The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-26
MIR. Wakes LETTER
SHOUs THAT ms MOTION VAS FOR
IN "IMBULANCE OUTFIT,v
And He Had No Idea That the $50. I'm
Those "Antiquated Bills"
E,ltor Of The Times.


fiji 10 present to the public the late ex-
nenditure OF $50, OF the city's funds
through Interviews with the press, and
that Committeeman Miller should have
taken il upon himself 10 vindicate the
/ aeffon of the committee through your
| columns by his letter addressed to the
uublic appearing IN Sundays issue.
/ feel that Justice 10 myself demands that
/ / sborld through the same medium. pre-
sent tie facts ia the case. which are as
! follows.
Tine urst intimatiOl I had Of the pro-
posed gift Of SO 10 the ambulance doc
| tors was "a day or tgo prior 20 the De-
| ccmbcr meeting OF the Committee on
| Poor. when Dr. Labenburg. one of the
/ ambulance physicians, came into my
! store and saked ne 10 vote 10 give the
ambulance doctors SIS each for q Christ
/ mas preseut. as he stated had been the
custom of previous committees. | told
/ him that 7 would think about IL, and he
replied: 'All right, we are counting on
| you"
AT the meeting Of the committee n few
/ days later the subject was brought ap.
/ think by Mr. Hobson. and after soma
discussion the Chair decided that the
committee mad 10 right to make such
presents.
AN AMBULANCE OUTFIT"
Superintendent Davis. thcn appearing
| before the committee. stated that the
| doctors were I'm need of Ovcrcoats and
rubbcrs 10 protect them from the severe
weather. through which they were forced
| TO 10 al an times. and upon hearing this.
and understanding that the doctors re-
ceive only so per month for their SER
vices mot including fees which they are
permitted to collect, which ! am ADVISED
amount 1 understand they pay 81 per
month TO Superintendent Davis for board.
felt that If they were really in
amount felt that if they were really Ia
need of this protection from tho weather
that the committee should appropriate
such an amount as would pay for such
articles. and j thercupon made the much-
talked-of of motion, as follows:
THAT the Superintendent Doe allowed 10
oxncnd a sum. not exceeding 50 Tor an
ambulance OUTFIT.
fused the term ambulance outfit 50 as
TO include the driver as "a beneficiary I'm
the event that he was I'm need of additional
protection. knowing that he is exposed ~
n much greater extent than the doctors.
This motion was unanimously adopted
7 thourht nothing more OF tho matter
until 10 my surprise. ! learned ON christ
mas evening that the Superintendent had
pormitted S25 i'm cash TO be given TO edcA
OF the doctors.
At tho next meeting or our CONNIE -
I brought to their attention tnat lils''d,'
Of the Superintendent purchasing 7"l-
am outft as was absolutely needed as
nv motion above mentioned directed ITO
had given the cash TO the doctors /.
va tbon that Mr.. Davis claimed thal
The doctors had anticipated the action
If the committee. and presented receipt
bins for wearing apparel purcnase1 "y
trl, como OF which dated as far BACK
as june 1895. --~,
"ANTIQUATED BILLS.
r affected 10 the action Of the super
lntondent. and ridiculed the preseiila-
tion of these bills. Crhink Of the DOC
tors preparing themselves against tne
stormy blasts OF the coming winter 80 i'l
.beqd as Junel. and / insisted furtnet
that ho be made 10 refund the s'v' VIM"
I considered had been misappropriated
Then it was that the committee, by the
collovfne vote ON Mr. Brooke's notion
sustained the action of Superintendent
Davis I'm giving the cash 10 the doctors.
Avoe-Nfcssrs. Brock. Cottrel Hobsri
Miller. and Smith.
No-Walke.
I'm the published interviews Of Mr.
Davis. he stated that after the corr
mittee had appropriated this amount. De
told tho doctors of 90. and. as they had
anticinatod the action Of the commit
tee. instructed them to furnish him the
recoiptcd bills Of their purchases. and be
would give them the money. Mr.. Davis
memory I'm this connection has evidently
failed him for I understand that DE never
saw one dollar Of this money Alr. Low
onstoin drew the amount on the warrant.
I'd. f..r
reaching the Almshousc. and Immediately
upon his arrival there gave the remaining
Sej 10 the other doctor. Therefore. / say
it is exceedingly doubtful whether Mr..
Davis ever saw the money at all.
As regards the cutting of the medicine
contract for the ensuing quarter. l know
that but half Of the goods contracted for
and needed. were purchased. and when
I asked Mr. Davis why the fun amount
had not been purchased he stated 10
the committee that there was not money
enough TO pay for Il.
THE CONCLUSION.
7 know. Furthermore that application
had been made 10 the AlmsnOuse for
medicine for n very destitute family. who
aid not have ton cents. which is charged
by the city. druC-st0res. and II was Sc
fused because they dil not have the medi-
cine 10 furnish Dr. Stratton. one Of the
physicians 10 the poor. is my authority
for this statement
Tn the face OF these facts T think the
conclusion that the expenditure Of this
$50 prevented the purchase OF tho entire
medicine supply needed, is a very natural
one
Mr.. Cottrcll gives very fair account
from memory OF the whole affair I'm Your
Sundays issue. and desire 10 saw that
T have no complaint 10 make against him.
other than 7 cannot understand how be
could vote 20 sustain tho action Of Mr.
Davis I'm giving tho money 10 tho doctors
after having ruled that the committee
had no right 70 make an appropriation
for that purpose
Mr.. Cottrcll has frankly admitted TO me
I'm q conversation since his interview
was published. that Mr. Davis made n
mistake I'm turning The money over 10
the doctors
I desire 10 add that T have nothing but
the kindest feeling for The Superintendent.
and every member Of the committee hut
as member Of the Committee on Poor
7 reserve the rieht % criticize Mr.. Davis
actio' as an officer ~ all times.
In conclusion. I'm reference TO the action
taken by the Good Government LEAGUE
desire 10 say that 7 heartily commend n
Tho League VIII always find I'm me a true
friend and a cheerful worker
Respectfully.
". W. Wake.
Richmond. Va Jan. o. 1897.
MR.. SNEAD APPROVES.
Editor OF The Times:
Sir.-I am IN accord with Mr.. Wake
I'm the position he has taken. ana approve
OF his actions Had 7 have been M the