The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-18
TRAFfORD ASKS
CONTINUED PROM PAGE One,

by the committee with pleasure, for
II gave them an idea OF what the new
form OF government for which they
were partly responsible means for the
city.
The total amount OF money asked
for, the departments under the d.
rector of utilities is $943.105, con-
siderably less than that for last year.
This was due largely to the reduction
in force.
Mr. Tranord explained that the
standard OF gas now being served was
r. ,'H'- /s~''' better ttsp fhaA<1 ,s1t
Year. and upon :. a question rtorn
ICouncilman Mills. stated that the
'rrice OF one dollar was fair, and COM
pared favorably with other cities. the
only city of any size now serving for
less figure being Washington, where
the price is 30 cents.
a delegation from that city visited
Richmond several days ago." said Mr..
getting line on our gas so they could
raise the price in Washington"
Mr., Trafford went into the details
OF the proposed budget in the
minutest way. and brought out every
item very clearly to those who heard
him.
At the conclusion Mayor Ainslie
stated that Mr.. Trafford closed "the
argument so far as the departments
were concerned. That the case now
lay In the hands of the committee.
Cut to the Marrow.
I'VE have cut everything to the
marrow" said the mayor, from thu
original budgets as presented for our
consideration we cut the one from
the department of safety 80 per cent:
hn 6np orfy, ~ H.
works 81 per cent; that from the de-
partment of utilities so per cent, and
that from the department of public
welfare, 3 per cent"
We will not clamor," he added,
nor will we be disheartened or dis
couraged IL you gentlemen of the
committee see fit to still further cut
the budget. This is what we think
the people want for the proper con-
duct of the government for the cur
rent year, without adding any frills,
nor taking anything from the present
state OF things. AS it stands now, 1t
will entail a tax increase. This is an
unfortunate time TO he talking abou.
increasing taxes. but the situation Is
Zach that 1t cannot be helped. We
do not desire to suggest an increase in
taxes, and the matter Is now in the
hands of you gentlemen"
The mayor was given round of
applause when he concluded, and
chairman Barton. II. Grundy thanked
the mayor on behalf OF the commit
tee. saying that the statement was
made in the right spirit. and the COM
mittee appreciated this.
Councilman Mills remarked that
the committee would need the mayor
later on, and Mr.. Seaton said that in
all his long time in council he had
never before been so enlightened on
the subject Of the budget
The mayor said that he and his
cabinet would always be at the serv-
ice of the committee or council. and
would at any time be pleased to con
fer with them upon any subject of
public moment
In view of the fact that several
members of the committee will be out
Of the city in the next few days. it
was determined to meet again on the
night of March 31st to take up the
school budget, and that following that
the public would be given an oppor-
tunity of appearing before the body
to discuss the various features of the
budget.
Council Provides Funds.
Prior to the meeting OF the com
mittee a special session OF common
council was held and a resolution au-
thorizing the various heads Of depart
ments to proceed with the conduct Of
their departments on present condi-
tons. and to borrow a sum not ex-
ceeding $4,000 for the payment of
past due bills. was adopted.
An ordinance transferring authority
from the old administrative board to
the various department heads was
sent to the ordinance committee, and
one placing john r. Wefsiger on the |
superannuated list was referred to the |
finance committee.
A resolution was also sent to the !
finance committee asking that body |
to consider the proposition OF taxa |
ton as between that on capital in !
vested and purchases. Mr. Jones |
called attention to the fact that taxes |
on capital had brought a revenue OF |
S2o1, 900. while that on purchases |
to only s125,000.
A Chicago man Is adxoca ting a con-