Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-10-10
LAVISH INVITATION
Chance to See Washington on
Another Persons Money.
AND INSPECT BLOCK ASPHALT
Attorney Ruth Makes . Generous PROPOSE.
ton to Councllmen and City Ohioera.
Curiouoly Enough. it won'tbe
Generally Accepted.
AND INSPECT BLOCK ASPHALT

go to Washington tonight. either on
their own hook or anybody's else.
The facts regarding this proposed
trip may not be generally known.
BE it understood then. that ut least
ten members Of tht. council. the mayor
city attorney and city engineer have
been invited TO go to III" National
Capital tonight. all expenses to Ne Iaid.
not one Of them TO spend a cent Of
their own or the city's money.
This uniquely generous invitation
was extended yesterday by Mr. t'has
II. Ruth. an attorney. who dropicd
into the city some months ago ana es-
rablished an office naarlY opposite the
courthouse.
The fact that Mr.. Ruth is from
Washington and is deeply interested in
asphalt block is really about all that
Is known OF him here, he being but Il
recent conner 10 the city. lie is Il gen
tleman OF pleasing address and APP
lH-drancc, possessing Z likeable ard en-
gaging manner. evident culture. and 4
profound knowledge Of the paving
question in general and asphalt block
in particular.
He has been assigned to represent
Billy OBoyle, the alleged murderer,
though. of course. that mas nothing to
90 with his prncely Invitation 10 the
City Fathers.
When the special paving committee
went on its tour Of the eastern cities
MIR. Ruth obtained a ticket to = vest
ern city and boarded the Same train.
Before going, it had been suggested to
the committee that Mr.. Ruth desired
to accompany them. AT least one
member of the committee sent him
word that this was out OF the question:
The committee thought that Mr.. Ruth
was connected with the block asphalt
people. On the train. when it was dis
covered that Mr.. Ruth VAS aboard, he
was given to understand that the com
rnittee did not desire him to accom-
pany them. Had it been a pleasure
jaunt, his companionshp would have
been most agreeable, but as the COM
mittee was abroad for business the
members preferred to be by their off,
c!al selves.
Nr. Ruth emphaticaliy denied that
he had any connection whatsoever with
the block asphalt people or any other
paving concern. He denied it again at
'Murphy's after the party arrived in
l3ichmond. In the Virginia Capital he
disposed Of his ticket tC one OF the
members Of the party, and next day
returned to Newport News.
Shortly after that. Mr.. Ruth wrote
4 well-considered and logical papc- OF
some length advocating the superior
claims Of asphalt block. He stated at
the time that he had no connection Of
any sort whatsoever with any paving
concern. but was actuated simply by Il
motive of interest in the citys welfare.
He had no property here. he said, nut
expected to invest here when II" Lad
iSy>n ~ y,
Awhile after this. VIII IN the commit
tee returned from its trip, Mr.. Ruth
invited several Of them, the mayor and
others. into his Office and exhibited to
them some specimen blocks or asphalt
one of which, he said, had been laid
for fourteen years. the others being
new He explained to the officials
present the merits OF the blocks, and
especially called their attention 10 the
old block, which had been taken up
from one Of the streets OF Washington
and sent here for exhibition. accom-
panied by an affidavit showing where
1t came from. M"
AT that time. MIR. Ruth stated to
His Honor the mayor and to Others
positively, that he had no connection
whatever with the block asphalt; pru-
pie or any one else engaged in the
paving business
Yesterday he came forward with his
magnificent offer to take that large
party OF city officials to Washington
and pay all expenses. He explained
TO some Of them, at least. that ha was
acting for an asphalt block company:
that the company had seen the article.
ne wrote on the subject and the inter
est he was taking in their paving and
had retained HIM here.
Possibly Mr.. Ruth is under the i'm
preston that he will take party up to
Washington tonight. IT he does. I. will
scarcely be the party he invited YES
aerday.
Now, there is no reason in the world,
SO Tar as any one knows, why Mr.
Ruth should not represent a dozen
paving companies, if he desires to-
The business is q perfectly legitimate
one. professionally, and 1t may be held
with reason that if a company chooses
to pay the expenses Of city officials
while they are examining its paving. it
IS at liberty to 90 SO, and without
blame attaching to it or it's agents.
for business is business and this ~ort
of thing is done every day not only in
the paving business but in other lines
Eut in the matter OF accepting such
an invitation under certain circum-
stances, there are other things to be
considered besides business for exam
PIE, c!ty officials duty to keep free
from changing alliances; to avoid the
acceptance Of favors from interested
concerns; 70 be careful not to place
themselves under obligations to people
TO whom they should be under no OBJ
Hgatlons-in other words, their public
duty.
As private citizens, the asphalt block