, 1875-01-13
WILL AID, RICHARDSON ExPLAIN7 2
I1a.r tnorr.r IT n illA CLAIM


That yrtuous and lighy-intelligent body. tho
Judiciary Committee OF tho Common Council,
has now frst-rato opportunity to make an ex-
rlanation. which atr. Richardson, hs Chairman.
will ,lcaBe aryo aud do. IIoro .R a little bit Of
history which needs Just as mich light as Mf.
Richardson and lis colleagues will be kind
enough to sled.
year ago Inst December woman fell and
broke hcr WRIT. Along in September came All
attornoy with petition, setting forth that tho
woman was poor, and unable to support herself
and family In her aflliction. Contrary TO all
precedent the petition waa referred to tho Ju-
dciaty Committee, instead Of the Co.n1nittee on
Finance. When tho former body had
sufficiently discussed it, report was
mado recommending tho payment Of 81 ZOO
damages to tho unfortunate woman. It
came up in tue Council q week ago Monday
night, and motion VIA mado to wniye the en-
grusBmoDt and pass tho necessary order. This
EarcIaeed atempt failed, and the report was re-
fcrred for etgrpssment.
On day following thoIattention Of City
Attorney Jameson MRS called to tho matter, and
lie Nna hear! to Eay seyera things unusually
cmphatic. lie STATED that he Ind Eiycn
dccirlnn in thin caHe hut bud decided that tho
city VAS not liable. Mud should not pay tho wo-
man rent OF dannges. On examining the
report, this opinion could not be found. but,
after sotne search, il WIS discovered pasted to
tie back Of tho report in such u manner III to be
iIlegib1e. l}y holding it nh to the light, Mr..
Jameson was nble to decipller his own writing.
III making tAeir report the Committee said they
had sut tho facts III tho caHe from h1r. Strnn an
assistant in the Inv Depn:tmont. 1tr. Strnnli
Old being questioned Huld that ho had given no
information. anl, moreover, drew up au affidavit,
to that effect
The report cano up heain Monday night.
When read BY t!,e Clurk, AID htono called Tor
the opinion Of tlte City Attorney upon tho claim.
Tho Clerk looked tur tho oplnion, md report
ed that ho could ,os find it.
Considerable interest began to be folt In the
matter ut thiB juncture, when Aid. Richardson
ruBe 10 explain that the Law Department Ind
given al oplpion recommending tho payment;
that hIr. Strunk had given the Committee thu
facts, and that ttero Was 10 occasion fur al this
fuss about q little matter ot $ ,huI).
Tho 1nisB,pg opinion af tic City Attorney had
tees report, aud Aid. Richardson exflainetl that
curious circumstance. nlBo, M Rn inalyertonec.
ThcrpuLo ON Aid. Stone produced the affidavit
Of thu aHEistant, MIR. Et1unk, deuying the state
Inent that ho had given any information to the
Judiciary Committee.
A ,notion Was Immediately made to refer tho
rnattur to tho Finance Committee, ntHl waa put
7" vote, when AID. Richardson calloI to tho
Council to hold on, and. il Il ug0 waB too mucl,t
TO give At loart $500. The ontreaty fell upon
deaf cars BY . vote Of ~ to tho matter "aH
scnt to tho Committee on Finance. III Yiew oi
tho many ''inadseFtenccH displayed by Aid
Richardson, will that eminent and islcorruptible
j1riHt obligc all ingnlring constituency with q
1t!le nore Light Wllht WAS lliH percentage
what that OF his colleagues III tue Coinntseei