Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-23
REINSTATE THE MEN.
COMMITTEE AGREES PRACTICALLY
TO RESOLUTION SENT TO 1T.
THREE TO LOSE ONE WEEKS PAY.
Other Two 10 Draw Wages for the
Full Time Lost--Report TO the
Councii-8oard OF Health Asked to
Investigate MIR. Walton.

''o 'NN0"' "iSVh@IBe OF the I've men
from the sanitary force. Several addi-
tional witnesses were heard. and the
committee unanimously recommended TO
the Council the reinstatement OF the
men, two OF them 10 be paid in fulI for
the time lost, and three to be paid for
ali the time lost. save one week. it being
thought that as these men had talked
over the matter Of having Mr.. Walton.
the sanitary officer over them. removed
and Mr.. B. NJ. Angle put in his place.
they should be subjected to some mild
punishment
The resolution. sent from the Council.
providing Tor the return of Sanitary
officer Walton TO the police force. and
Tor an investigation Of hls conduct was
returned TO the Council. along with all
pagers in connection with the matter,
wih the recommendation that II be re-
fer ed TO the Board Of Health.
I~,s nights session Of the Health Com
mitise was In quite strong contrast with
The stormy meeting Of Thursday evening.
The crowd was much larger. and it could
be seen that there was still some feeling.
resulting from the row Of the night be-
fore. couple OF extra policemen were
on hand. but their services were not at
any time needed. nor were there any
demonstrations Of an unusual character
during the proceedings.
THE COMMITTEE RESUMES WORK.
The committee was called to order by
Sub-Chairman Burton shortly after
O'Clock. and there were present Messrs
Blanks. Cutchins, Jones. Moore. Snead
and Williams, OF the committee, and
about $50 persons interested In the in
yestigauOn. J. T. Johnson, one of the
discharged men. was called at once TO
the witness-stand and was asked TO re-
late the circumstances in connection
with his dismissal from the health
force He said that Mr.. Walton had
discharged him for the reason. he (Wal-
tom said. that he knew of the move
ment to have a change OF his sanitary
boss. and had said nothing TO him oval
tom about II. However" continued the
witness, 81 never heard anything about
the matter, and so told Mr.. Walton. None
Of the men spoke Of having a change in
my presence.
Mr. George f. Bailey testified that on
Wednesday before Mr.. Walton returned
from his vacation he heard some of the
men say they would like TO have Mr..
Walton removed. Witness heard Mr.. c.
Kennedy speak about this matter.
WHAT MR.. ANGLE SAID.
Mr.. James Martin. a member Of the
force. said first that he knew nothing
whatever about the movement to have
Sanitary-Oficer Walton removed and Mr..
Angle put In charge of his gang The
witness afterward. however. on being
cross-examined by Mr.. Montague. said
he had told Mr.. Walton that Mr.. Angle
had asked him upon one occasion: How
would you like TO have me for your boss?'
Mr. Martin went on TO say: IL simply
burst out laughing and said nothing"
There is no doubt in your mind as TO
exactly what took place at that time,
Mr. MARTINI" asked Mr.. Montague.
''None I'm the world. What l tell you
] am man enough to stand up to-"
Qaughter).
Mr. w NJ. Connors had never heard
anything about the proposed change OF
sanitary officers, He regarded Mr.. Wal
ton as a gentleman and a competent
officer, who required the men under him
10 do their duty. 81 am now foreman
under Mr. Walton" concluded the wit
ness.
Several other witnesses were called, but
did not respond TO their names, and the
MIR. James Robertson. who does not work
in Mr. Walton's gang. Mr.. Robertson
said he knew absolutely nothing about
the matter under investigation. He had
been a member of Mr.. Walton's force.
and had found him TO be an efficient
officer.
MR.. CASKIE'S EXPLANATION.
Mr.. James Caskle. president Of the Com
mon Council. then addressed the COM
mittee stating his reasons for having the
resolution from the Committee on Re-
trenchment and Reform requiring the re-
instatement Of the five men who had been
discharged referred from the Common
Council 10 the Committee on Health.
Il thought this was a matter of courtesy
due 10 this committee" resumed Mr.
Caskie. Il was then of the opinion that
these men had been unjustly discharged
and should be reinstated, and ! am still
OF that way Of thinking j have listened
20 the proceedings of your committee and
the testimony seems 10 show simply that
MIR. Walton was not a popular man in
charge of the gang. Some one made
remark TO Mr.. Angle that they would
ike to have q change in their boss. L
am not here 10 crlticise Mr.. Walton or
Mr. Angle. or TO say whether or not Mr.
Angle made the suggestion as TO TINS
change l think the committee and Dr
Oppenhimer acted hastily in the dismiss
sal Of the men" Mr.. Caskie thought Dr.
Oppenhimer. as president OF the Board
OF Health. should have heard these men,
and II warranted in so doing, might have
suspended them for week or a month.
Mr. Caskie then asked that the men be
given back their places, and that they be
paid for the time they had lost.
DIR. OPPENHIMER'S POSITION
Dr. oppenhimer spoke briefly relative
10 his position in the matter OF the dis-
charge OF the men. He said the Heath |
Department had formerly used the sys-
tenn Of suspension, and had found IT IN
erectual. "When this case was report |
cd 10 me" continued DIR. Oppenhimer, Il |
felt that II was the best thing for the |
service Of the department TO discharge |
those men. | had no feeling whatever
I'm the matter Several OF those en- |
plcyees had long been known TO me. and |
felt the kindiest interest in them. one |
or two OF them had been dismissed be-
fore. and had been put back on the force. |
knew their positions and their condi- |
tons. and sympathized with them, but |
] knew at the same time that there |
were good and true men walking around |
the streets looking for employment, and |
felt that no injustice could be done any /
one II the men thus charged with insu-
we're discharged. This was |
NOT a definite dismissal. l did not act \
hastily as MIR. Caskie says i did 1 |
bought the matter before my commit
tee ana had no animus at all. 1t would
have made no difference whatever 10 me