The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-06
DEVOT0'S DISCHARGE.
4 MOTHER COUNCIL VESTIGi 4 TON
That FAILS TO III VESTTGATE.

Testimony as to the Action of the Commit
tee on Light Report and Recommends
lion Of the Investigating Committee.
Offensive Partisanry Dev0to's Offense
The Council special committee TO in
vestigate the reasons of the Committee
on Light in discharging Mr.. Charles De
voto from the Gas Works, resumed its
session last night in the Council Cham
ber. Present, Messrs Hughes, Kaufman
Cntchins, and Dickinson.
Tnr INVESTIGATION.
Tn response to the summons all the
Light Committee were present as wit
nesses excepting Nr. Guy, who was par
tally i'll, and MIR. Kaufelt
Mr. Powers, chairman, first testified
He said the Committee on Light removed
Mr.. Devote under the authority vested in
them by the city ordinances. The ordi-
nancss were read, and Mr.. Powers posi-
ton proven correct. Speaking for HIM
self rs a committeeman, he thought the
public service would be better if Mr.
Devote was discharged, and hence the
discharge was ordered. The records do
not assign any reasons for the discharge
The meeting was an executive one, and
the minutes only show the results.
@. How could Mr.. Devoto's retention
operate against the ciiys interest
Mr. Powers This is one committee
investigating another. Our meeting was
secret because questions arose touching
mans character, and further than that
decline TO answer
Mr.. Hughes held that the question
must be answered, and Mr.. Dickinson
said that the witness was amenable TO
the Board of Aldermen, and his seat
might depend on his refusal
Clerk Shelton then, at the direction Of
Mr.. Hughes, produced the minutes of the
executive session. They only gave re-
suits.
Mr.. Kaufman remarked that he in
tended ID show that these minutes were
not correct that there had been another
record different.
Mr.. Powers said, "You can do as you
please about that, and he took up his
hat and left
Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Connors said the
remark was a reflection on the COM
mittee, and Mr. Otley said he intended
going home also il that was kept up.
Mr. kaufman explained that he meant
no reflection. He had heard that there
had been other minutes.
Mr.. Davis said that his reason for vOt
ing for Mr. Devotos dismissal was that
the committee had paid him 5000 to loaf
about the streets when his hand had
been hurt, and when four members Of the
committee went to the Gas Works to
solicit Democratic votes, Mr.. Devote
abused and denounced them by word and
a printed article. He had voted for the
discharge of man on the Fire Depart
ment for the same reason. There was
nothing political in his action.
Mr.. Malloy said he voted to retain Mr..
Devote that the committee discharged
him for ingratitude, they thinking him to
be the author of the article casting re-
Elections on the committee in the LdJ0r
HeyaM This Mr.. Shelton cleared him
from. Mr.. Davis here remarked that
while Mr.. Shelton did say Devote was
not the author, Mr. Otley followed it up
by saying that Devote was.
Mr. Connors said he voted against Mr..
Devote as an individual on personal
grounds, believing his removal was in
the interest of the public good.
Mr. Shelton Clerk said he kept a
record of the executive session. The
present record does not embrace every
thing that transpired. The chairman
told him it was not customary TO record
details of executive meetings, only the
results
THE REPORT.
This ended the testimony and the fol-
lowing report to the City Council was
agreed upon.
"Your special committee TO investigate
why Mr.. Devote was discharged from the
CITY Gas Works, submit the following
report
after careful investigation we are un-
able to report any other reason than that
to be found in the record of the Commit
tee on Light, which is as follows
after deliberation of the committee
the superintendent was requested TO dis
charge Mr.. Charles Devote, engineer at
the lower Gas Works
1--WE recommend the following amend
ment to chapter 6, section 4, City Ordi-
nances.
And no person shall be employed on
account of political afiiliation, and no
employe shall be discharged on account
of his politics.