Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-03
THE COMMON COUNCIL.
IN ADJOURNED MEETING.

-. w,s. p,l-rAe Ciu Iiaii-Ass'em fsr
C..ves,us.-rew Busisess &C" se'
An adjourned meeting Of the Com
non Council was held at 9 o'clock yes
tsrday evening. Present: Messrs.
pi.,lni. fpresident, Ia the chair,) Am
nous. Archer, Bahen, Bowie, Bryan
CAbsIl. Campbell, Catlin, Curtis.
Cstchins, Frischkorn, Guy, Hughes,
Jenss, King, Lewis, Mcdowell, Para
~, Pssrman, Phillips, Rankin, Red
lbrd, Riddsll, Stratus, and Turpin.
The pending question was the resolu-
ion TO increase the pay Of the drivers
and shovsl-hsnds Of the Health Depart
nsnt from el.25 to si.50 per day.
Yeur hands from the Gas Department
are also included in the benefit OF this
resolution.
Laid on the table.
MR. BLAcKBURN's PAY.
The Committee on Second Market
recommended that 1900, or SO much
thereof Is may be necessary, be appro-
prissed for the purpose Of paying the
Deputy Clerk, Mr.. Blackburn, during
the illness Of the Clerk, W. 5. Catlett.
The report was agreed to and then
adopted.
APPROACH TO DUTCH GAP.
The Board Of Public Interests re-
commended that the City Council make
arrangements to pay the damage that
nav result from cutting through the
tract Of land on James river known as
"Coxendale,' so as TO give q straight
approscb into Dutch Gap in the event
tke Legislature shall furnish the neces-
ssry labor for the work. q,
The report was received, and referred
10 the Committee on James River I'm
provement.
MR.. wREN's BILL.
The report of the special committee
appointed to investigate the claim OF
Mr.. Jehn Wren for pay for detective
services in the Cluyerius case next came
up.
Mr.. Turpin asked that the testimony
which had been taken before the CON-
mittee be read.
Mr.. Campbell said the testimony was
very voluminous, and he thought 1t
could receive more accurate considera-
ton If it was printed, and he hoped it
would be. He so moved.
Mr.. Cutchins seconded this motion.
He wanted time TO consider the matter.
Mr.. Guy said he was sorry he had
been unable to attend the sessions oil
the committee except on the last day.
He reviewed all the proceedings Of the
committee as far as he was acquainted
with them, and at some length. lie
was opposed to any dilatory moves that
might be made, as he thought the re-
commentator Of the committee thai
the bill be paid should have some
weight.
Mr.. Bryan hoped the testimony
would not be printed. The time had
come to take action on the bill either
one way or the other, and he hoped il
would be acted on now.
Mr.. Turpin hoped the bill would moi
be paid as the city is not bound for IT.
and he did not consider the bill a just
claim.
Mr.. Catlin had had some experience
in the employment of detectives, and
he thought the bill just and reasonable
Mr.. Frischkorn was sure that if any
thing killed the bill it would be that it
was talked to death. He hoped the bill
would be disposed Of tonight.
Mr.. Ammons wanted more light
on the subject. lie thought when a
committee was appointed it should
make report by which the members
of the Council would be enabled to
form some intelligent conclusion. He
desired to know if the Mayor [who was
present outside the bar Of the cham
berl had changed his opinion in regard
to the bill. He moved that the Mayor
be invited to address the Council.
Agreed to.
THE MAYOR BEFORE TIE COUNCIL.
The Mayor then came before the
Council, and said he had never tolC
any one that his opinion had so changed
as TO think Wren's bill was reasonable
and should be paid. Mr.. Meredith;
statement of the services of Mr.. Wrer
had convinced him that Mr.. Wren hat
done much more service than he hat
supposed, as he had not before known
the facts stated. He also said that ex
plantations had been made as to tn
manner in which Wren got the tori
note and information about Joel ant
the watch.key that showed tina
Wren came properly in posses
sion of those matters. He said tn
evidence before the committee showe'
that Mr.. Wren himself admitted h
offered in his first interview with tn
Mayor to work up this case for his ex
pensss only, and had stated the same Il
perhaps twenty other people. He als'
said the evidence showed that Mr.. Wrel
admitted that he had offered services il
several instances to work for s5 per da,
and expenses, but that he meant it TO
the services of his operatives and no
his own.
The Mayor also said Wren produces
bills where he had been paid the rate
charged in this bill, but only for few
days.
Mr.. Curtis moved that Mr.. W. c
Preston, Mr.. Wren's counsel, be per
mitted to reply to the remarks of tn
Mayor. Agreed to.
Mr.. Preston came forward and sal
that the Mayor had not made fai
statement with regard to Wren agree
ing to work for expenses only. Wre
had made this proposition on Marc
18th, but the Mayor refused to accep
it. On March ed the Mayor CAV
Wren authority to go to work, an
then he was entitled to his regula
rates, but Wren had charged less tina
his regular rates in the bill presented
the city. Mr.. Preston then explaine
the items in the bill, and stated win
disbursements had been made and e.
pepses incurred by Wren.
Mr.. rrisckhorn moved to lay the r
mort ON the table and print. Lost.
MIR. Cutchins offered the following re