The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-27
CITY TO RAISE $4,000
FOR INCREASED WAGES
Proposed Ten Per Cent Raise TO Be
Felt by Already Burdened
Taxpayers.
MAY CoMMERCIALIZE PLANT
City Can Increase It's Revenue Through
Its Department OF Electricity and
BY Consolidation.

II is roughly estimated that the pro-
posed increase Of ten per cent in the
salaries and wages of city employees,
as recommended by the finance com
mittee of the city council. will amount
in round NUM- ers to $4,000
About 100000 Of this will go to
the employees of the various depart
ments under the mana cement Of the
administrative board. including the
city engineers department, the water,
gas, health, electric and street clean
ing departments
Where this money is to come from
Is the mooted question superfnten-
dent Knowles. of the gas department,
states that there is sufficient money
In the appropriation for his depart
ment this year 10 carry the eight
hour shift which 1t is proposed to
establish on October /, until the close
OF the fiscal year. From this sys-
tenn it is expected the city Will derive
more than enough additional revenue
the coming year to take care OF the
department.
City May Sell Power.
There is no prospect. however, OF
an increased revenue from either the
water or electric departments, al
though the question Of conmerciail2-
the electric department. which mas
been discussed, may again be revived,
and through this source an amount
ing the electrict department, which mas
Of sufficient volume may be derived
TO care for that department. and more,
col {-rraaRn
Increased taxation and a reorganiZa
ton of the various departments Will
therefore, have to he depended upon
for the revenue. Some of the de-
partments are being now conducted
with short forces. due to the raid upon
them of Uncle Sam. Men are almost
DAILY retiring from the departments
and from the fire and police forces tc
accept better paying positions IN other
directions
The departments are going along
however, in the even tenor of then
wavs. and the work appears TO be vel
taken care of In all OF them except
perhaps the street cleaning depart.
rnent The force in this division oil
the city organization has never beer
equal to the demands, Never have
the people felt satisfied with the ser
vice rendered by the department, al
though the superintendent appears K
he giving the best he can under the
circumstances. More men are need
ed Garbage is not being removed al
readily as II should be, nor are The
streets kept As clear of grass and
weeds as they might
Consolidation of Forces.
The suggestion made by the ad'
n7inistrattve hoard that an amalgama-
ton OF offices OF the water and gas
departments be effected, may result
in something definite before the mex
budget is made up. This consoiida
ton. il is said, viii save the city much
money, and result in better service.
Poor pay of fremen and policemen
Is depreciating the morale or thoss
7 DEPARTMENTS Some OF the best nler
are leaving for more attractive held'
Of endeavor. thus weakening the eff
fecttyeness OF the TWO department
The school system is losing many Of
us best men who are going into thf
service of the government. Men anc
women both. who have been giVins
the city the best they have. are get
ting into other lines, from which bet
ter incomes may be derived.
Members Of the finance committee
have serious problem confronting
them. ard i, is sa id that the expenses
Of conducting the city government VII
fall heavily upon the taxpayer