Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-21
COUNCIL PLANS MERGER
OF TWO CLERKS OFFICES
With Clerk OF Committees Under
Direction OF City Clerk. City
Would Save 81. 800.
MCDOWELL ONLY CANDIDATE
Councilmcn Favor Consolidation rs
Economy Move = Finance Com
mittcc Goes to Work on 1913
Budget Estimates of Depart

Members Of the Board Of Aldermen
and Common Council will meet in JOINT
session tomorrow night 10 elect = sue
crssor 10 the late Zen T.. August. for
moro than thirty years CITY Clerk. In
political circles it is :oresone con-
clusion that Alfred II. Mcdowell. who
has served for Il number Of Gears as
clerk OF Council committees, Will he
selected for the position. No other
candidate for the Office has been men
toned.
Several mcn have announced their
candidacy for the position TO be va
Gated by Mr.. Mcdowell. but The gen
cral impression prevails III official cir
clcs that the Office Of clerk OF com
InittccS viii be consolidated with that
OF City clerk, with a substantial SAY
ing To the city. Members of both
branches Of the Council have given
the matter consideration, and some
new plan is predicted.
Several Councilmen are known 10
favor the consolidation OF the two Of
fees. with the clerk OF committees
made an assistant to the City Clerk.
In this way the business OF both Of
tces. which arc closely related, viii he
brought under one head and a more
of the government given the city.
CONSOLIDATION WOULD SAVE
CITY ABOUT St.oO0 ANNUALLY
The salary of the City Clerk Is
$4,000. and he has an additional appro-
priation OF $500 for an Office assistant.
The clerk to committees draws
salary of $4,000. making the cost of
the two Offices $1,000 annually. Under
the consolidation suggested. the salary
IA ron IN Iva
same, while an assistant. who would
serve as clerk to the committees. would
be secured at Sl.50O annually The
services of stcnoSraphcr would br
eliminated, and the two Offices operated
for $4,000. resulting in an annual say
ing to the city Of Sl,500.
The Finance Committee OF the Coun-
ell Will meet Tonight TO continue its
work on the budget All public hear
iuSs have been given by tn. committee
which is now engaged in trimming
the estimates or department hcaus. an.
eliminating all appropriations which
are not absolutely necessary. Th"
city will have for it's appropriations
this year only slightly more than was
expended in 1917. making necessary
substantial reductions in estimates flied
by various departments. The commit
tee however. is including in tho bud
Get the 10 per cent increase in salary
granted city employees last Scptcmbnr
This committee will also meet Tues
DAY night. while tho Claims Commn-
&c will meet at o'clock. and the
committee on Public Buildings Prop
rites and Utilities at 5 o'clock the
me- might The Advertising and En-
'orpr!scs Committee viii meet at s
''cl"ck Wednesday night. hut only
routinc matters are before any OF the
bodies for consideration
I;I:TORT ON CHARTER CHANGES
BEFORE C0JNCII. THURSDAY
The report OF the Committee ON
Charter Changes is now being copied
Tor each member of the Council. ana
n special meeting OF the Common Couu-
ell has been called for Thursday night
when definite action on tho report IS
expected 10 be taken. Since the meet
Ing OF the Councii last week. how
ever, Graham l.. Iiobson. a member of
the Administrative Board. has pre-
Christian. OF the IiustnGs Cour.
which will he fled with the Council
as soon as the signatures can h.
checked.
In view OF tho latest Development,
members OF tho Council having been
placed on notice that a petition re-
fcrrinS tho entire question of charter
changes 10 vote OF the people VIII
bc filed with that body within the ueNt
few days, their action Thursday nigh.
rs problcmatfsa1. hi. certain quarters
il is believed .rliat the consideration,
"f the committees report will go for
ward regardless D! the petition move