Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-16
HE NAMES THE MAN.
,,,yoR TAYLOR SAYS MIR. ROUN-
TREE APPROACHED HIM.
THE COUNCILMAN MAKES DENIAL.
stormy scene I'm the Omcc OF the
ctty's Chief ENccutivc-Grcw Out
of Charges About signing Re-
t-enchmcnt Ordinances.

In the elegant offices OF the Mayor
~ fhc city OF Richmond. which are
situated In the northeast corner Of the
ct, Han. there was enacted a stormy
scene yesterday about noon. There
,l-. only five persons present, three
cr whom would be nominally called
s-or.ators The other two were the
,,rt,cipants in the incident--Mayor
I. srd NJ Taylor and Mr.. Henry w.
r..ntree. Of the Rountree Trunk Manu-
q, ,tnrlng Company, and member OF the
common Council from Clay Ward.
These gentlemen. prominent as they
.-s had words. many Words. hot words.
,-f I'm some respects insinuative words
I'D over the statement made IN the
Getting OF the Board Of Aldermen last
r.rslay night by Alderman Snead, that
DID,. Mayor had been approached by
.,.mber OF the Committee on Retrench-
mont and Reform. who had said 20 him
.r.i n the Mayor would not veto the
,trarchmont ordinances his salary
,..Il not be touched. At the session
~ this committee on Thursday night
.fIs matter was brought 10 the atten-
..r az that body by Mr. Jones, and an
ry.sUgation was gone into. The re-
.gt was that "A sub-committee Of two
Nessfs. r. c. Ebel and II. W. Rountree-
VAS appointed 10 call upon the Mayor
and ask him for the name of the member
aho had thus approached him.
CALL UPON THE MAYOR.
I'm pursuance of the duty thus as
siened them Messrs. Ebel and Rountree,
i1,t about noon yesterday, called upon
IL
cordially received and, with a couple Of
pewsD9per men. were rendered seats.
Mr Rountree was the spokesman, and
De began by expressing the pleasure il
always gave him TO see the Mayor, and
added. But this morning there Is an
clement Of unpleasantness in our visit.
suppose the newspapers have apprised
you that we would call upon you. We
come I'm reference to a statement made
hy Mr. Snead, in the Board of Alder
men, TO the effect that you had been
approached by a member Of the Com
mitteo on Retrenchment and Reform
and told that your salary would not be-
touched If you would approve the COM
mittee's recommendations in regard to
salary reductions"
Mayor Taylor looked fxedly at Mr..
Rountree, cleared his throat, which he
said was troubling him. and asked to
be excused while he got drink of
water. He stepped into the next room.
took a draught, and returned to his
seat All the gentlemen looked digni-
Ted and stern.
you want me to tell you the name
Of the man." began his Honor, looking
az Mr. Rountree. "who approached me
about that matter?"
"Yes. sir: that is our business here"
responded the Clay-Ward Councilman.
We'll" resumed the Mayor, about
three or four months ago l was stopped on
Franklin street on my way down town
bv one Mr. Henry w. Rountree. who. In
"A very dictatorial manner. said to me:
Dick. YOU must not veto those retrench-
mant ordinances: we are not going 10
touch your salary ] replied TO you (ad-
dressing his remarks directly 10 Mr. koun-
tree) by saying How do you know that
] am going 10 veto themY You said that
YOU had heard that / was, and asked me
IN had not vetoed the ordinance reducing
Mr. Knowles's salary? / replied. Yes
did: didn't the Council stand by meY
Mayor Taylor continued his remarks by
adding that at that point both he ana
Mr. Rountree kept on 'jawing and plow-
ng OF steam about retrenchment and re-
FORM" and finally separated, each man
going his way rejoicing
Then said Mayor Taylor: NOW, I'll tell
1
ON a street-car and got to talking TO him.
told him that Rountree had said tnat
tha MAYORS salary would not be touched,
and that / had said TO him that ] wanted
mine reduced II other city officials were
cut down"
MIR. ROUNTREE'S QUESTIONS.
81 this point Mr.. ROuntree, who had
listened 10 the Mayor in silence, only Civ
ing evidence of his feelings by the pallor
OF his cOuntenance. broke in and asked:
where did that conversation between
US take placer"
.I think il was at the corner Of Gov
ernor and Franklin streets retorted
Mayor TAYLOR
% deny most emphatcally" said Mr.
R0mtree hotly. "that ] ever said any
thing 90 you about the Mayors salary
"And most omphaticaly say that you
dl' interrupted the Mayor.
I have said publicly" Mr.. Rountree
went on TO say, that the Mayors salary
should not be cut if he did his duty, for
dd not think that he received too much
ur The work that attaches 10 the office
That is an / have ever said about the
Mayors compensation"
Did / ever come TO see you while the
ordinances were in your hands, continu-
s Nr Rountree.
$50. Sir; you did not" replied the
Mayor a
cat the time that the conversation oc-
cured between US on that street" went
OBI Afr. Romtree. 'the ordinances reduc-
,nc the salaries Of certain city officials
Nere not In existence and ] could not,
therefore. have said anything to you
about not vetoing them. They were
hu being considered by the sub-com-
nfoe ! knew that you had vetoed the
ordinance reducing the salary of Mr..
Knowles. and / asked your reason there
Tor as ] knew the subcommittee was
working along the same line, and their
labor would DE thrown away If you were
going to veto the ordinances recommend
81 ty them You told me that If 1 would
come t0 your Office you would tell me
why v0l had vetoed the ordinance re-
cucne the salary OF Mr.. Knowles.
I win swear" continued Mr. Rountree.
'mrre. volv rising 10 his feet. that
lever in my life have l referred 70 the
Mayor salary, except in the public man
i.r ] have mentioned
'l DON'T charge you with trying TO
lroe me- Henry" said the Mayor 'for
don't believe you intended II that way.
bit YOU certainly said In a dictatorial
manner that ! must not veto the ordi-
lances. for my salary would not be
,olched No. sir; you certainly said
never said anything OF the kind. "
replied Mr. Rountrce. white with anger.
iang 10 his feet; you are telling what
h not So"
h s true II We're to meet my God,
take forty oaths that you said IL,
shouted the Mayor.
am sorry for You when you meet
nm" said Mr. Rountree.
mere Was some talk about bringing
witnesses % prove what was said, but