The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-15
conversation with any one else than the per-

| conversation took place aS to the pfoprlefv
NJ thc sal Of the uas-Works. but no roncl,-
sion was reached and 10 opinion, OK
pressed.
q. Did YOU ever hear any declaration on
the part Of any member of ting Counci1 Of
purpose to emharrass the credit Of the city
in order to procure the sale Of these Works.
4. | never did.
9. Did yon ever know OF anybody who
waited to buy the Works
\. | will reply by reading the following
letter which received:
"OFFicE or THE New York MUTUAL GAS
LIGHT COMPANY, NEAR UNION SQUARE, FOURTH
AVENUE AND SIXTEENTH STREET, New YORK,
November ., 1s12-Dear Sir,-Mr. d. G.
luenSiiny. Jr., informs me that the Rich
mond city people are disposed to sell their
Gas-WorkS. Will you oblge me by sending
particulars by mail to
"iours, respectfully,
| CHARLES PLACE.
| replied to this letter, and stated tha. I
could give no particulars, as nothing definite
had been arrived ut.
q. | understand that the address of tue
Presi idcnt charges that certain members re-
fused 10 vote for sufficient. tax to meet the
| city'S wants in order to embarrasS her
finances aud procure the sale Of these
| Works. viii YOU now State what views in-
flnenced your action, and whether you know
of any purpose on the part of any member
of the Council to procure the sale of said
| Works by such meansi
\. Ny own vote was given for 4 low rate
Of taxation under conviction that our for
mer rate OF taxation would yield sufficient
evenue to pay the current expenses of the
city government and that in the present
| embarrassed condition Of the people all
other than current expenses should be met
by the sale of city bonds for the present !;
and after fregilent consultation with those
members who voted in the same way, it is
my belief that they We're actuated by the
stinc motives. Certainly nothing ever eu.-
sr,tcd itself to my own mind, or WAS sug-
sestcd by Others, that would give
ANY GROUNDS FOR SUCH CHARGE.
do not know Of any person In the Council
actuated by such motives. | don't believe
that there was any such intent. and think
no person with whom converSed was capa-
hle of such thought. In another part of
the Presidents address it Is charged that
the present system OF improvements inurcS
10 the benefit Of cOuncllmen or their per.
son II friends. Ny Information only extends
tomembcrS of the present Council; and the
improvements that have been made by this
Council have been made ly it us a continu-
Gus and systematic system without regard
to the residence of any man; and the points
selected for Improvement have been those
where the least money could be used in the
most advantageous manner TO bcautify aud
improve the city.
| Dip NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Mr.. Mctzgcr was next questioned by Mr..
Whitlock aS follows:
g. Please tell the committee If YOU know
anything Of the purpose on the part OF any
persons, in or out of the Council, TO procure
posses. ion of the Gas-W Works in an improper
manner:
4. heard several people say in October
last that we had better sell the Ga>-Works,
but have not heard il spoken Of lately, and
don't rcmcmhrr who they were, hi!t think
they were cu,lncimcn and other citizens.
q. Did you ever hear that there was il
plan OH foo, to buy the Gas-Worli>:
\. | don't rccollrct.
q. What did you tell Mr.. Higgins about
A. don't rccolcct.
q. What made you vote a> you did on the
tax question?
y. Because thought the people were pay
ing enough taXrs. own property myself,
and | thought SlaJ on the 800 WAS sum.
c!tnt.
q. Did YOU ever hear any conversation
with any members Of the Council on this
subject?
4. did not.
Q. Can YOU give us the names Of any per.
sons who can throw amy light on this sub
icct:
4. cannot.
Q. Did you 20 on this cScur-ion to the
coaI-pit>:
\. did not.
TUE COMMITTEE STILL N TIE DARN
Mr.. VI. /. Strau> was next examined by
the chairman ~ follows:
q. lave YOU known of any scheme lately
Oh foot to procure possession Of the Gas
Works by any persons, inside or outside o.
the Courri:;
\. have not.
Q. lave YOU been approached by amy per
son on this SUBJECT?
\. Never.
q. Have You ever had any convcrsato:
with any members nt ;hc Council since DC
t0brr last
\. lr~, sir; Mr.. williams, at the tnc We
were at The pits. Mr.. Williams said he ha(
received several letters from New York. ant
il the Works could be sold he would make Il
big fee by it, but that he was opposed TO sell
ing tine Works.
9. Have yoll ever hal any conversation
win any other member:
4. No. sir; never did.
q. We're YOU Oh the coal-pit excursion.
y. Yes. sir; WAS.
o. Did you talk to Mr.. Euker about thi,
matter:
\. don't remember.
.. Did you ever hear that any member OF
this committee had been named a> a party
connected with the proposed purchase OF the
Works:
i. never did.
o. Have YOU stated every fact you know
which bear, on this subject:
\. have; and if you were TO keep Int
here until to morrow morning couldn't tel
YOU unv more. As to the vote OH the ta,
question. believe everybody voted with ar
honest purpose.
Mr.. Bargamin was
TUE LAST WITNESS
examined. and replied to Mr.. Whtlock as
follows:
o. Do you know anything about the mat
ter under inquiry!
a. don't think | do.
Q. Did you ever hear of any scheme on the
nart of any person to get possession Of tDe
Works properly or improperly?
A. cid not.
Q. Have you ever had any cOnYersatlcn
with ans person concerning this matter since
October la.tf
A. ! have not.
0. Can you give the names of any persons
who can furnish any information on this
| srltnct