Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-15

Nr. Williams advocated the rule. He
said that those who failed 20 appreciate the
iule did not rise 10 tue height OF opinion
that influenced the Committee on the Reyi-
sion OF Rules. He cited case in point al-
ludIng to young candidate whose ease
was under consideration before commit
tee. lie s9id il would De wrong TO hlaZcn
the rcpcrt OF this committee and the ex.
preston Of opinion y the Council thereon.
Mr. J. Taylor ElIysOn wanted an open
session in the case OF the election ci a PO-
lice Commissioner, and the question being
pu', II was agreed TO hold an open session
IN this ease.
POLICE COMMISSIONER.
Three names were presented, according
to the ordinance controlling this natter,
for the office Of Police Commissioner.
Mcssrs John II. Gresham, john Cummings.
and \. G.. Robertson being named.
Mr. ElIySon favored Mr.. Gresham, and
he was duly cectcd and, on motion of
Mr.. Chailin, his election was made unani-
nous.
SUPERINTENDENT or FIRE-ALARM AND POLICE
TELEGRAPH.
The Chair announced that the election OF
a superintendent Of Firc-Aarm and Police
Telegraph was next in order.
MIR. TurpiE moved to suspend the rules
and receive the report of the committee
appointed TO investigate the irregularities
III the uolicc-alarm and iirc-telegrlph de-
paTtmcnt.
Mr.. Barksdale was proceeding 10 oppose
the suspension OF the rules when he was
interrupted by question OF order, which
was disposed oi in his favor, and, continu-
ing, he favored "A secret session. rs a qucs-
tion OF personal interest might arise.
Mr.. ChaiIin said when a man accepted \
public trust all his acts should be exposed
TO the public. He wanted the people to
know everything.
The roll was caatd. and the Council
refused to suspend the rules by the follow
/ ing vote:
! AycS.-McSsrs. Adams. Chaflin. Crump.
Gl1, gov. Gum OF Marshall Ward, Page.
| LanGOlph, Taylor, AmmonS, BlEen. Bry-
an, Campbell, CutchIns, FriSchkorn, Ran
kin, Griffith, Hughes, Parntcr, Pcarman,
Phillips, Pizzui, R'dford, Rddcll, j. \.
| Robinson. Turpin, and EIlyson-2G.
N0cS.-Mes>r,. Blrksdalc, Burwcll.
Caicll Of Jefferson Ward, CrcnshaW, Dick
orSon. Powers. sandy w. Robinson. VIII
llams, Archer, Bowie, Cabell OF Clay Ward.
! Curtis, CunnO. Clay Ward. Guy, Ilrgroys,
! Jones, King, Lewis, and BasS-i9.
! hr. BurWcll wanted 10 know II The re-
! port q q committee was executive Du'i-
| ness. and M,ssrs. Turpin and ChInn
! pressed this inquiry.
| Mr.. j. Taylor Ellyson was proceeding to
! discuss this question, preiacing his remarks
/ by saying that hc knew he was not strictly
/ m OrG,r. lie was lr0ceedinyto 10 show that
/ the report of a committee was not cXcru-
/ tive business. when he was called to order;
not before, however, he had succeeded in
/ saving that il IN open session was not held
/ the most llagralt injustice that could Dee
/ imagined would already have been done
Nj. Paynjcr, Che candidate alluded to in
tie remarks OF some OF tue speakers.
Mr. campbell moved 10 allow the press
20 remain.
MIR. Chaidn seconded tie motion, but the
Chair decided this to bc out Of ORDER and
he press retired with the visitors.
IT WOULD Nor WORK.
The press and others not members 70
turned, after which the Council went into
secret session; and in short while the
doors were thrown open and the public in
yitcd in, after which the Char announced
that the committees report IL the case Of
the superintendent of the Fire-A and
Police Telegraph was IL order.
THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
Mr. Bowie. from This special committee.
presented tie report Of his committee,
which reads as follows:
Your committee recently appointed 10
investigate the causes which led 10 the in
clliritut working oi The lirc-alarm system
on the night of the 3D,n ultimo respect
fully submit The following report:
/. That after a very careful and piin~-
taking investigation OF the charges pre-
iCrrcd by Superintendent Paynter against
tie MANAGEMENT OF the Telephone EV-
chausc. and after a thorough Inspection Of
al wires al points where the chief cause Of
disturbance Wa, claimed to have existed,
we could discover no trace @! any inter
ference with the 1rc-nlarm wire, hy those
Il the southern Bell Telephone Company,
and must therefore fully cXOncratc the lt-
ter from any blame whatever in cOutribu-
ting 10 the imperfect condition OF the fire
alarm service during The night in question.
,. Your committee have examined quite
a number OF witnesses, and among them
officers OF The Fire Department, Of the
Telephone Exchange, and telegraph COM
panics: and while more than on- theory
Las been advanced q, q cause for the tr0u-
bcs We were called upon 10 investigate, We
do not consider ourselves sufficiently eK-
pert III ilAlitIN Ol illAL Sol 10 dll'llU u
reconcile these conflicting opinions. On
the other hand, the Superintendent oi the |
Fire Alarm and Police TELEGRAPH mas failed |
10 demonstrate 10 rs that IN, explanation |
oi the cause Of the arrangement in At |
least two out OF the three localities |
speci-lly called to our attention Is at all |
satisfactory, and We therefore report that At |
these points we could find no evidence OF |
any interruption In the circuit which could |
possibly have caused the trouble com. |
llained Of. The forces Of electricity are |
naturally hard TO control and it is highly |
probable that the arrangement during the |
Night Oi the 30th Oi June Was due 10 some |
occult causes other than those assigned by |
the Superintendent and beyond his power
10 anticipate.
TIE SUPERINTENDENT or PGRE-ALARG.
Mr., Turpiu thought the report, 30 far a.
The present Superintendent wss concerned,
was muddy. Ijnles. made more plain, BE- J
favored the reelection OF Mr.. PaYnter, and |
nominated him FOR the place.
Mr.. Chafiin secQSGeu The nomination.
Mr.. Bowie explained that the committee |
had been required to report the trouble |
with the wires on the night specified. and
not to bring in specific charges. dis COM
mittee had simply undertook to discharge |
q duty assigned them,
Mr.. Turpin, in reply, as'd that 4 The
superintendent had done wrong it should
have been pointed out,
Mr.. W Wiluams said father could not have
been more tender in the consideration oi
the claim OF son than the committee had
IN investigating this matter. He declared
that the system was in & terrible condition.
and Il was the duty ~ the committee 10 SO
report. The cOmndttee had addressed lls |
report 10 the Council In the most hihu anu |
considerate manner, 80 far q, the supeHn-
tcndent was concerned, but the derange-
ment Of the system could not be denied
Mr.. Turpin stoutly advocated the re-
election OF Mr.. Paynter. unless uiolY
ground Tor his removal was given than u'u
As yet been shown ,,-,,,,.. !, no
Mr.. 'chaffin asked Mr.. Williams II he
had not once been the chairman oi 'uo
committee. t;~l,,
Mr.'Williams and Mr. Chafin had il'sy
spat at this point. during which MI. ,na,in
charged MIR Williams with being " dereict
in his duty. and false TO his trust
Mr.. Williams replied by sgylng iaai
"ths was not true, ana tnc '""'' 0"''"
the gentlemen to order ho h.d 80
Mr.. Williams declared that he nau re-
ported all derelctions to his eolhmlI.ee.
Mr.. Cbafin's remarks were greetea win
burst Of laughter, in the shape Oh ap-
plause. ,,,or