The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-06

luF'1''gbF, hno report 10 TIE Council NJ
the facts and circumstances attending ih
removal OF w. T.. Smith from the positio
oil Keeper Of Oakwood Cemetery, beg leay
TO Tepor that they have carefully consider
ed the question submitted 10 them, have al
lowed to Br. Smith and the Committee ol
cemeteries the fullest opportunity 10 intro
duce such witnesses as either party desired
and having patiently invest gated The sub
lect, we wouh, as required By your resolu
ton, herewith return all the evidence taker
by US, and respectfully state as the resul
OF our inquiry That whilst the investigation
developed the existence OF certain ipfor
malties in the management Of Oakwood
Cemetery by Mr., w. l.. Smith, yet, how
ever much these irregularities were to be
deprecated, they did not in the opinion OF
yonr committee influence the action OF the
COMMITTEE on Cemeteries in removing said
w. l.. Smith from ofice.
Your committee are further OF fiie opin-
ion that Mr.. Smith was not guilty OF the Of
fence OF not protecting from spoliation the
graves at OakwOod, having, as the cadence
shows, frequently noti6ed the Committee
on Cemeteries OF these depredaiions before
that committee thought it matter OF sufii-
cienrly serious importance TO Justify The ap-
VI ot'ttidI OUutI lubsb
circumstances for the committee to dismiss
Mr.. Smith for permitting grave-robberies,
after lie had so frequently reported these
depredatioDs 10 the committee. was TO pun
ish him for their own neglect OF duty.
Your committee would therefore con-
clude that, in their best judgment, neither
the reasons assigned by the Committee on
Cemeteries for the removal OF W. l.. Smith,
or the testimony presented before this com.
mitiee in support OF said reasons, justified
the removal OF w. l.. Smith from his posi-
tion as Keeper OF OLkwood Cemetery.
Respectfully submitted.
J. T.. ELLYsoN, Chairman.
Mr.. Mcdowell, chairman OF the Commit
tee on Cemeteries. replied to the report Of
evidence taken by the Committee on Gene
teries.
Mr.. Ellyson, on behalf OF the investiga-
ting committee, replied TO Mr. McDowell's
argument and reviewed all the evidence
taken in the case.
Mr.. Curtis moved that the report be
adopted.
The report was adopted by an almost
unanimous Uird-roce vote.
Mr. Curtis now presented a preamble and
Keeper Of OakwOOd Cemetery.
Mr.. Curtis spoke in advocacy Of his reso-
luton.
The Chair decided that the resolution was
in conflict with the ordinance which gives
the Committee on Cemeteries absolute
power in the natter.
Mr. Curtis asked TO amend his resolution
80 a. TO read that the Committee on Gene
teres he requested to reinsta,e, &c.
Mr. Davis OF Madison Ward moved to
lay the resolution on the table.
Lost-ayes. II; noes, II.
Several gentlemen desired now TO leave
the question with the committee.
Dir. Curtis and Mr.. Davis OF Marshall
Ward spoke in high terms OF Mr.. Smith.
Mr. Davis Of Madison Ward Appealed in
behalf OF Mr.. Dickinson, crippled fire
man. Now that Mr.. smith was out, he
hoped the matter would be let alone.
Mr. Curtis spoke III behalf Of Alr. Smith.
Mr. King said he spoke In behalf OF the
Cemetery Committee. Ii the resolution is
adopted it will be TO put Dir. Smith, an EN-
ploye, over his employer.
Mr. Skinker said lhlt while the charges OF
derehction OF duty had been disproyed, he
could not vote for his reinstatement be-
cause OF the charges made tonight by the
chairman Of the Committee on Gene
teries.
Mr. TAYLOR suggested that the resolution
be simply referred to the Committee on
Cemeteries. That, in his judgment, would
be the best disposition OF the subject.
The motion to refer was lOst-ayes, 10
noes, IL.
The resolution requesting the committee
to reinstatc Mr.. Smith was then rejected by
the following yote
AYRs.-Messrs. Adams, Baker, Curtis, Davis of
MIr-lan ward. Lllyson. Goddin, Gam, Hayes,
Higgins. Phillips, and WoOd-lI.
NoEs.-Me SIS. Crcn,haw. DAVIS OF Madison,
Edwards. Ellet' IaraI cye King, Mcdowell. Pierce,
Pollock, Rankin, skinktr, Taylor, and Manson-l3.
4 motion by Mr.. Taylor to reconsider
the vote by which the resolution was
adopiei was lost. Mr.. Taylor said he de.
sired the who'll. matter to 90 to the COM
mitce.
PRESENTED AND REFERRED.
BY llr. Elicit: \ resolution as to the eY.
pediency OF painting the vegetable,
Ou'clcrs', and fish mirl.et.houses OF the
second Market.
BY Mr. Crenshaw: Application OF Il. c.
Par ons. vice president Of the Richmond
and Allegheny Railroad Company, fer per-
mission 10 erect ielegraph-pOles along cor-
tain streets Of the city, &c.
By Mr.. DAVIS OF Marshall! \ resolution
TO pay \. Griffin, Keeper OF II. Johns
Cemetery, his salary. Agreed TO.
b. Mr. Wood: y resolution for granite
curb!ng and brick sidewalk on Grace street
from Seventeenth to Eighteenth street.
Bv Mr.. EllysOn: \ resolution directing
the Auditor TO issue to the School Board 4
6 per cent. bond FOR $1,000, interest
payable semi-annually, the issue OF when
is TO be made on account OF culyerts, and
sbsll be in full satisfaction OF the $4,000
which was paid into the CITY treasury on the
1t OF August, 1879, 10 the credit OF ihe
MichaCl-Reese fund.
ELECTION OF A MEMBER.
sfr. Pollock nominated Mr. II. T. Penn
berton to iii the vacancy in Jackson Ward
in the Council caused by The death OF Mr.
Irwin. Elected By acclamation, on motion
OF Mr. Taylor.
Mr. Pemberton was appointed on the
committees on which Mr.. Irwin served.
Adjourned.
CoUSCm COJmTTEE MEETINGs-LICESsE
TAX. The Committee on Streets viii meet
this morning at 10 O'clOck, and will finish NJ
their tour of inspection. They will visit
Jackson, Madison, Monroe, and Clay Wards.
The other Wards were visited on Tue day
last.
The Committee on Water will meet at the
Councii Chamber on Wednesday evening
At 81 O'Clock, and will visit and inspect the
~ and nnNy rpserVOirs and the DUMP