Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-24

be mindful In dealing with the charges
against Mr.. Grimes that we do not al
low the knowledge OF the offences
committed by those In control OF this
department. and who are beyond the
reach OF the City Council, except by re-
sort TO the courts, to influence our
action In dealing with charges against
one Of its members which. while in some
measure cognate 10 this subject OF in
vestigation. have about them none OF the
elements OF fraud or peculation which
has so aroused the public sentiment
against the officials in charge OF the City
Gas Works.
"The special committee In charge Of this
Investigation have submitted their report
and In this report are embodied four
charges against Mr.. Grimes, which
charges he is by resolution accompany
Ing said report now called upon to an
sVer. IL is further provided that he Is
TO dsprove the truth OF the charges so
preferred and IN the event Of his failure,
this body is called upon TO expel him
from It's membership. Without pausing
TO allude 20 the peculiar character OF
this recommendation. or to the fact that
the committee, which on eX parte evil
dence has preferred these charges now
sits in judgment to establish their We
racity. we pass TO an immediate conside-
are four in number.
THE ACCEPTANCE OF ORDERS.
81. That he violated the city ordinances
forbidding employees TO give orders on
their wages. by taking such orders.
with reference TO this charge II may be
stated that In the fail OF 1894 an ordi-
nance was passed fOrbidding employees
OF the city from giving orders for sala-
viz or nv no rff fpr
their services This ordinance. like a
statute somewhat similar, enacted by
the State fOrbiddng garnishment process
from issuing against any wages due by
the State 10 her servants rs designed for
the protection Of the heads Of depart
nients. VINO would be seriously incon-
vcDienced by having a food of orders
coming In from city employees for the
salaries to which they are entitled. II rs
rot a crime to give an order nor to ac-
cept II. With reference TO Mr.. Grimess
connection with this charge. IL may be
upthfully stated that as an old employee
Of the City Gas-W orss. personally known
TO numbers CT his former associates with
some little accumulation of this worlds
goods. and occupying the position at once
an honor and q burden. Of being q coun-
Gilman and a politician. he was frequently
applied to for loans of money, and the
We uld-be debtors promised TO secure the
payment OF any funds so loaned by pay
ing him out OF their wages received from
Tho gas-works, should they actually rem
der the services. No written orders tyere
ever given 10 the Superintendent In Mr..
Grimess favor. He loaned these people
various sums Of money al their repeated
solicitation. and requested the paymaster
az the gas-worlIs, in accordance with the
pro mise of these employees when they
drew their wages to pay him, to retain
the same for his benefit-if such en-
pIoyees made no objection. Four persons
y ere examined in connection with this
matter-to wit: James e. Grace. Git
wei Jordan, John T. Smith. and William
Timberlake. and they each and all testl-
fed that they were never approached
by Mr. Grimes with the view Of lending
them money; that in every instance they
pursued and solicited him. and that on
various occasions he had loaned them
money when they were not employed at
the gas-wOrks. and loaned IL TO them
without security and for which he re-
ceived no interest.
CRUEL RATE OF INTEREST"
go The second charge is that Mr.. Grimes
realized on his money. so loaned. not only
an usurious. but n cruel rate OF interest.
without intending the slightest disrespect
10 the honorable committee who formu-
lated this charge. II may be said. with
all truthfulness that neither the commit
tee nor this Council has the slightest
Jurisdiction 10 call any Of It's members
to account for lending money at what
they are pleased TO term usurious or cruel
rates of interest. If Mr.. Grimes or any
other member OF this Council. was eX-
PEELED because he loaned money at usu-
rious rates Of interest, this body would
make of itself simply the laughing-stock
Of the city, as having called one Of its
members 10 account for a supposed Of
fence absolutely beyond its jurisdiction.
In answer 10 this charge we
confidently submit that the Council
neither has jurisdiction, nor is it
an offence. had the Council any
jurisdiction. There is nothing mala
which is charged upon money, when the
rate Is fixed by agreement between the
contracting parties Money is worth what
it will bring on the market, just ike
the use Of "A horse, or a house. which II
represents. and this view Of the subject
is being taken by legislatures and law
makers and law-writers I'm all the most
progressive sections Of the country. Ihe
Supreme Court Of Virginia has, by re-
cent decision. put the seal of its disap-
probation upon the statutes when FOR
merly were believed TO deal 50 harshly
with usury. and the LegislatU e which
has Just adjourned. If l am correctly
Informed, passed law permitting pawn
brokers TO charge 10 per cent. month
for the use OF money.
"This charge, therefore, like the
one just preceding. is charge
which Mr. Grimes may well af-
ford TO treat with indifference,
and one which, we believe. this Council
will never adopt as the basis for eXpelling
one of its members. While the evidence
of the aforementioned witnesses indi-
Gated that Mr.. Grimes, had he collected
the money. would have realized a large
rate Of interest. yet I'm truth. there were
innumerable other parties to whom, under
the same circumstances. he loaned money
in the direst straits, from whom he has
not nor never viii. collect either princi-
pal or interest; and so far. therefore
from it's being an evidence Of his cruelty
and rapacity. his dealings with these.
his former associates, Is more an evidence
OF his consideration and charity-a con-
sideration which. II seems, they Were not
able TO find among many other of their
fellow citizens
FRAUDULENT SHE'LL CONTRACT.
"S The third charge is that, for his
personal benefit he assisted I'm having a
fraudulent contract for shells made with
MIR. SmOot The meaning Of this charge
we understand, is, briefly stated. that ne
was personally interested in the contract
let by the city 10 MIR George w. Smoot
ror fnrplShfuO the pifv with a eprtaIn