The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-29
GAS. WORKS INVESTIGATION.
Personnel Of the Committee that Made The
Searching Examination.
FEARLESS, UPRIGHT, AND HONEST MEN.
CITY Attorney c. V. Meredith, whose Able
Assistance Made the Task Possible
History of the Investigation-What
VIII the Verdict Be?

The Common Council will meet In spe-
dial session in the Council chamber To-
morrow night at o'clock, Under d lesolu-
lion adopted at the called meeting ol
March lZth Then will be brought 10 a
close its action concerning the inNesilsa-
tor OF the affairs at the city gas-WoIhs'
Under the resolution .eicTed 10 vote
will be taken at o'clock on the following
recommendations submitted by the sye-
cial Joint committee that has been IN
charge of the investigation;
Your comm ittco feel constrained lh mo
lss,et of the evidence before them, 10 rec
commend that Dir Grimes be- called TO
the bar OF the Common Council, OF when
branch he is now a member, that he be
asked whether he desires TO offer any
evidence to disprove that submitted ~
vottr committee: and that the Common
Council. after hearing such evidence as
Mr.. Grimes may offer. shall II MI. GRIMES
fail TO disprove the above charges ana lhe
evidence herewith submitted in support
of them. expel him by vote from among
its members
THE COMMITTEE.
This recommendation was signed, togeth-
or with ten other recommendations, the
latter Of which were adopted by tne
Council at the meeting OF Marcn l-th ny
a majority Of the members Of me COM
mittee. which was as follows: Messis.
Marx Gunst chairman; W. 7. Woody,
Sol. l.. Bloomborg Samuel u. cottte4h
Otway s. Allen. After this matter mas
, been finally disposed OF. some action will
be taken in regard 10 the report present.
| ed by Messrs John NJ. King ana ht an
| Snead as minority report.
Just what the action OF the Common
! Council will be tomorrow night, Is next
TO impossible 10 tell at this time. All
| sorts OF rumors have been ahoAt during
| the past few days. but they have merely
| been rumors. The members are very Iep'
| cent and DO not care to mention sne sud-
iect M all. At all events, II viii reuqlre
| a two-thirds vote to adopt resolution
expelliug Mr.. John Il. Grimes, and " lille
! the latter's- friends are sanguine that no
! will be merely rcprimanded. yet there are
| others who claim that even with all the
| members present he would not be aJle 10
! control more than nine votes.
Perhaps never in the history OF this
| city government has there been a more
| disagreeable and more distastefui duty
J Imposed upon any Council committee
! than the one just performed D. iAe Hpe-
! cial Joint committee on the investigation
| of tho affairs Of the city gas-works. All
, of is members, seven in number-thlce
, from the Board Of Aldermen. and four
from the Common Council-are gentlemen
OF questionable character, and Ike
fearless. upright and honest men, they
went to work and disposed Of their difficult
ana laboriOus work with the greatest
possible dispatch
PATIENT INVESTIGATION.
While fully determined 10 silt the mat
ter Ia the bottom. II possible, 1t was
agreed to give the investigation the full
est latitude and admit any evidence tnat
might have served IN extcnuauon or the
! charges made. As has been said by the
several members OF the committee In open
session OF he Common Council. when the
question was discussed whether Mr.
Crimes should be given an opportunity tc
submit evidence in support OF his side OF
/ the case. the committee while in charge
| OF the Investigation would have readily