The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-17
Or ollef. g have beer kr,o,r, q Mr.. SfeItou.

or Ought Ia have beer knGsfff to Mr.. Melton
His duty required him to know them, and to
correcfor report tilefn, but yielding TO dis.
position TO 0blige and indulge those with
whom be Was officially connected ne pefss
United the ordinances 20 be habisualiy yi0-
lated, u.Itii it seems TO have been admitted
that eG,ployes in The Inspectors Office could
pay for their gas when ard as they pleased.
While this il true, and while for these
reasons / shall feel constrained to Fe-a
move MIR, James II. Melton from bis
Office az gas inspector, il IL due 10
him to say that do not find any evidence Of
CORRUPT purpose in any of MIR. Melton's de-
linquencies, and do not .elieyc he pro-
fitted farthing by any Indulgence he granted,
or any irregularity of which he sYas guilty.
REPRESENTATIONS.
The chairman Of the committee. i believe,
has anticipated me In n recommendation TINT
all unpaid bills appearing on the delinqtent
lists should be nude out at once, when It Is
likely further facts of importance 70 this itt-
Vestigation will be elicited.
With respect to the amount OF loss to
| the city from these uegtects, IL is mani
testify impossible TO speak with ceftaiRty.
Ii there has been any considerable< negii-,
gence in taking metres 1t may be ma
| terial; bit | see no reason ut this time
| to suspect this. So far as the books now dis
close delinquency II will amount to but afew
| hundred dollars, the accounts OF most COM
| s,imers being small but have pursued this
| investigation and reached the conclusion j
| have announced in the belief--a belief shared.
lam happy 10 think, by this committee-that
| the best way to prevent these enormous cor
ruptions, which are the disgrace Of munich
the earliest infractions Of the laws framed to
| secure honest government with admonitory
penalties.
This investigation viii be entirely fruitiess
unless Il should result I'm some Improvement
in the system, calculated to insure greater
tidelity in the conduct of the office; and
while am satisfied that the only guaranty
tor the proper discharge Of such duties b
the personal honesty, intelligence and faith
fulness of the officer, yet Lam not flsensibte
that maadministration is often induced by the
facility with which il may be INDUCED. ] ac-
cordingly gave what reflection ] could to the
system pursued in the Inspectors office, and
anl satisfied il Is defective jn important par.
tlculars. s ST. ~
The communication concludes with recon-
mendatOns for the improvement In the work.
ings of the Gas Department, and suggestions
us to how future frauds may be prevented.
ANOTHER INVESTIGATION DEMANDED.
Tlse Cierk was about to read the accompa-
uying dettesiftons when Ns
| Mr. Is:,acs tlen offered the following reso-
lutions:
Resoired. That the report OF The Commit
tee on Light, with all the documents con.
nected Herewith, be referred to q special
committee OF one member from each ward.
to wit John Il. BossieuX, of Marshall;
Charles L. Whitlock, Of Jefferson; J. 3.
| Wexford, of Madison; II. NJ. Manly, OF
Juckson r. II. SMrke, OF Monroe, and
Joseph Hall, Of Clay Ward, to examine tho
same.
Resolrd That if. after stic'i exan,inatiou
in iurtherancc of the ends Of Justice or pro-
| lection to the city. the said committee deem
it cypedient to do SO, they be requested to-
Iexarlliue under oath NIL such witnesses as
they may think proper or that any person
interested may bring before them, and for
sucii purposes that they he and are hereby
authorized to send for persons, books, and
,npers and to call ts their aid the services
~ the city attorney.
Res6lrm, That when the said committee
shall have performed the duties assigned to
them they shall make q report of their pro-
cpcdings, embracing syiioisis VI all the pa
ners and evidence heretofore or to be takeu
nudcr the foregoing resolution and stclf
action ~ they may think proper and neces-
sary for the Council TO take In the premises'
The President called attention to the fact
, flat the rules required ull committees to be
appointed bs the Chair unless otherwise Or
dcred.
, Mr.. Isaacs: But YOU will gee tliat this
resolution. If adopted, orders otherwise.
Mr.. Higgins protested, in the name OF the
+ committee, against the adoption of sileb:a
!, resolution. It was a reflection upon the
l committee. r4a .a.
! MIR. Isuacs said he meant no reflection.
e lie thanked the ecnlluittee for its able nnd
: yciiutipyus report, but 1t had not gone
/; far enotgi,. There were important Gcts In
the Muyors COMMUNICATION not mentioned
e in the committees report. The COMMITTEES
was not on trial, and US to the alleged delin-
ouents the special committee which he pro-
posed was composed OF men IN whose banas
i anybody might trust bis life. ,..a.
I Mr.. Bargamn: l would not be Wiling 10
: be tried by them, for nl are untavoraDle "
) the Committee OH Light, and have so ex-
II pressed themselves. want lalr, uhpFe-
e iudiced committee or none. Il.
Mr.. Wbitlock said he certainly was not I'M
q 40 EXPRESSED himself. ,,.
= ar. Manly: / certainly have taken no siaes
:, | in this matter, but don't Wish 10 pe oi ap!
s such committee. ;, ,,.
!, Mr.. Bargarnin did not notice tnat plf'
Many's maine was proposed. f,.s
: Mir. Isaacs (isclaimed any knowledge OF
.,.a sentiments Of any man whose name be
= had offer,d. They we're all good ana .'s'e
ha trI,S fpi i Y.
!. NJ St,rke didn't wish to be ilelnbef
i but denied any prejudice. ,.,. oc,,.
! Mr.. Bargamin: The superintendent YOU
;. sders you one Of his frlenas: ,,;,, "a
0 Mr.. Starke: never atitnoFlIeu nl., .,oss ~
class me as such. acertall'y Se'u NV ,'N's
+ for him. 4 ,5. Iti ,,, ,,,o no.
: Mr.. Wexford also disrlaimed haYins lhe'
t |iudiced ears. .,..,.,,.o n,
= Mr.. Chcster,Dar moved as u substitute iUl ~.
the fist resolution that the whole sup)ee. ne
referred to the Mayor for furtllsT eoDs'ue'"'
! ton. a,,
e Mr. Starke thought the Mayor haa a09e ,I.e
G his whole duty In the matter. FOR nus t.b IN
Starkes) part, he had no objection assos,. 49, ~.
3 committee except that they seem 10 uieN'''
the jc;ttl.,.jps getting all the Information.
Mr.. English 81. d. Of Marshall Naiu
p favored the amendmetit. AS member oi
the committee he had fought against neiIri3s
:. all the removals, but he had 'sufrendefca
fully. He really saw no necessity iof a''s
further investigation on this liDe.
: Tue President called attention to the pro-
: visions in the Constitution and the clafte,
; imposing upon the Mayor ftfe snperyisIo'' O
all city officers. DC.
MIR. Whitlock urged that this did not pros
G bibU the Council from, investigating fes
:. u.,,,,of.oc Nm the contrary. IL Mas filfft