The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-10
Another Gas-Works Investigation
THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
On THE STAND.
AN INTERESTING NuT UNSATISFACTORY
EXAMINATION.


ing hcld on Monday last. met in Mar
shall Hall Yesterday afternoon to consi-
der the same. Present Mcssrs. Whit
lock icharnau). Cot,rcll, Jones. and Lips
comb. That portion Of the address re-
latiyc 10 the sale Of the city Gas-Works. and
the ALLEGED connection herewith of certain
members "i the City Council, WAS alone con-
sidcrcd by the committee. rs the testimony
published below will show. The remarks
ol the President on this sulgrct arc aS fol-
lows
"Wih this statement Of the lct> con-
ucrt"a with the operations of the past year,
i ii saving 700 much that another year like
il will inyolvcu> in Il condition approaching
hankrultcy. at least Is tar is our credit will
stand; ana regret 10 have To sly that there
i Il ~trou. probability that some of our TEL
toW-rili/c:i~. including Sol;lr members Of the
Council. 10 not regard this result with the
dread that should belong 10 such an event.
:" The fact i too we'll known to bc denied
that those IL whom J allllde have for some
tlmecntcrtaincd the opinion that the go:diGn
knot Of all our pcc,niary difficulties can be
cit at once, when the necessity arises. by a
comp dcidt, which would ut once relieve il~
from portion of our debts by placing our
citizens At III" mercy ni Il greedy corpora
llon. They propose TO buy the Gaswork>.
Having hccn approached on This subject
with II request To- join in the promotion of
The scheme, by seeming concurrence
obtained The iniorYation, together with
the names of those who hope to engage
in the speculation with the view OF put
ting ii IN the possession of a small COM
pany. several of those who favor this OPP
pose AL increase Of taxes. and pronounce
The tax on ga> and water-pipc> aS ,InronSti-
tutiunai. and speak oi holding ward meet
ingS I" instruct the Council in regard TO
lh,.<r matters: this patriotic interference
in favor Of the rights of the poor man (thai
idol Of the ward politicians being prompted
hv the desire to let the city go to protest
while they stand hy ready to relieve him and
make themselves richer. This plan | am
sure will never meet with the approval of our
people. and such 4 solution of our pccuniary
troubles wouId he CANNING to the Council
which S;,iictlnnrd II.
" trust this exposure Of the scheme will
be sufficient 10 kill it, and if any here present
hug This ttrlu>iun, or hope 10 escape from
raising the taxes 10y this means, they may a>
well turrgo i; entirely and meet the issue "a
presented. and by layin" proper and sutfI.
cirut taxes insure the credit Of the city and
at once restore IL To the high position VT
have hitherto nccupicd.'
When the committee had been called to
nrt"r the chairman remarked that il wa,
very probable il the investigation WAS con
riuurd LONGER than the first meeting he
would ask the tomcli on Monday evening
"a excuse him t'roE serving, Is il was against
,i> a., ire to have uny connection with The
matter.
Mr. Whitlock then remarked: Well, gen
tlcmrn, il il il agreeable to You, we Wit ask
Mr. Wyunc 10 respond first.
Mr. W,nmu: 1t will be well for YOU &c
show the authority under which YOU meet
first.
MIR. Nhi;Ioyh read the resolution under
which The "ommlttcc met.
Mr. Wyunc remarked that bcior" going
into any examination he desired 10 say tu
the committee that n" had never tccnarpiied
10 ly any mcini,.r Of the committee tor i
copy of his address.
\ rambling conversation then cn>ucd rs
Ia the correctness ul HE address ~ i''ih>hrd
in the city l,nptl- after which The chairman
asked Mr.. Wynnr please 10 furnish to the
committee tlIe nat1c~ Of The parties referred
TO in that portion ., ln> address relative 10
the sale Of the gaswork>.
Mr.. Wvnuc | decline for the following
reasons: The two gentlemen who spoke to
me about il were men who had 1T their COM
mand lar"e sums OF money. They were not
and never nave h,'pn members al the City
Council. They Informed me that such Il
pllrI,r>r was intended, and desired 10 know
what luul!-ht about il, stating that they
had been asked 10 join the purchase if 1t
could lie effected. They mcnloucd the
nlIur> of members OF the Council WHO ia
yorr3 and advocated il, ard in r"hncctlon
with their uanlC> the nlnc> Of gent 'lrnlcn
engaged ia hil>incS> in the city ol hicllmond.
we'll known TO .he Whole community. As
they seemed 10 rc"a:d it rs Il sort Of fore
GONE conclusion, HEY spoke u me rs any
man would speak to another III regard To Il
business matter ami without any reference
iu the !ui,ru-t> ut tie city oi Richmond iiiT-
thrr than ~ fur ~ they and their a->u-
ri;tir~ were concerned. and expressed Il
Willingness "n t,i@r part 10 purchase
the property rs i desirable speculation.
| cave them the facts and hgulcS Ill con-
ucrtion with the operations oi Tue works.
which demonstrated that |, would ic Il pro-
litlhc investment for Il private company, blit
assured both of them that | would never vote
Tor the sale. Tuc>c gentlemen, having no
connection with the city government, APP
p,.pa,.hed me ;ls any other inilrldual would
have done who desired 10 invest money III
any enterprise with which | WIS acquainted.
and. as in the case OF all business trans
actions. | regarded their conversation AS pri-
yair. i! not strictly confidential, ana there-
fore without their consent | do not feel i'll
liberty 10 repeat their names. ! VIII opiy
add that they came To see me. not to@ether,
bat separately. with the period OF week OF
more clapsing bctw cen their visits. aud not
kuowln. whether either was aware OF the
INQUIRIES Of the other. Neither learned from
me my interview with the Other. AS there
j. no criminality connected with their pro-
positions, or anything that they sald, 40
not feel at liberty to make their names pub
lie. 49,,
Mr.. Whitock then proceeded with the
examination. Is follows:
q. Are these the parties referred TO I'D
your address aS being the parties VINO ilao
asked YOU 10 join them in the enterprise:
\. one Of them iuldc the proposltioh
plainly: the other indirectly.
q. Please 10 state the proposition.
\. 1t is contained in my former answer,
70 the effect tlia, if such ii purchase could bc
made they would hc glad 10 have me join
them.
Q. Did they offer any induccment in the
WAY Of position OF otherwise;
\ nnc Of them did.
q. Please slate !hr otter.
4 The entire Infringement oI lhs works,
with ii,rlul -nlary.
9. What salary!
!, Il was not stated definitely.
q. Were these the only parties outside the
Council who made propositions to you con-
cerning the purchase!