Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-09
COMMON COUNCIL
ADOPTS BUDGET
Only Changes Made Are Corrcc-
ton Of Minor Errors-Com-
mittec Highly Praised.
TEACHERS ARE DISAPPOINTED
Subchairman of Finance Commit
tee Offers Statement Of City's
Financial Condition.

Without debate the Common Council
last night adopted the 1917 budget or
dlEancc as presented 10y the Commit
tee on Finance. aftcr making certain
necessary changes to correc. slight
errors Before the budget was ADOPT ed
Councilman Scaton. suhchairman Of
tho Finance Committee. presented -
rcpor' showing IN detail the ctya
financial condition. and IL vas re-
celved with consldera',ic enthusiasm La
- clear explanation rf The reasons wty
this is lean year in municipal at.
fairs.
In silent protest" against the FAIL
ARE Of tho Finance Committee 10 al
low them tho increases in SALARY which
were asked for II tho time tho budget
Mas being made m about 200 school
teachers. practically All women. az.
scinblcd In tho Council cha,lbcr hn-
fore President Peters called tho belly
TO order.
Two letters. one from tho Junior
High school Tenchcrs' Association and
the other from the teachers ~ the Sec
ondarv Association. protesting against
tho failure Of the budget 10 al
low increases IN teachers salaries.
were read. nuvir; tccn addressed to
President Peters.
SEtTON MAKES RIpL,
ron FINANCE: ,OM,IIiTr:I.
They were .ne, wi,h prompt reply
from Councilman Scatou. who explained
why the Finance Committee had been
unable 10 provide increases for tho
educators
The teachers of tho ci,y." said Cou.i-
Gilman Scaton, 100 no, rc-rst ,hc in
ability Of tho Finunc" Committee TO
meet their request any more than do
tho members -: tn" committee. i.vrrY
dollar Of tho cit.'s unticipat.d revenue
has been appropriated in the buuSet rs
II comes TO the Council tonight. There
arc several departments which are al
lowed no improvements this year. al
though the conrittce was anxious To
provide funds for this purpose. Tine
simple reason why VIC did not rcpor;
AN in.rcase for teachers was that tho
revenue is not here. We can do moth
ing nov: there arc no items I'm the
budget which could lie transferred in
order 10 provide tho incrcssc asked.
Following this explanation from the
Finance Committees spokesman the
two letters Of protest were tabled. and
the large delegation of pretty. hat dis
appointed. :choclma.ns rose and Icft
the chamber - a body.
IuGH TRIBUTE paID no
WORI< or FINANCE tOMMITrT:E;
Upon the conclusion of the reading
OF the Finance Committees report on
the city's financial condition. Council
man English paid fine tribute To the
work. After hearing {, read" said
Mr. English, Il can truly say that
am surprised. and feel sure that If
these facts were generally known that
some criticism recently aimed at our
city government would not have been
made. I move vote OF thanks from
this body 10 ,hc Finance Committee.
and that 1000 copies of the statement
he printed for distribution among our
people" The motion was unanimously
adopted.
There was a general feeling Of salts
faction III the reading OF the commit
tees statement. II. r. Pollard, Jr.
former member Of the Council from
Lee Ward and chairman OF tho Finance
Committee for ten years. pronounced
tho pancr an unusually strong one.
The report is strong and clear" said
Mr.. Pollard. Il, is the hest state
cial condition Of the city. The budr ct
is itself a clear survey Of our city
finances. II the people will just read
tho report and budget. they will learn
much they should know. and will be
much better satisfied with their GO"
ernment and will have some kindly
feeling in their hearts for the faithful
Councilmen.
RI,
in the budget did not change the
grand total of sl.o3l136a5 which is
appropriated for all purposes for the
wear.
ELIMINATES USE or
STREET GAS LAMPS
One OF the most interesting features
OF the budget is that It eliminates in
the city the use OF gas lamps for
strcet-lighting purposes, and In their
place substitutes electric lights. This
Is done under an appropriation of
s1a.5oo made for Installation OF street
and alley lights to replace gas lamps.
pay roll and expenses" in the Elec-
trio Department. Councilman English
sought to have this designation
amended TO read "for lamp lighting
by gas and electricity" His motion
was lost.
&The present gas lights have for
years hcen cared for under contract
from tic city by the American stree,
Iirhting Company. Mr.. English said
that suddenly to abandon the use of
the gas lights would mean that many
sections OF the city would be in dark
ness until electric lights could be in
stalled Councilmen> Seaton. Mills and
Powell all members Of tho Finance
Committee, explained that the gas
lights now principally incur burden
upon the city by forming double
lighting system. Mr.. Powell said that
he had been informed by, the Superin-
tcndent OF the Electric Plant that the
latter could install and put into opera
ton In three months 500 electric lights
to take tho place OF the 500 gas light.
and at the same time eliminate dupII-
cate lighting.
The following errors were in the