of about IA per cent, as
the clty's proportionate share Of the
money that remained uncxpended.
According to the general committee
which has been formed 20 engineer the
big reunion, 1t is necessary to have the
city's appropriation in hand at an early
date. in order that arrangements for
the entertainment Of the 100. 600 to l25,-
200 visitors that arc expected may not
be delayed. II is estimated that the
e n "a n fr,a NJ Nf
10000. 1t is the plan of the united
Confederate forces in this city to raise
$4,000 of this amount by popular sub
HcrlDtion. depending upon the Council
Tor the remainder
APPROPRIATIONS URGED
FOR BUSINESS REASONS
II has been represented to the
Finance Committee that, aside from the
sentimental considerations that should
guide the Council of the city that was
once the capital OF the Confetlcracy IT
VIII be excellent policy from n business
and advertising standpoint to make the
appropriation which is requested. The
delegates to the reunion and the visi-
tors who Will flock TO the city from all
over the South, II is believed will bring
the attendance to at least 100000. AT
an estimated minimum expenditure In
the city of $40 each, the reunion would
leave with local shops hotels and other
enterprises 81 10000 in cash.
with the constant inroads in the thin
gray ranks. 1t is exceedingly improb-
able that the veterans will ever meet
again in Richmond. In the natural or
uer OF events II will he eight or ten
years before Richmond will again be
seriously considered for selection as the
reunion city. since 1t has been the prac-
tice to distribute the honor among the
important cities in the Southern States
BY that time there will be only mere
ha al oil
of these Will be too feeble to travel /,
long distance to reunion
OLD SOLDIERS WANT TO
SEE RICHMOND AGAIN
AT the meeting in Jacksonville, last
year. Richmond was selected as the
1915 reunion city by unanimous vote.
The delegation from this city went TO
IN" convention with an official invita-
ton from the Council and the import
ant business and patriotic orEaniza-
tons. The invitation was welcomed
by the thousands of veterans who es-
pressed their unanimous desire to visit
again the capital OF the short-lived ma
ton to which they gave the best four
years of their lives.
The committee will consider also the
advisability OF recommending the ac-
QUESTION of the old Clyde Line Wharf
at n cost of approximately $4,000 The
resolution has been on the docket for
'iiOHNHS, DUl mas never reached
q vote. 1t has the support of the Conn
ell Committee on Dock. River and Har-
Dor. the Chamber of Commerce., the Re-
tail Merchants Association and other
commercial organizations The prop
erty is now owned by the bondholders
OF the Old Dominion Development Cor
poratlon.
URGE ACQUISITION OF
CLYDE LINE WHARF,,
10 rir
thorities. the acquisition of the prom
, erty would be in the line OF progress.
Every city of Importance. 1t has been
pointed out, is striving now to obtain
as wide control as possible over Its
water front. One of the most notable
examples is Baltimore. which is spend
! Ing many millions in the development
of municipal docks and quays
From the Finance Committee comes
| the objection that the property is not
needed. The present municipal dock
and wharf. it points out, enjoys ONLY a
small amount of shipping. The city
already owns water front that can
accommodate many times the shipping
that now comes to Richmond.
Traffic men and river Improvement
experts reply TO this argument that
the value of utility of this char
acter is not to be judged by the pres
ent alone. but by its possibilities In
the future. The property. it is pointed
out. can to-day be acquired for rea :
sonable sum. The day may come-ac-
cording to several experts, Within the
next ten or fifteen years-when a mu-
nicipal dock will be an invaluable as
set. placing the city in an Independent
position as regards It's ability to offer
terminal facilities to steamship lines
that may offer to go into the carrying
business between this and other ports
The acquisition OF the property at
this time, the committee has been told.
would go far in indicating the city's
claim TO reasonable appropriation
from the Federal Congress for the i'm
provement OF James River. The River
and Harbors. Committee, OF Congress.
has shown tendency to inquire to
what extent local communities are CO.
operating in the Improvement OF
waterways and an unwillingness to
render assistance where Indifference to
these improvements prevails.
acknowledgements.
Especial to The Times Dispatch.1
LYNCHBURG, VA December 27-