The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-11
Council Committee and
Prominent Citiz e n s
Hear Mayor and Direc-
tors Explain Needs of
the Various Depart
ments Of the Municipal
Government.
Department of Finance Saves
$4,000 Annually Through
Consolidation and Elimina-
ton, While Other Depart
ments Show Slight Increase
in Office Pay.

There was considerable debate
at the beginning OF the session OF
the finance committee last night
as TO procedure In discussing the
tentative budget as submitted by
the mayor. After some spirited
fire engaged in by Councilman
Mills. Seaton and Powell. during
which 1t was intiInated that there
appeared to be- some idea of se.re-
uvencss In the minds of members
of tho committee, and that the
public was not getting what was
coming tn Ii, the committee deter
mined to hear from the various
directors as to what they wanted
for the coming year. and then 60
into the report of the mayor a.
TO the anticipated receipts AS
compared To those OF the previous
years.
The idea of mem bers of the COM
mittee was 10 give the public all pos
sihle information, and as the compare
tive table WAS not introduced into the
debate. IL is given herewith, in order
that the people may see what the
prospects for the year are.
Mayor Ainslie appeared before the
body fully armed with documents
bearing out his estimates and carry
Ing figures upon which his various
public expressions were based. The
heads If the various departments were
on hand 10 explain the wants of their
divisions OF the government, and w
10 IL o'clock. when adjournment waa
taken To s o'clock tomorrow night
Directors Golfer and Boiling and As
sistant City Attorney Anderson. had
been heard.
Comptroller Confer in going over
the figures submitted by himself for
by consultations and examinations the
would save TO the city
about $4,000 annually.
The city attorneys department.
owing to enlarged duties viii entail
an increase over the preceding year
OF about $1,000.
Tho department of public works
while greatly overworked with smati
increases It's salary ex-
penses about $4,000 Director Boil
ling was duixxed by members OF the
committee and clearly explained tina,
the city was receiving more service
than II was giving in financial out
lay, by ressan Of the fact that" men
were doubling up and stated that
with additional appropriations for
street improvements there would be
little additional expenses for salaries,
His explanations were clear. and In
dicated that unless the city made
pru ision for needed improvements to
streets and outlying areas now. II
would have to appropriate much more
In the future. He expressed the hope
that the Roden bond issue would be
adopted by the committee.
The council chamber was filled with
citizens. most Of them be-
ing Representatives OF various organi-
cations which had taken interest In
the proposed budget In tho list were
included John X. Branch. w. r. Dab
ney. w. F. Reed, James r. Gordon,
r. C. Darlington. W. Fl. SchwarEschild
and many others embracing members
of the board OF aldermen and com
mon council headed by President
w H. Adams of the former. and
President n. l.. Peters. OF the latter
The full committee WAS present.
Grundy, Messrs. Ssaton
Mills. Melton, Workman. Powers
MADDEN. Jones and Powell.
At the meeting tomorrow night
Directors Levy. Myers and Trafford
will he heard.