Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-10
NEW CITY ORDINANCES
PASSED WITHOUT CHANGE.
Common Council Approves Measures
80. as Recommended by Char
ter Committee.
SALARIES REMAIN AT $4,000
No Increases for Dircctors-BoarI
y OF Aldermen Meets Tonight for
Concurrcnce-Nlnyo Won't Act
Until Pay Issue Is Settled.


Fifteen ordinances starting the new
( city government :nto operation. we""
passed by the Common Council last
night in practically the same shape as
recommended by the Special Commit
+ tee on Charter Revision. The insurg :
ents were defeated by u test vote of %
too on the ordinance creating the
bureau OF complaints. and after that
their. forces began TO dwindle, ana
toward the last the various recon-
mendations were adopted without Il
roll call Much opposition was expect
ed to the measure tiNinE the salaries
OF the new directors at $4,000 per an
mum, but this was adopted without Il
word OF comment.
l.In addition TO the ordinances here
tofore made public. The lower branch
adopted two which were elcventh-hour
Recommendations OF the special COM
mittce. One related 10 the appoint
ment by the Police Justice of the clerk
Of his court. heretofore the Police
Justice has had to recommend three
names 10 the Council and that body
elected the clerk. but hereafter the sole
responsibility will rest on the hoiice
Justice. The other measure related -
the collection of delinquent taxes IN
der it's provisions graduated m
creased penalty Of ! per cent per month
will be added SO that the delinquent
will find il TO his advantage not TO
wait until the last minute TO make his
payments.
HOW VOTE STOOD W. HEN
%c,F ROLL WAS CAl.LEH
1.-THE measure relating to the stand
ardizution of wages OF employees OF
all departments. doing the same class
of work. was disposed of without roll
call. Following this came the proposed
ordinance relating to the bureau oil
complaints. This was vigorously OPP
posed by Councilmen Jones. liaddom.
Morton and Sullivan. who based their
opposition on the fact that new offices
were created and that, in their opinion.
The city was put to an unnecessary
expense. Councilmen Mills. Powell and
Rose expressed the opinion that the
bureau would relieve the Mayor and
other officials OF much detail work ana
would enable the citizen to voice his
complaints to the proper authority.
The. ordinance was adopted by the fol-
lowing vote:
;sAyes-Batkins, Butler, English. Mills.
Moore. Powell. Eoden. Rose. tmlauf,
Noes-7Atkinson Crimes; Iiaddon.
letter, Jones, Laid. Morton Powers,
A claim agent for the Office of the
City Attorney was Vigorously opposed
Mr.. Morton declared that when the
people voted for the charter changes
they did not vote for these additional
OF damage suits against the city was
so small that such an Office was an
unnecessary expense. Mr.. Sullivan
Vas now costing Richmond from n SIT
600 to $4,000 each year. and he thought
that this was enough. The measure
was warmly defended by Mr.. Mills and
Mr.. Powell. who argued that the City
Attorney should have some one to sup
ply him with facts in order that he
might have his case" properly prepared
for trial. The PROPOSE law was adopt-
ed by a vote OF u TO Z.
ALDERMEN MEET TONIGHT
TO CONCUR IN MEASURES
Next on the Council docket was tho
measure fixing the salary OF the
auditor and accountant" at $4,000 per
annum. Mr.. Hadden moved TO amend
BY substituting $4,000. hut his amend
tMens received sd only i've votes Then
ordinance for the appointment OF
purchasing agent at salary of $4,000.
and establishing city planning com.
mission Recommendations concerning
the debt OF the city and the sinking
fund contained little not now on the
statute books. and were passed with
out dissent.
When the ordinance creating the di-
VISION or water and gas consumers ac-
counts was reached. Mr. Morton at
tempted to secure the adoption OF an
amendment striking out the minimum
charge of 90 cents Il month for gas
but the amendment was lost, t TO 10
NO oppoSiti"a was shown to the
measure prolldt"g- for the annual city
budget nor to the one creating di-
visions in the department Of finance,
and defining the powers Of these di-
visions
SsPassage OF the ordinance liking the
compensation of departmental heads
ances.
An attempt. at the close of the ses-
sion. was made to bring up. for con-
currence. the resolution advertising
the proposed street car fare Increase,
out there were no; sufficient votes 10
suspend the rules ana allow the ma,
ter to he taken UP.
Tonight the Board oi Aldermen
meets IN regular session and will con-
Sioer the charter change ordinances
mere is little likelihood that the Mayor
VIII make his appointments until the
saiarE question is nAai'y brought to a