Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-16
COUNCIL REFUSES
TO RAISE SALARIES
OF CITY DIRECTORS
Lower Branch Fails to
Concur in Ordinance
by Vote Of 13 to 7.
DICKERSON LEADS FIGHT
ON PROPOSED MEASURE
Mayor Ainslic Urged Passage
for Greater Efficiency of
Government.
BODY REyERSES ATTITUDE
Passed Similar Bill Several Weeks
Ago, Which Was Beaten
by Aldermen.
DICKERSON LEADS FIGHT
ON PROPOSED MEASURE
BODY REvERsEs ATTITUDE
Passed Similar Bill Several Weeks
Ago, Which Was Beaten
by Aldermen.


measure passed few weeks ago, the
Common Council. in a called session
last night. refused to concur in the
joint ordinance granting an increase
of $500 in salaries TO the dircoto,s
Of the Departments OF Public Works.
Puolic Welfare, Public Utilities ana
Public Safety. Tho vote was is
against to for.
Apparently. the foes OF tho meas
ure had lined their forces in a solid
front, for the session of tho bodv
was but few minutes long, and tho
only discussion given tho subject was
4 short. but bitter. attack upon tho
ordinance by Councilman James II.
Dickcrson. OF Jefferson Ward.
Mayor Untirins in Support.
The action OF the Council coniss
as population OF the policy @,
Mayor George Ainslic. who has been
untiring in his support of the meas
ure ana has urged it's passage as IN.
only means 20 give the city an emci-
ent government. That nc confidently
expected the body to take favorab,e
action upon the ordinance Is SHOW,
by tho following letter, read TO Tho
Councilmcn at the beginning OF m,
session. II is
"alr. Fred II. Powell, President Of tho
Common Council. City:
Dear Str,--A resolution OF tn.
Common Couneil concerning tho up-
pointmcnt OF the directors to tho CITY
dephrtmenrs was recently referred La
ME for consideration. / shall be ab,,,
10 make appointments as ston as the
common Council acts upon tho orLf
nance increasing the salaries OF dl-
rectors appointed by me. which was
recently adopted by the Board oe AL
dermen The action of the Common
council. one way or the other. will
let me know tho conditions under
which have to work.
Respectfully,
GEORGE AINSLIE, Mayor"
Expected Favorable Action.
There was every reason to believe
that the Council would favor the res
oiutioh. not only because OF its nre
'iops record in supporting a sirnflar
measure. bus. since It's passage with
out opposition by the Finance Com
m'ttee and tho Board OF Aldermen
PUBIC opinion and the attitude of;tb,.
business men OF the city has copsi.
tently backed the proposition to maxi
the salary OF the department dir.c-
tors worthy of tho best executly.
ability Richmond could hope 70 60.
cure
L.. Lee Roden. OF Lee Ward, early
IN the session moved that the rc.o
iuSion be tabled. Hr. Roden stated
that by precedent tho petitioner, fo.
called meeting should have cop.
suited with the author of the meas
ure to be discussed, which in iris
case had not been done. He urred
that more time be given to III. con
sfderation OF tho proposal. The yo,.
upon MS motion was 10 to 10, Pres,
ueht Fred II. Powell breaking ths
deadlock by negative action.
councilman Dickerson. az smoke.
man TOT the opposition, characterized
me ordinance as an Outrageous no
'i'iS'i move TO gouge tho TREASURY oy
me ci'S. Continuing no stated tha
inc Result would bo OF no beae,, 10
'ne c!ty and would be 4 burden 10 IN
people"
james Dickerson's Speech.
'''y hoNcrnment Is going tS
)eopardise its position" he declareG.
Lex the charter OF the city be com
piied with. Let tho appointments IL,
made and let tho departments BE-
brought to the highest standards az
eNic'ehcy where promotion Will h.
warranted"
Mr.. Dickerson in his speech tooE
occasion to criticize the policy az
thc Times Dispatch In supporting II,
proposai TO increase the salar
standards of the department heads
commensurate with the highest ef
hciency OF office. He referred pa
nculariy to the editorial appearius
IN the Sunday issue OF the paper, e,
titied, can the City Council X.
Trusted"
me vote upon tho ordinance came
quickly. The Councilmen voting for
the ordinance were: Claude L. Bat
kins. w. c. Carpenter, T.. Lee Roden.
John e. Rose and Fred II. Powell. OF
Lee Ward: Carter G. Jones and Jesse
~. Ladd. OF Madison Ward. Tho fol
lowing cast the voto for rejection:
Councilmen Harvey f. Atkinson, John
w. Moore and Thomas B. Morton, OF
Madison Ward: James l.. DicRerson,
NJ. T.. Johns, Raleigh +. Philips,
Percy S. Smith and William z Sal
'ivan, of Jefferson Ward: Edea. u,
English. James f. Mann, James l..
Peters. Clarence a. Seaton and JACOB
umisuf. OF Clay Ward.
Text OF Ordiannec.
The proposed ordinance reads:
To almond aod re-ordain suhace
ticns c, d. e and of section az
an ordinance which became law Ds
cember IL. 1918. entitled an ordInanea
to Ok tho compensation "a DO paid
$csntineSd % SooSad f1gs3 i.