Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-03
GAS-W0RKS INQUIRY.
Investigating Committee Make SlloHS
Recommendations 10 The Council
pISPROYE CHARGES OR BIZ EXPELLED
This The Ulilmalum with Respect 10
ET. John R. Grimes.
MANN Is CENstHiD'
,,po,,ingIy Violated the "'"'
40 touching Contr"ctS-hesSrS'
aud snead Cridcisc che Audi-
s,ouid lie Asked to Resign
pJsPROYE CHARGES OR BIZ EXPELLED


...,oriiv and minority reports OF
..l committee OF the city Couh-
tl' -,.r 10 further investigate 'he
o' '' ,t. city Gas-Works were pre-
eH'''s ... lower branch Of that body
,..rt ty Chairman Marx Duhst
las. s.companled by printed re-
'".' .ts rrocecdings before the COM
c'' l.eestlgaton Thus the tes-
i'''' ...l the conclusions Of the mem
Che board Of inquiry were laid
r. council simultaneously Tor
sos ,oretold in Sundays tsne
[.. D,sratch. the reports recommend
......-, action in certain quarters
limit little difference in the con-
,... reached by the majority of the
49, NJ the committee and the mi
..-..v The majority report is signed by
,.,..-r,,n Gunst and Messrs. Otway ;.
49, e.1 l. Eloomherg. S. II. Cotrel.
o., vr,r.am n. Woody. while the MI
,.-.,y rsuer bears the signatures OF
90, rohn NJ. King and Evan Snead.
cors FOR GRIMES AND MANN.
a. r.ytrwiuc briefly the work OF the
,.,.e and the result OF the tcst-
.r, oiiu.,i. ,he majority report CON
go n number Of conclusions when
F..,f with the disclosures made before me
,.,.r.ifts. I'm no uncertain way ne
5.,-,.nt characterizes dealings or MI
,-.r4r, 4 Adams. the late Superintend-
w.. ,s robbery" and In specific re-
,-.,ts asserts that the late foreman Oh
n. Lower works. MI Thomas D. N"isn'
AND the late boOk-Secpcr. MT. Johh r.
,f.reiifh were cuiuable with Mr.. Adams.
To- ,.c1nmends that Mr.. John r.
,.-.-res. chairman ~ the Committee ON
-.tt De summoned before the bar of
a.. common Council. and " he cannot
a.,fovc the charges made against him
n.t Do ba expelled by a vote OF the
,..,,t.rs of that body. As TO Mr. john
-.,p Jr the member Of the BcGrd
~ Aldermen who figured In the inVesu-
,l-lon. The majority report urges that
Do Dee ceu.ured by the body OF which he
Is member.
.rr. minority report disagrees slightly
ir thes. two cases. 1t recommends 'ia'
r..h ffa-sr5 Grimes and Mann be sum-
-.ra7 tp the bar Of their respective bo-
dies and llycn an opportunity 10 dis
.-.r. o., charges against them; ana,
- fhsv f.u to do so. that they be re-
or.-t.i fo present their resignation 10
81 'r respective bodies.
.te f.r,r also criticises quite sharply
--~ Edward J. Warren. the City Auditor,
Who flr short period had In charge the
4 oEs ~ the Gos-works.
FULL TEXT OF THE REPORTS.
R.'ow is given both reports. that Of the
majority being frst:
Richmond. Va. February ~, 1876.
Your committee appointed under the
carfarr1Ilg z
ISIS. with power "to further investigate
the Gas Department, begs leave TO sub
mN its report. with the accompanying
v.umnc - evidence taken during the
Investigation.
Your committee was ORGANIZED on the
9th day - September. 1875. II requested
the Superintendent OF the Gae-Works and
the CITY Attorney 90 ascertain what
persons could throw any lirht upon the
rnanacemeut Of the gas-vorks during the
administration OF the late William O.
Adams II also Informed its accountant
W. smith what lire OF investigation
into tho books and transactions Of that
department IN wished him 20 pursue. His
report based upon the investigation as
O. what tine city had lost by negligence
ana theft Is herewith returned. After
Colonel Smith had pursued his inquiries
a4 go the losses that the city had suffered
IN iIkf tifA AilfAA VI NAff tili-
Cials. be- and Mr. BOudar were
requested % meet and ascertain and re-
port o. tho committee the amounts Of
money which the books and papers show
la1 been received 10y tie said officials
and hal not been turned INFO the trea-
siry They made such Investigation, and
1871" herewith report that they agreed
that the city had so lost So. 1914 Their
fHf.ment is herewith returned. Your
f. o.. 20 NJ
w..el o. IFS meetings all persons who
i' h' any reason 20 believe could throw
ans cht upon any matters under in
'."rtl0r 70 employed a stenographer
70 .ke an accurate report OF the testi-
Nnr 2 each witness. The accompany
inr 'uwe contains the evidence OF each
IN nl Dy 70 reading OF 1t you will
i'F r,aIn whether the conclusions
',"ei ny ur committee and herein set
f.'Ih 1fr correct
NE ENOWLES'S ASSISTANCE.
There IS seq forth i'm the accompanying
f'..W. report Of Mr W. u. Knowles.
sipe-r 'D. TENT, showing the condition Of
itr e-HDrss al the time al which he
l''h 'aiftr Your committee desires here
l' tOetfF 90 the earnest and efficient
N9'.n0. which Mr. Knowles has rem
'rDl your committee. His knowledge as
81 What ought 10 have been done but
N'1i tid not been done. greatly assisted
your committee in asccrtaming I'm many
respects the evils attending the late man
ment ~ the City Works HIS re-
as 20 the neglected and rotten CON
.ton IN which pc found these works
-' i.y portrars how negligent and how
.'ahlc Mr. w. O. Adams. Supesintend-
no. and Mr. r. j. Walsh foreman. were
IT. iheir discharge Of The trusts coniided
@ b.. odd. ID.
f committee speaks well within
bounds when IFS says that had thu, late
,'faton continued what would not
.r been stolen would scarcely have
worth stealing on account OF its
i'ODrro9s
Your committee examined forty-odG
Witnesses upon The different lines Of in
'faion pursued by it The principal
90 investigation were as follows:
iao violations 81 the city ordinance
.-'.nF employees TO give orders upon
.'f ity, the violation OF the state
,'' i'rbi'aing councilman 10 enter
,"ract with a committee or an
ttc city; sales OF junk; the steal
~ 'Ee and the frauds connected
''' t'e rtracts for oyster shells.
THE TAR CONTRACT.
io'r committee also made such an ex-
'..'ii'n as IL could aS 10 the purchase
'"r water ras-plant. and as To- the
''-Nhg with Mr. Armitage OF the gas
contract and also as 10 the ammoni-
liquor contract. The lapse OF time
'' the making OF those con-
ia'.a psvonted your committee from
.if able 20 get as much light as they
'iel upon those transactions. But
s.'r committee feel assured tina: they
were conceived and contaminated IN
,.aai The ammou,acal contract was. as
-l committee believe. let TO a STRAW.
'.V'r VINO never intended 20 exercis
Ient under II. IL was let 10 Mr..
Joseph y. Davis who assigned II IN Mr.
H,iwitagc. thereby carrying out what was