Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-08-02
PUBLIC SENTIMENT
Continued from first page.)

k'.'SNS''- 1Ak lut IbpifN OF fte3lcN meet
ing it was understood that the persons
working here and living between here
and Hampton should be allowed to
come IN today and remain here. All
the Watchmen We're instructed that all
the permits expired at noOn.'
Chairman Powell-"Dr. Bagby. did
you accept pay for passes?"
DR.. Ragby-'I did. Do you EXPECT
me to work for nothing?"
~ Voice-'sWhat are you paid for?'
Dr. Eagby-"Not for making out GER
tlhcates. l would further state that at
6 o'clock yesterday afternoon about
fifty or sity men came to my office for
passes. did not get a cent for them.
Things were in such a middle thar we
did not know just where we were at"
After some further discussion Dr.
Ragby concuded:
II would just like to say this. If I
am prisoner at the bar and am being
tried, the audience and not the jury are
che ones from whom you EXPECT a YER
Dict
Mr.. Ford said that in order to restore
confidence, and with so much az stake
put not because of any charges that
mad been made he moved that DR.. J. r.
Ragby be requested TO vacate his office
MI Hughes seconded the r:utinn
Eut before Mr'Fol, made this motion
Mr. Mclaughlin had moved that an in
VestlgatinE committee be appointed TO
near the charges at once. Mr. Nc
laushlin insisted on his motion as ear
rNins with it the proper procedure
MR. BIyKFORD AGAIN
In response to calls Mr. r. G.. Eick-
ford came forward again and said:
There is Il vast difference between
careless action on the part of an off
ial
man may be forgiven for carelessness;
he will not be forgiven for corruption
do beseech You. gentlemen be just to
this man. If it is necessary TO remove.
him. removes him without fear At the
same time let your real reasons 90 70
the public.
CHARGES INVESTIGATED.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Bickford's
remarks. Mr.. Mclaughlin renewed his
motion for an investigating committee
of three. An amendment to make the
number five was accepted. Mr. Wilkie
wanted the council to act i'm executive
session as Il committee of the whole 10
consider the charges. This latter being
contrary to the charter the amended
motion was put and prevailed by a
unanimous vote.
The chair appointed on this commit
tee Messrs Mclaughlin. Cooper.
Ford. Lenz and Corey. These gentle
men collecting Il number of Witnesses,
retired to the jury room and the coun-
Gil took a recess. during which the null
titudc mingled and discussed 1he5 situa
ton eXcitedly
Dr E;lSby, OF course. retired with the
committee, but returned a moment lat
er and retained MIR. Bickford to con-
duct his side Of the case Mr. a. G..
ed before the committee as attorneys
for the people
THE FINDING
The committee went out at 10 o'clock.
Exactly one hour later the following re-
port was returned:
Your committee having made due in
vestgation Of the charges publicly
made before the council against Doc
tor 'l'a gby, do hereby rcsnecufully re-
port that
Your committee finds that Doctor
Basby has not been guilty of any in
territorial improperly, but we find tina
under his administration there has
been lack of that high degree Of care
which the situation imperatiyely re-
nures.
We believe that the best interests Of
our community can only be attained by
re-esta blishment Of public confidence.
believing that the confidence of the
people can only be gained by reor-
ganizatfon Of the Board Of Health.
We therefore recommend the retire
ment of its president"
This report was accepted and rati-
fed by unanimous vote
ieFMA fskABLE NOTION
Councilman John r. Stone then NOV
ed that the council request the paners
not to publish any of the foregoing pro-
ceedings.
Councilman Mclaughlin told Mr.. /
Stone and the council that such mo-
ton could not be entertained; that the
public would look upon the passage of
such a motion as child's play. He did
think though. that the papers should
treat the matter as smoothly as posSi- |
BILE
Mr.. Stone then moved that the re-
porters present be requested TO keep the
proceedings out.
SMr. Stone did not receive second to
either OF his motions. and they were
not considered, the matter dropping.
President Powell suggesting that per
maps the papers knew best how to han
die the situation.
Later on in the evening the council
took a recess Of five minutes to con-
suit with the Board of Health. At
the ton Of five minutes, the body
reassembled. and the mayor made a
statement to the council.
He said he had talked the situa tion
over With number of the best citi-
ems. He said that he had suspended
DE- Bagby indefinitely as chairman of
che Board Of Health, and had named
Dr. s. w. HObSOn, the present n,,ar.p