City Council.
--A regular meeting of the Council was held at the City Hall yesterday afternoon.
Present:
Messrs. Saunders, (
President,)
Denoon,
Scott,
Walker,
Crutchfield,
Epps,
Haskins,
Griffin, and
Stokes.
After the reading and approval of the minutes of the last meeting a call of the committees was made, when
Mr. Denoon, from the
Committee on the Water Works, offered an ordinance providing for an increase of 75 per cent upon the present water rates of the city.
The proposed increase was debated at length
pro and
con. by
Messrs. Denoon,
Scott,
Epps, and
Saunders, after which it was laid on the table that further time might be had to examine into the necessity for such a change.
Mr. Epps, from the
Committee on Shockoe Hill Burying Ground, presented a bill of $213 as an additional appropriation for putting up a little office at the 3d street entrance to the burying ground, and for distributing seats throughout the place.
Granted.
Mr. Stokes offered a resolution, to be referred to the
Committee of Public Buildings and Grounds, giving to the
City Engineer 2½ per cent. extra for all collections made by him in accordance with an ordinance specifying what shall be collected by him. This resolution elicited a lengthy debate, during which it was shown that
Mr. Gill's salary was already about $3,000, which would be increased, if the application was granted, to between $4,000 and $5,000. A proposition to make it 5 per cent was withdrawn without being out to a vote, when the sum proposed by
Mr. Stokes was adopted.
Mr. Walker voted against any increase.
Mr. Saunders offered a resolution that the Finance Committee be authorized to settle with the
City Assessor according to the terms of the ordinance governing his accounts.--
Mr. Miller, by leave of the Council, made a statement that the want of funds for his own private use induced him to solicit the adoption of this resolution.
Passed.
Mr. Scott offered a resolution that the
Chamberlain of the city be authorized to pay to the widow of
Peyton R. Burton any money which may be due her for services rendered by her husband as
night watch of the city.
Adopted.
Mr. Scott offered a resolution that the May or be requested to station a patrol officer at the First and Second Market-houses in this city.
Referred to the
Committee on Public Grounds and Buildings.
Mr. Scott also offered an ordinance with regard to putting up wooden buildings in the city.
Referred to same committee.
Mr. Scott also offered a resolution, which he desired to be referred to the
Committee on Police, instructing the
Committee on Police to inquire into the propriety of establishing some scale of prices governing backs, wagons and drays.
The Council expressed its determination to put down the outrageous extortion practiced by these fellows, and so referred the resolution.
Mr. Scott also presented a petition from the
Virginia Mechanics Institute, asking the remission of a tax of $347 01, improperly collected from them.
It was referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Mr. Griffin presented a report from the Overseers of the Poor.
Referred to the
Committee on the Poor house.
A motion was made by
Mr. Crutchfield that the
Committee on Arms be discharged, and the office of Clerk to the same be done away with.
Adopted.
On motion, the Council adjourned.
