Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-19
GO FOR THE PAPERS.
THE GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS CON-
MlTTEE REeUKE THEIR CeNSURE'
Au Investigation Courted-Tbo Gamble
Hin Park-Keeper Complained oi-
The Carpenters Increase.

truly be said that 1t was one OF the hFe-
lest sessions in the history OF that BODY
The members present were Messrs. Iay-
lor (chairman), Carter, Epps, Mountcastie'
Turpin, Noble, and Tanner. The CITY
Engineer was absent. owing to an engage
ment of pressing Importance.
After some little time had been con-
sumed in reading the minutes OF the last
meeting Mr. Epps arose and called the AZ
tention of the committee 70 the comment
of certain Richmond papers upon the acts
of the committee in awarding the con-
tracts for the City-Hall llght-hxtures, me-
tallic-cases, and furniture to Messrs'
Phillips, Waddey. and Savage q holms,
respectively. He read q clipping from the
Times OF last Wednesday morning, IN which
il was asserted that these awards were
made by Messrs. Epps. Mountcastle Seay;
and Turpin. or words TO this effect, ana
the Councilman from Jefferson Ward SAID
tnat this publication WAS unjust 70 some
members of the committee IN making IL
appear that these gentlemen voted the
contracts away IN some fraudulent man
ner.
Mr.. Rpps referred to the fact that Mr.:
Seay and himself only voted tor two, or
the successful bidders. He believed that
he cast his vote for the best interests OF
the city and he would ALWAYS do so. IL
was the right of councilman to pay Sl4
instead Of Sl2 for An article II IN his Judg-
ment the city was TO be benefited by such
a purchase.
MADE TO APPEAR DARE
Continuing his remarks Mr.. Epps said
that he had been approached by TRENDS
who. after reading what had been pub
lshed about the matter, thought there ap-
peared to be some &" dan Ikness" " IN 1t. lie
said that he objected to being misquoted,
but had no aversion to the publication OF
auv fact concerning his pubic career.
Mr.. Carter, OF Clay Ward, next took the
! floor. He began by saying that he had no
apology 10 make 90 any one for tho man
| ner IN winch he had voted or for his past
| conduct There had been considerable
howl over this contract question, anu
whv> Mr.. Carter SAID he had carefully
perused the editorials of the richmond
papers and had looked Tor the cause Tor
! this comment. IL seemed 10 nm tnat th9
! whole trouble was that tho Grounds and
! Buildings Committee had differed with
the City Engineer.
Mr.. Carter remarked that, from reading
| what the state and Times had TO saw. one
would conclude that the Engineer was
! infallbe. fle asked who were more com
| petent 10 tell about the merit OF IRON ma
lures than Messrs. Mountcastle and Epps.
WHIPPING TIE STREET COMMITTEE.
In continuance Of his vindication Slr.
! Carter said Il say publicly that those
| papers have simply been whipping the
| Street Committee into llne over the snoul-
ders of tho Grounds and Buildings Com.
! mittee. Asn member Of this committee
have certain rights, and | propose 70 man
! tain those rights. | must give the DI+
PATCH the credit OF being fair IN lts crit!
cisms." =.
Dealing with awards in the past, IN
which the successful bidders we're person,
! who were higher in prices than the lowest
bidders. Mr.. Carter referred the commit
tee TO the contract for the City-liail plas
tering. given February %, 1872; 10 th'
award Of the City-Hall tllng contract tC
John Bowers at n figure Si43.43 higher
than Mr. W. II. Riddle. of Baltimore, pro
posed 10 DO toe work: 10 the contract 10
the City-Hal clocks. elevator. dc.
There was but little howhng then,
Mr.. Carter asserted, ana no accusation
OF plundering. This question OF retrench
ment and reform should commence at IN,
foundation aud not at the roof. hen W
do our yery best for the interest OF ou
constituents il looks like ingratltude tina
we should be censured. lhe criticism
are. TO say the least. unjust. The DAY
upOn which ] cannot tulhI m opileatloh
10 my people "a a public servant wlth0u
being whipped by tine public press, tina
day | shall be relegated 10 the utinos
bounds Of political obscurlty."
The Char Any other statesman de
are 10 be heard upon this question
Mr.. Mountcastle: Il have no apologize
10 make. voted as | conscientlously be
heved to be right
Mr.. NoDLE's RESOLUTION.
| 70 . J.
committee and offered the following:
WbeloIs, sOmo Of the papers OF tho CITY
| Richmond have seen lit 20 censuro TINS con
B,,oiced. Tnnt il 8 the sense Of this committe
thet We haye been assailed uniu-tly ; that we T.
ouest them aud any one who has tbs welfare
inc city AZ heart To meet aud investigate tna
fbe falilt. n any, may he placed where lt pr'
perly belongs. We have no friends 90 reward
enemies 10 punish.
Mr.. Carter thought that it would pat IA
committee IN an undIgnIted position [
ad0pt the resolution. lie stated that Tn
uress knew where 1t could see the recOr
OF the committees acts ~ any time.
Mr.. Noble SAID the committee Shoul
% court an investigation, as the member
had simply performed what they cOnsl'
cred their duty. He thought all the new
paper-men should be invited 10 come Al
p LOOK into these alleged piundeTing5, an
L stated that he felt conhdent that the
s would never put in an appearance again
Them. Mr.. Mobiles resolution was adopted
/ MR.. TAYLOR or TIE ENGINEER.
Mr.. TAYLOR then took the floor ana sai
that for the first time IN has llto ne hi
, / been accused of being a plunderer. II
= | characterized in no uncertain way the M
y fairness of the comment upon the con
q mi;tee's action. He asked where ColOn'
1 Cutshaw WAS. and was told by Asslstan
3 ENGINEER Bates that that 0fhclal was d
4 tanned by au engagement winch could n'
q be broken. Mr.. Taylor SAID that ne ";
sorry the Engineer was absent a. ne ui
not desire TO say anything behind DIS oao
O which referred TO him.
' Colonel Cutshaw has made many M
. takes" Mr.. Taylor, asserted, ana
= stated in the committee that lie prefer,
. the Cassidy & Go. gas and electric-nsi
= fixtures. az cost OF $4,000 moro than u
e price of Philips's fixtures. IL was fact
4 Mr. Taylor said, that Colonel Cutsha
o lid not think that the $4,000 appropii
tion for streets in the annexed portion
i Lee District was wise expenditure.
,, was possible for persons 10 Disagree VII
= the Engineer" Mr. laylor went on 70 sa
/. and he was proud that every mehper
y the committee had manifested uets
= nination 10 stand upon his iormer ac'lo
y MR.. NOBLE AND COLONEL TANNER.
q Al this iuncture Colonel Tanner q
g reared and asked what was before q
"a committee. H.
9 Mr.. Noble replied that 1t was the char
y of certain newspapers against the comm
q tee for felonously aud burglarious
h breaking into the City Treasury ana ste
ing therefrom certain sums OF money oL
certain day."
lG CONTRACT FOR ICE.
o Colonel Tanner moved that the reguI
l. business be taken up.
n This was agreed TO. and bids Tor supp
4 ing tho Street Department with ice durl
y the summer months were opened as
"a lows: =,
re NJ. ]. DAILY, Home Ice Company, NJ
b. Jane King, Transparent Ice Compal
u Richmond Ice Company. and the Crys
Ice Company. All firms proposed 10 81
10 ply the ice at 40 cents per hundred pouh
III and the contract WAS awarded by ara
Of ing 10 NJ. j. Dalv. .;
a. The chairman was authorized 70 81
ID the contracts for the furniture. llght
al lures. and metallic book files for the u
Ill City Hall US soon as they are approved
u .. the City Attorney. .,,
ve Bids we're opened for furnishing
n flowers for Monroe Square, and the CO
n. tract was given to Mr.. j. L. 1oler, the pr
in being SIS.
In rasnorsn ~ the netitiOn of carpent