The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-24

| citys money, had he participated in the
! profits Of contract by which the city
lost thousands Of dollars. the maximum
Of punishment which this body could have
imposed would have been expulsion from
its membership. 1t is neither just nor
right 70 impose the maximum Of punish
ment when a vote OF censure or reDri-
mand would meet every demand Of JUS
! tice.
In this connection, It may not be i'm
/ proper 10 state that from the best
sources Of information obtalnable. we are
/ advised that Il has not been an uncom-
mon thing for members Of the City Coun-
ell OF Richmond to be personally interest
ed in purchases made by the city in her
various departments. We are not here
TO arraign the members OF this or any
| past bodies. and call for their expulsion
because OF the violation by them Of this
| law, but we are here 10 protest that this
man shall not be made a scape-goat for
| the sins OF others. who are equally guilty
Of the indiscretion with which he stands
charged
THE LAST CHARGE.
Fourth. The fourth and last charge
| Is that Nh Grimes sold to the city, by
means OF the contract awarded Smoot
| just referred TO. quantity Of shells far
beyond its needs. In other words. that
| taking advantage of his official position,
| he compelled the city to purchase shells
| beyond its necessities, and that in con-
| sequence the money OF the taxpayers
has been unnecessarily expended. The
evidence with respect 10 this charge. as
already adduced before the committee
is certainly Of a very incomplete and
unsatisfactory character IL appears,
from the investigations. that for the year
beginning October. 1893. and ending De;
to0er. 1894. the year just anterior to the
SmOot contract, there was delivered to
the city AT price OF 81 cents per bushel,
about $4,000 bushels OF shells. That when
the Smoot contract went into effect in
October, 1894 all Of these shells had been
consumed with the exception Of a very
small quantity. Under the Smoot con-
tract about 5000 bushels of shells were
furnished the city. Ii is true that the
rhells were furnished during the six
months immed atey following the date
Of the contract I'm October 1894, but the
reason for this. as we will show by evil
dence. grows out Of the fact that II Is
during these months that shells can be
purchased from oyster dealers throughout
the city. and thus the parties having
this contract with the city made their
upon TO make deliveries during the sum-
mer of 1895. when the supply might be
exhausted. and they would be compelled
to bring shells here from Baltimore and
other points as was the experience OF
Mr.. Montgomery, who had the contract
during former years. Even with the sup
ply thus furnished, II Will be in evidence
that in the month of February. 1872 the
authorities Of the gas-works had TO
purchase 1000 bushels Of lime, because OF
their inability 10 provide l.me fast
enough for purifying purposes from the
shells so furnished. The old administra-
ton OF the Gas-WOrks, in the spring and
summer of 1898. adopted the use OF
pyrtes I'm the place of lime. and thus
in a large measure dispensed with the
necessity of shells; and but for this
change the shells so furnished under the
Smoot contract, aggregating as we under
stand Is 600 bushels, would have beeh
i'm round numbers about the amount FUR
nished during the preceding years, ana
a sufficiency-and no more than sur
hciency-for the needs OF the institution.
This is the fourth and last charge
against Mr. Grimes. As you have SEEN
the city actually purchased the shells at
a lower rate than she had ever received
them before. while the amount delivered
during the period when they could be
obtained with greatest ease was not so
great as to raise the presumption that the
city was being made liable for something
for which Il had no use, much less 10
establish fraud and rcscality upon the
part OF Mr.. Grimes.
These are. therefore, the charges ana
these are the answers which he makes
to the same.
He denies any charge or suggestion Of
,..fs "a
of the wrong Of having been interested
in a contract let by the city. that no loss
10 the city was Occasioned thereby
In conclusion. Mr.. President, ! submit
that a reprimand or vote of censure upon
Mr. crimes conduct would. be full vindi-
cation of the law and in every way
sufficient punishment for the offence OF
which he is actually guilty
In conclusion, Mr.. Munford said: l
know John crimes who Is now being tried
In this community, who, for thirteel
wears had been a fireman at the Gas
Works. He now holds one Of the most
inportant positions in this state as the
receiving ard delivering clerk OF the
Auditors office. Though his hands nearly
All the money went. without the least
charge that ever a cent stuck TO his nm
GERS. In recognition Of his services and
faithfulness the Legislature once raised
his salary. the only time when the salary
of an officer has been raised. while he
held office.
The city Attorney. IN reply. desired TO
know i'm which manner the statement was
10 be- received, whether II was intended
10 deny any of the charges and which
ones
Mr.. Nunford briefly replied that the
statement I'm fact denied the charges.
,,l,ta A. sdp,fffai that Mr. Grimes WAS
interested in the shell contract.
THE FIRST WITNESS.
Mr. Carl Reynolds an en- ploye at tho
Gas-Works, was called as the first wit
ness. After having been sworn by Mr..
Bloomherg. witness was taken in hand by
Captain Wise. and stated. / have been
employed there for twelve or fourteen
years and for eighteen years l have
been engaged in burning lime. Last year
the city first commenced using pyrites, |
think. about last January. in the new
purifying house. don't know how
many bushels Of shells have been used
previously per annum. I know that Mr.
Montgomery hauled shells There. and
when the Smoot contract went into
effect there were very few shells there: all
had been burnt. but | don't know how
many OF them were furnished by Mr..
Montgomery
when questioned by the city Attorney.
Mr.. Reynolds said he was carpenter
now at the gasworks. Interrupted by
Captain WISE. witness said that last year
du,ing one of the winter months the city
had to purchase lime. but he did not
know how much.
Questioned by Mr. Meredith: Under
Mr.. Adams ! was burning lime; I do not