The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-19
A HOT FIGHT OF WORDS.
COUNCILMEN DEBATED WARxLY.
Captain A. Il. Guieon Last Evening Ac-
cused tho Board of Public Interests OF
Acting In Partisan Manner.

the City Council was held last evening. IL
being called to order at $40 o'clock by Mr.
X. L. Glover president of the Council. Mr..
j. c. Dickerson. president of the Board OF
Aldermen, soon succeeded him and presided
throughout the meeting. which was called
70 elect two fire commissioners and police
commissioner. After the roll-csll had been
made, Clerk b. Il. August opened proceed
ings by reading resolution which provided
that police commissioner be elected from
Marshall ward, vice J. b. Welsh. resigned.
and ire commissioners in place of Joseph
l.. Levy, of Monroe ward, his term having
expired, and Mr.. w. j. Gentry. Of Jackson
ward he having become deputy sheriff OF
Richmond
The first vote was taken on police COM
missioner from Marshall ward on the fol-
lowing nominations. made by the Board OF
Public Interests: Messrs. j. b. Welsh. James
Hayes and James h. Lamkin.
THOSE ELECTED.
Mr.. ]. b. Welsh was elected. receiving
the following vote: Common Council. Il;
Board of Aldermen, IA. For sir. Lamkin-
| Common Council 5; Board. 2. For Dir.
Hayes-Common Council DIR. Mann. /.
Messrs. Joseph Levy. T. f. Minor aud -
| Fchols were nominated for the position OF
fire commissioner from Monroe ward. Dir.
Levy received the entire vote of those pres
ent, with the exception Of Mr.. Mann, who
voted for Mr.. Minor.
Clerk August then announced as candi-
| dates for the fire commssionershlp from
Jackson ward Messrs. Sheppard, Henshaw
and Allen.
TIE FIGHT.
As soon as the nominations for fire COM
| missioner Of Jackson ward had been read
| out by the clerk Mr.. Epps arose and said:
| The Board Of Public Interests have sent us
three names which do not represent the
| choice of the white population Of Jackson
ward. as the man whom they wish to repre-
sent them is Thomas Byrne.
Mr.. Turpin said that the reason the three
names had been sent to the Council was
that the Board Of Public Interests wanted
Mr.. James r. Sheppard to be elected. Mr.
| Sheppard" he said. is good man. but
! does not represent the choice of the people
of Jackson ward. IL is necessary for the
candidates to receive q majority or ooth
branches of the Council, and will defeat
! it by not voting at all.
FORCED OK THEN.
Captain Gulgon was Of the opinion that
! the names had been forced upon the Coun-
Gil and he would sit in his chair until Christ
mas before he would vote for any OF the
| three names. Il have nothing TO say about
| Mr.. Sheppard" be said. except
that he moved into that ward
merely to be placed on that board. aud do
not think it is good policy to
put a man in with authority just
after he mas stepped out OF active ser
vice in the Fire Department. | can say
nothing against Dir. Sheppard. but he
would prove more than human If he did not
reward his friends and pursue his enemies.
| That board should not have put up wooden
| men. but three live citizens who represent
the interests OF the residents of Jackson
ward If there were two other bona noe
| candidates besides Mr.. Sheppard, | would
mos. willingly vote. but cannot vote IN
| Ill the Board of Public Interests act differ
emily in this matter.
SUPPORTED THE BOARD.
Mr.. j. W. White claimed that the matter
could not be sent back TO the Board OF Pub
| lie Interests until an attempt ut an election;
and he thought that Mr.. Sheppard would
make a capable officer. being fully &C
ouainted with the workings OF the Fire De-
| partment.
Mr.. George Gibson. Jr. was not in favor
| of voting for two of the commissioners, and
| then to turn back the third and last one to
| the Board and ask them to make other
nominations
Mr.. Epps again arose and stated that
! seyen-eighths of the people IN Jackson ward
wanted Mr.. Thomas Byrne.
Mr. George Gibson. Jr., said that he was
/ not speaking in opposition 20 Mr.. Byrne,
but he was in favor of UNFOLDING the Board
Of Public Interests
Mr. Guigon said that he considered that
| the Board hSd acted in very partisan man
ner and that they were partial to Dir. Shop
! pard; that the other two men named are
! not bona fde candidates. but merely
wooden men," put up 20 carry out the law,
which requires that three names shall be
sent to the Council.
! WANTED THEM REWARDED.
Mr. CARRIER said that as e member of the
| Board of Public Interests no wished to say
that Mr. Sheppard had made an earnest
EFFORT for the position OF fire commissioner,
| and that he was in favor OF rewardng those
| who work. He had not heard from Messrs.
Henshaw, Allen or Byrne.
Mr. Ferrlter was not IN favor OF the names
presented by the Board He was OF the
| opinion that the matter had been handled
| in partisan manner.
Mr.. Glover said that as a member OF the
| Board of Public Interests he considered all
| three nominations worthy OF consideration.
and that all three men were qualified TO Nil
the position of fire commissioner as well az
| Mr.. Thomas Byrne.
Mr. Gray wished 10 ask some questions,
! but cries of Question" made voting impos-
sible.
Mr.. r. NJ. Taylor. as a member Of the
| Board of Public Interests, said
Mr.. Thomas r. Minor is a reputable citi-
zen and the superintendent OF the Broad
street Sunday-school. / am friend Of
| Thomas Byrne. and if he had been noml-
mated would have voted for him. Like a
man who voted for David Hill. ! now vote
for Cleveland j was once for Byrne; now
| stand by the nominee. and you, Nr.
| Bowden. will cast your vote for one OF those
three men. | now move you, Sir, that you
proceed with the roll.
NO CHANGE.
Mr. Turpin moved that the three names
be rejected and sent back to the Board.
Mr.. Glover, as a member OF the Board or
Public Interests said that he considered 1t
would be more sensible 10 settle the matter
at once. that If the names were sent back
there would be no change. for all Of the
members OF the Board had voted TOR the
three men.
Mr. Guigon said in answer to Mr.. Taylor
that he would criticize the Board of Public
Interests any time that II pleased him; that
he had made no personal remarks about
any member of the Board. and that he had
merely criticized the action OF the Board.
for be considered they had acted II parti-
san manner.
Mr. Otway S. Allen moved as a substi-
tute that the roll-call be proceeded with,
which was done. Mr.. Guigon was excused
from voting and Mr.. Sheppard was de-
cared elected
The Joint session then adjourned, the ire
bells ringing in the meanwhile.
With the Masons.
-. IT, tttax Vii