Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-17
AIR. RouNTREE RESIGNS AFTER
THE INCIDENT OF FRIDAY.
NOTHING TO DO WITH SNEAD CHARGES
vhat All the Parties Have TO Say
Regarding the Episode In the
MAYORS omce-Great Fuss Grew
out Of Nothing.

ward 20 Mr.. James Caskie, President OF
that body. early yesterday morning.
President Caskie was profoundly sur
rrse8. although Mr.. Rountree had spoken
TO some Of his friends Of retiring from
the Council months ago. 1t is claimed
ny the Clay-Ward member that the in
clcut which occurred In Mayor Taylor's
Office had nothing to do with his resigna-
ton.
n speaking with a Dispatch man yes
teriay. Sir. Rountree said: Il did not
want TO run for the Council. but a num-
Der OF my friends urged me TO become
O. candidate, in order to do what l could
for the Democratic League for Good Gov
eminent l finally yielded. and was elect
c without one penny Of election
expense. After / had been member
OF the body for month or so found
chat my duties as such conhicted with
my personal business, and deprived me
often Of my home comforts. Then / de-
.ermiucd 30 resign. and only put 1t off
from month TO month because Of the
profound interest l take in the citys
welfare. This morning l determined to
retire NJ once. and mailed MY letter of
resignation TO Mr.. Caskie."
THE EPISODE OF FRIDAY.
Being asked what he had 10 say ie-
garI.ug the statement Of Mayor Taylor
trat he had said 10 his Honor that "he
rhc Mayor must not veto the retrench-
ment ordinances; the Mayors salary Will
not be touched'-Mr. Rountree said: Il
only remember having one conversation
with the Mayor. on Franklin street, and
that was about the 10th of last July,
when Mr.. Taylor was very much ox-
cited over what he deemed n slight,
shown him by the managers OF the re-
union parade. If the Mayor had had
such a suggestion made to him. and
thought IL was intended to influence his
action upon those ordinances. he would
necessarily have thought that I had a
very poor opinion Of him-though l have
nOt-and should have taken some
other course. The conversation, to which
] have referred took place just after
this present Council was organized and be-
fore the Retrenchment and Reform Com
mittee had taken up these questions at
aI. ! did speak with him about vetoing
the ordinance reducing the salary Ct the
superintendent Of the City Gas-WoTks,
but said nothing regarding his own
salary"
Continuing his remarks about the quar-
rel In the Mayors office. Mr.. Rountree
said: Il have always been a friend Of
Dick Taylor. I have known him well
enough to call him Dick and for him to
call me Henry If he had said TO me in
q more moderate way than that in which
he spoke. that he knew me sufficiently
well not TO have thought for a moment
that / intended to influence him, but that
] said to him what he says ! said, while
] would not and could not have admitted
st. I should have been glad to meet him
half way. and so back TO my committee
and tell of the interview. But he did not
do this His manner was very excited
and 1 was bound 20 be emphatic in what
! said. There was one point in our inter
view az which there would have been
trouble. had l not thought, after getting
out of my chair and putting my glasses
in my pocket that a difficulty would put
an end to this matter. and the real facts
would not Rave been gotten at. 1t is
an instance in which much has grown
from nothing, even if the allegation as to
what / said were true. No one would,
for one moment suppose that l could
make such a statement to the Mayor of
this city with a view Of influencing him
from the pathway of duty as he saw IT.
WHAT HIS IMPRESSIONS WERE.
Nr Rountree spoke further of the in
terview had in Mayor Taylor's Office
saving that he endeavored 10 be as calm
and collected as possible, and while ut
iyIiy astOunded when Mr.. Taylor said that
h was the man Mr. Snead alluded 10 in
DIS speech before the Board of Aldermen
on Tuesday night last. he tried not TO
Get into a passion. II had thought that
some member Of the committee" the
Councilman continued had gone TO sec
te Mayor while those ordinances were
SRI his hands. and made the suggestion. |
j. was ridiculous 10 begin with because
Do member of any committee has the
power 10 say what the city Council or
Richmond will or will not do, or TO make
O. conditional proposition to any one based
uron ue act of the Council
Nr Rolnuee viii. of course, remain in
he Council at least until the next meet |
ilr which will be on the evening of the
first Monday in February, by which time
the report of the subcommittee appointed
t0 wait upon the Mayor win have been
flm.ued TO the Committee on Rerench-
mont and Reform, and will probably have |
t.en acted upon.
WHAT THE MAYOR HAS TO SAY.
The other STAR actor in the City Hall |
o.ama OF Friday, Mayor Richard NJ. Tay-
i-t when seen yesterday was IN his |
A Joy.al mood. He never worries |
long about anything and the big news |
ral accounts Of his quarrel with Mr.. |
otn.roe We're not disconcerting him. |
.akng of the affair which occurred in |
o. ONCE. be said:
regret that the heated controversy |
,''a place. Henry Rountree and | have |
friends for many years. lie voted |
mo and 1 voted for him in the last |
tc.0n. Mr. Rountree Is q hrst-rate |
aH. and as / told him, am the same |
mems noW that / have always been 10 |
I~ though I am positive about what he |
- 70 me about not vetoing the retrench- |
Mayor
hs Honor spoke about not wanting |
| Moie newspaper publicity for some |
To- come. bat remarked that he had |
great many callers during the day |
e.- fad been piled with all sorts of |
'iei- and suggestions. lie said he |
always held 90 the view that If the |
- % one department was TO be cut |
h'ais ol Az should be cut his own |
! til included Il am !n favor Of re- |
,'N,l.ns,' continued Mayor Taylor "but |
"e.- substantial and general re- |
.nent and not simply a few salaries |
--le! If any mans pay Is 10 be cut, |
emm,nce with The Mayor and cut |
~" az. until you get down 10 the fellow |
works upon the streets fot 81 80 a |
ha1 no thought. whatever" the |
Nent on "tha. Henry ROun;ree |
90 make an improper suggestion |
0i ihat his remarks Wore intended |
nature of a bribe. he Is too honor |
~ man Tor such n thing as shat. |
r. Nei thought anything OF that |
should have acted differently from |
10y oii. 1 think q whole DOT OF un-
s,.ail noise has hecn mace about |
n lne occasion ho refers TO as /
t. upon which we had the conversa-
.e, aN4a'a 20 Was lorg before IL really |