Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-05
DAVIS SHOE COMPANY.
THE PRESIDENT OF 1T BEFORE The
LsGIsLaTIvE COMMITTEE.
He Asks that the Question Of Rebuilding
the Psnitentiary shoe-shops be Refer
red TO the Board Of Directors.

oOis 50 lAI as SohVSiuS ~" '''N'No " ~
timony.
Mr.. Owen. the stcnographer, will have
transcribed his notes 20 manuscript by
noon tomorrow. and tho committee will
then proceed TO frame thei. report
THE TINE.
Among the witnesses examined were
hief-Enginecr Fuqua, of the Fire De
partment Mr.. l.. II. Fisher. who is by
virtue Of his Office Of Clerk of the Fire
Committee an Assistant Engineer, and
Messrs. Fuller and Irower, of the de-
partment
Mir. Fisher said that the first alarm was
turned in at 5:2G. The Chiefs testimony
pertained mainly to the movements Of
members of the department. lie said
the men worked well, and that the alarm
was responded TO with all possible haste.
The evidence of the other gentlemen had
no particular bearing On the matter.
MR. DAVIS TALKS.
Mr.. Joseph Davis, president OF the
Davis Shoe Company. which was ope-
rating the burned building under con
tract made with Governor Cameron, made
a statement TO the committee. He said
This matter of the fire occurring Is
very serious with ne, and ] am begin
ming to he little doubtful with myself
My spring business, as ! SAID to You gen
tlemen the other day, IS substantially
cared for. lam under contract TO forty
five different parties 10 deliver goods,
md ! have had kilograms and letters
from nearly all of them overwhelming
me with their kindness. The next fall
business / am anxious about. know
full well the character OF men, having
studied human nature so much in my
life. As have Just said, feel that my
spring business IS secure, but the fall
trade cannot reach. however prompt,
and have come 10 the conclusion that
| cannot have the building prompt for
the fab business. In talking with my
managing men. and from letters from
home. | learn that the goods will have
T. be delivered IN June. We have TO
make goods nearly year ahead. Now
! have got 80 begin TO make purchases
heavy purchases to produce these. Our
two men who sell our goods 90 ont md
take large orders. They COMO back end
We proceed 10 FIJI the orders. These
goods are wanted IN June II IS almost
impossible, III my Judgment, whatever
may be your disposition. Let me pre-
sumo that YOU recognize my nights,
and in honor bound, Notwithstanding
the Attorney-Goneral's opinion. you are
legally bound to me. / respect ms
opinion. for be is evidently an honest
mani. If you undertake TO build these
buildings yOu cannot get them Tor the
fall trade. Now think 1t possible thut
il NAV save You discussion and con-
sideration Of this question by leaving It
entirely with the directors of the penl-
tertiary, the warden, or the proper
officers the gentlemen with whom l
have always had to act. l find your d.
rectOrs very able, honest, ami consclen-
tious businessmen. BY doing this you
take It out of the realm OF politics. l
see that it is a good deal of a factor in
politics here. / think by leaving 1t to
these people it VIII be removing 1t from
politics. do not come here 10 advise.
/ have gotten over the excitement Oh the
fire, and was awake nearly all night last
night thinking TINS out. This gives Inc
AN opportunity TO deal with these bust
ness men quietly and faithfully. Pre-
Stunning that cannot get my iall busl-
ness, | should be wiling TO make some
trade with them. l might make a new
contract, or / might make modiiica-
ton OF my present contract. To foitiy
nv position, if / am asked to take SIN
hundred people with no orders | could
not 90 it. | have not capital enough.
1t would take at least n half million dol
lars quick cash TO do that. / am forced
10 maze three thousand pairs Of shoes a
dav TO make the institution pay. Under
the present system If | make two hun
dred lose money. Therefore | throw
out the suggestion that you leave 1t with
the warden or officers who have always
dealt with me, and let them make such
modification of the contract as business
men would make. | thank you gentle
men for your kin ness and consldera-
ton. | did think yesterday that J
would like to discuss the contract.
might say perhaps, however, that the
decision of the Attorney-General IN re-
gard to theformer contract was perfectly
sound. When this contract was made
(referring to the former contracD 1t was
a new departure for Virginia. They
were making shoes and losing money on
them, selling them at twenty-five cents
less than cost. We got it on paying
basis for two years. The directors said
"Mr. Davis. we cannot build you a new
building, but if you make success Of
il We will treat You right. SAID that
is all night When the two years ex-
PRED they said : off you will build q
room we will take it out in labor. You
see they recognized the condition OF that
contract. Now, in my calamity-if |
were going to argue--why You should
certainly carry out the spirit of that CON
tract. 1 am now rather inclined to
modify my conditions with the State of
Virginia, not that feel bound TO carry
out that contract without buildings. 1
take very little legal advice never have.
L respect legal gentlemen, but ] have
preferred always to manage my affairs,
but my documents have always been
written by the ablest lawyers l can find.
If the matter OF contract is to be dis
cussed ] prefer to leave 1T with them.
would like to leave the whole matter to
the directors or to two or three of the
committee. would not like to meet so
large committee as that of yesterday.
GLINS's THEORY.
Mr.. II. l.. Glinn was also examined.
He said he was on duty that night as
officer of the guard. lie was questioned
quite closely about his following another
vocation during the day and acting in the
above capacity ut night, but there were
no interesting revelations. AS an evil
dence OF his efficiency he cited cases
numbering over fifty in which he has
found officers asleep on duty since he has
been night officer. The most interesting
part Of bis testimony vas theory about
the origin OF the fire. Ii was quite
elaborate, but the gist OF il was that, in
his opinion, the fire originated while the
elder Reece was in tho building; THAI
it was entirely accidental, and was
caused by spark OF fire fall
ing on scraps of cloth or some
thing OF the kind that when il was
discovered the Messrs. Reece-father
and son-endeayored 10 exhpguish it