Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-01
SALARY OF $4,000
FORD|RECTORVOTED
FOR BY COMMITTEE
Council Finance Body Acts
FavOrably Upon Pro-
posal of Mayor.
ADOPTION URGED BY MANY
MEN AND WOMEN OF CITY
Measure Will Come Up in Low
er Body Next Monday
Night.
QUOTES GLASGOW's REPORT
Shows How Thousands Of Dollars
May Have Been Saved on
Gas Works.
ADOPTION URGED BY MANY
MEN AND WOMEN OF CITY
QUOTES GLAsGow's REPORT
Shows How Thousands Of Dollars
May Have Been Saved on
Gas Works.

The Council Committee on Finance
last night. following lengthy dis
cussion Of the Recommendation of the
Mayor that the minimum salary OF
the Director OF Public Works be fixed
at $4,000. adopted resolution TO
that effect. By the vote of FIVE to four.
The paper will be presented to Com
mon Council next Monday night. The
full committee was present last night.
The Council chamber was filled with
Leading citizens. representing every
class. including women bearing a re-
solution from the newly formed Rich
mond League OF Women Voters. and
score OF speakers expressed them
selves farorably for the paper.
The vote on the resolution was:
.Nycs--Grnndy. Powers. Workman.
Jones and Roden: noes-Seaton. I'm
laui. Melton and Phillips.
Those who voted against the meas
ure explained that they were not op-
posed TO the resolution. but wanted
to conisder the proposition more fully.
and from expressions. during the dis
cussion. 1t is quite likely that they
Will be prepared TO support the paper
when II comes up regularly in Coun-
Gil
The Council Chamber was filed
early in the evening with representa-
tiNes OF all classes of business. AMI
a delegation OF women headed by Miss
Adele Clark, representing the Rich
mond League OF Women Voters, pre-
sented resolution indorsing> the
Mayors Recommendation. while Mrs.
stuart MichauS. OF the Housewives
| League. also spone in favor OF the
paper. The only objecter was Coun-
Gilman James L. Dickerson, who pro-
tested that the Mayor should not pre-
sent "A pie in Il bag" but name n man
first and let the salary be fixed after
ward.
Mayor Defines Position.
The Mayor very clearly explained
the situation. He stated that the city
had lahored upon other occasions un-
der great difficulties when men were
named in connection with positions.
and he felt certain that in the pres-
cnt situation. when the demands Of
:he city were SO much greater than
ever before. and when man OF
merit and talent is needed 20 I'LL the
POSITION now in question. 1t would be
best to fix the salary and then get
the man.
Mayor Ainslie during the course OF
his remarks referred to report made
seven years ago by Arthur Glasgow.
an eminent engineer and former Rich
monder. whose help in solving a per-
picking situation in the Gas Depart
ment had been sought by the Admin
istrative Board. Mr.. Glasgow made
a careful survey of the gas plant. and
presented an exhaustive report, which
was received by the Administrative
board. but never acted upon by either
that body or the City Council
Had the recommendations made at
that time by Mr.. Glasgow been adopt
ed. the Mayor showed, the city would
have saved many thousands of dol
lars. He showed that in 1919, when
the present form OF government be-
came effective. the City Council read
lily appropriated the sum OF s1,75I.00o
for rehabilitation of the Gas Works.
Had this been done as suggested by
Mr.. Glasgow in 1913. tho rehabiIita-
tion would have cost about half that
sum. or sS1S.00o0. and there would
have been a saving In operation ON
account OF the rehabilitation OF $780,
would have reached the sum of
H.20O.ooo. All this was. OF course.
lost TO the. city, said the Mayor be-
cause the advice OF Mr.. Glasgow was
not acted upon.
The situation in regard to the De-
partment OF Public Works is prac-
ticany Identical. If the right man
is secured no matter what the cost.
within few years the city will have
saved thousands OF dollars, and the
mans salary will have been earned
over and over again.
Tells of Big Projects.
Some big projects confront the de-
partment. said the Mayor. and il will
take a big man to handle them. He
pointed to the plans for large trunk
sewers and the improvements to
Shockoe Geek. the two alone calling
for an appropriation of more than
100000
The Mayor read from Mr.. Glas-
COWS recommended ton, 81 red,m-
mend that you secure a sclentihclgas
expert OF the foremost engineering
and managerial ability and put him
IN charge OF the entire gas under
taking, with your present superin-
tendent as his lieutenant In charge
OF manufacture. and with new
commercial gas expert as his lien
tenant in charge OF service and
sales. The difficulty will be to
hnd the man. There are very few
men available who are big enough
for this job as I see IL. and urge
you not TO. shirk from paying an
ADEQUATE, salary--sToo0 Is not 700
much. have no ono In mind. bu.
shall be glad TO help you 10 make
the wiscst selection. which ts. bo-