Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-20
THE CLERK GOES OUT
Council Adopts the Committees Report
IN the GaS-HOuS0 Matter.
MIR. MEREDITH NOT COMPETENT,
IL Il on This Ground Alone That
lie Is to BE Ousted-sIr. Walsh Not
Included, ms the Superintendent
Has the Power to Decide His Case.

special session held last night TO receive
and act upon the report Of the Light
Committee, embodying the result OF the
eas-works investigation and making seve-
raj recommendations in connection there
with. These twenty-five were Messrs.
Glover PresidenO. Briggs. Brock. Branch,
Cottrell. Davis, Deane. Diacont. Epps,
Ferriter. Griffin. Grimes, Gunst Hobson,
Jackson. Ianderkln. Lawder, Mayer, Nc
Dowell. Murphy. Wallerstein, and Woody.
As soon as the call for this special ses-
sion had been read the report and resolu-
lions of the Light Committee. published
yesterday. were presented. The resolu-
lions recommended that the accounts or
all the departments of the city govern
ment be examined at regular intervals
by competent accountant; that the po-
sIton held by Mr.. j. +. Meredith as clerk
and book-keeper at the works be declared
vacant. and that the person filling this
office hereafter be required TO give
s2,000 bond; that the City Attorney be
instructed 10 take proper steps TO re-
cover the moneys misapplied either from
the estate OF the late W. G. Adams or
from the surety on his different bonds as
Superintendent.
SHOULD BLAME THEM BOTH.
Mr.. Branch. who made the fight in the
Light Committee 10 censure Foreman
Walsh as well as Book-keeper Meredith,
renewed it in the Council by Offering the
following substituted for the second sec
ton OF the committees resolution:
80 That the positions OF foreman and
clerk OF the gas-works be declared va
cant, and that the Compittee on Light,
instead OF the superintendent. appoint
the clerk, and be authorized TO fill the
vacancies. and said clerk shall give bond
in penalty of 5000, with sufficient sure
Is. said bond to be filed with the City
CLERK"
Alr. Wallersteln stated that he was out
Of the city when the report was adopted
by the committee, but the resolution was
out OF order, inasmuch as the city ordi-
nance i'm question prescribed that the
Superintendent should make these APP
polntments under the control Of the com
mlttee.
on motion Of Mr.. Branch the resolution
was then converted into an ordinance
Mr.. Grimes opposed the amendment Of
fered by Mr.. Branch in regard to the
dismissal Of the foreman. The city At
torney had been asked during the ses-
sons Of the committee by nearly every
member II he thought the foreman should
be discharged.
Mr.. Davis stated that the City At
torney had given the utmost care 10
the investigation. The question was not
one OF maiefeasance 1t was only one Of
incOmpetoncy, SO far as the book-keeper
was concerned. If there had been n
scintila of dishonesty discovered against
Foreman Walsh he would certain
" have voted for the discharge Of Mr..
Walsh. He believed that both gentle
men were innocent Of malefeasance. He
spoke against giving too much power 10
one man. ana II he had the powrr he
would pass an ordinance that every Of
fcer receiving a salary of $500 or more
should be elected by the joint vote OF
the two branches Of the Council.
Mr. Lawder desired to know from the
committee whether the two gentlemen
knew that Mr. Adams had been dishonest.
Mr.. Landerkin thought the only charge
against Mr.. Meredith was incompetency.
NOT THE COUNCILS RIGHT.
Mr.. Wallerstein pointed out that this
defalcation was the result Of ignorance
of the duties Of the various officers. The
law said In this instance that the super
intendcnt should effect the sales OF coke,
etc. and make the proper returns to the
city While he At first felt very strongly
in favor Of the dismissal OF both gentle
men, with the facts before him now, ne
did not think the Council had the right
LEGALLY TO dismiss the foreman, and that
this could only be done by the Super
intendent.
MIR. Branch thought Messrs. Walsh and
Meredith were in the same position. Both
of them had been stationed at the Lower
gas-works. Mr. Adams was dead ana
could not speak: while there was nothing
Ia show that Messrs. Walsh and Meredith
had received any Of the missing money
vet. on the other hand, the money mlght
have been divided among the three.
Mr.. Gunst thought the members shouid
vote for what was fair ana JUST ana not
he guided by any sentiment. II Mr..
Meredith had been incompetent, as the
committee said he was, he should be put
out. and II MIR. Walsh had been dereltct
in his duty he should be discharged. He
did not think that either OF the two had
done ANYTHING wrong Intentionally, but
hs desired 10 know the duties of the two
nositions He desired TO know whose
dutv IL was TO measure the tar and am
moniacal liquor .,,.
the two officials In question should not
he held accountable for the action or the
Superintendent.
NOT DISMISS EITHER.
Mr.. Epps opposed the dismissal OF
either of the officials. Mr. Meredith had
acknowledged that he had only been DOING
wbat he thought would please Mr. Adams,
h,, whom, ne had been made a tool OF Mr.
Meredith had not been questioned as to
bis ability OF keeping books, ana the In
vestigation had only been extended over
what had been done.
Mr. Wallerstein alluded TO the reforms
tho, could be introduced in the Gas De-
nartment. and referred to figures sub
nitted bv the new Superintendent, ac-
cording TO which the ooal-gas now made
costs the city Sill per 1000 cubic feet,
while the cost Of the water-gas IS only
Al cents and Is cents for distribution.
The cry had been raised that water-gas
was unhealthy. over - per cent Of the
gas used in the United States was water
gas.
so,,a time ago the Committee on Re-
trenchment and Reform desired to inyes-
,ieate the various municipal departments.
and II this work had been permitted to
90 on the defalcation would have been
discovered while Dir. Adams was alive.
Nessrs Gunst Lawder. Epps. and
others smoke in favor Of retaining both
ofFciaIs Finally Mr. Davis arose and
stated that in view OF the great deal OF
discussion that the entire subject had
created he felt that the matter should
ba sifted by some entirely disinterested
persons and he desired that the subject
he ventilated by a special committee OF
Ave two members from the upper and
three from the lower branch In order
70 accomplish this object he moved that
the report Of the committee be laid on
the table.
MIR. MEREDITH SPEAKS.
A.. tDko l., Meredith was given the