The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-25
Tell Finance Committee They
Have All Possible lnforma-
tion-Need Means for Work
CITY ENGINEER REALLY
NEEDS SIX MILLIONS
But Chairman Hirschberg Cuts
Him Down to Paltry Half
Million-Hospital Treatment
Given to People Able to Pay
Will Be Stopped

The temper OF city officials in re-
gard to the proposed municipal sur
vey for Richmond was felt last night
in an investigations conducted infor-
nally before the Finance Committee
by Captain Carlton Mccarthy. of the
Administrative Board. when that body
come before the committee for "A
hearing on It's financial needs for the
ensuing year. Each department con-
trolled by the Administrative Board
was represented by It's chief, and as
each presented his report on the 1917
budget. Captain Mccarthy took occa-
sion TO question him with the view OF
ascertaining whether or not the survey
was really necessary or desirable Tor
this city
Practically the same questions we're
put to each official Each man vas
asked II there existed any KIND of
information bearing on the workings
Of his department which was not
available to him. and IN each Instance
the reply was that all the intorn1a-
ton necessary was at hand or easily
accessible The superintendent of the
water works was asked II his plant,
the water supply. and other facilities
connected with his department were
sufficient for the most efficient con
duct OF the system. ana he replied
that no help whatever WAS needed in
Think No Help Needed.
Mr.. Mccarthy asked IL there was
ANY possible information that could
Ne derived from the work of Ger
tain mysterious individuals whom II
has been suggested might be OF great
henctit to the city in going over ana
rcadiustlng its work. and the reply
In each case was that there seemed
TO be no possible need for such per-
sons whatever and that the only need
nny department OF the cttys govern
ment felt now was the lack of money
with which TO extend its operations or
carry out certain improvements. For
doing this. they said. all necessary
Information was on hand, the best
methods and the most efficient plans,
Superintendent Calden. OF the city
pIayrrounds, city Engineer Boiling.
and City Auditor Crenshaw added
their voices to the affirmation that In
their departments, they sincerely ne
lieyed, there was nothing to he Zone
which could not he done with the
greatest possible efficiency SO far as
necessary information on the subject
was concerned. but that the only
thing needed was money.
Injustice TO City.
Captain Mccarthy. when An exa1ni-
nation of the testimony OF the de-
partment heads seemed TO prove HIS
po!nt declared that certain state
1nents written and published. that
the city's finances are in horrible
condition" was a gross injustice to the
community and to the city govern
ment, ~ can establish with incon-
trovcrtsbie arguments the talsity OF
INV such statement" Mr. Mccarthy
waid.
Chairman Hirschherg. OF the Ad-
ministr1tive Board. said that there Ii
letter in the possession OF one or
the department heads OF the city
government which was received from
a person at the head OF a department
OF the city government OF New York
relating to the work OF the municipal
survey. The Research Bureau. the
latter said. would send representatives
here to Investigate the affairs of tho
city, but that their custom was TO
hold the Investigation Of each depart
ment under the supervision OF the
head of the department. Anything
distasteful 10 the city officials. II is
claimed. would not be submitted in
the Anal report of the bureau. In
other words. get the $4,000 and
come back home" Mr. Hirschberg
quoted
The expressions and feeling of the
Finance Committee was strongly
against the suggested survey of the
government. II being contended on all
sides that such thing has been
proven to be useless since the city's
affairs at this time are In the best
possible shape. 1t is the lack of
money and not the lack of technical
and expert training In the conduct OF
the city's affairs that is really needed.
members Of the committee declare.
Gould Use Six Millions.
More than six million dollars OF ex-
penditures for needed improvements
in his department was reported to the
Finance Committee last night by City
Engineer Boiling. making his report
for the 1917 budget now being pre-
pared Mr. Boiling supplemented the
report by saying. however. tina. he
realized the impossbility of obtain
ing this amount in the present con-
dition of the city's finances, and had
compiled this report to show the ccm-
mittee how much money would be
necessary to accomplish the work that
could and ought to be done in his
department.
document is $6.249, 473.5S. OF which
s5.6aS.445.sS was apportioned to be
used on streets for paving and other
improvements: s62.3S5.7O was laid
out for James River imp ment.
and the report said that S.497.l0
should be spent on the q y parks.
South Richmond's needs demand
$293.135, the payroll of the engineer
ing department will take $32.01e, with
$1,000 more MS expenses for the de-
partment, and $4,000 was recon-
fund.
The superintendent OF the water
works asked IN his report for an ex-
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