The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-23
GRAND JURY REPORT
STILL CAUSES TALK
Bill for Stenographic Work Will
Probably Be Held Up.
FINAN CE COMMITTEE PAUSES.
Financiers Are Anxious That Grand
Jury Proceedings Be Made Pubic.
1t Now Looks as if There Will
Be No Further vestigat.on.

Barring tie meeting OF the Finance
Committee Tomorrow night and the ses-
sionof the Police. Election and Schools
/ Committees next Friday night this week
viii be rather dull IN Council circles. al
though the Committees on Water. Health
and Printing are scheduled to get to-
6ether within the next six days.
It having been decreed several years
$50 that the doings OF tie Finance Com
reittee shall be kept from the pablo and
that only such matters as may be re-
ported 70 the Council for acceptance or
rejection shall be made known, there is
always more or les; speculation atten-
dant45upon the meetings. Tie meeting
To morrow night Will be no exception.
and there has been considerable gossip
as to what matters will be considered,
there beng a least one in which the
citizens in general and local politicians
and Council members are particularly
ir.tel estcd
AT the last meeting a subcommittee
from tie James River Improvement
Committee appeared in the interest Of
an appropriation with which to cleanse
tie karbor, and the discussion on this
subject used up most OF the three hours
tie body was in session. resulting as
mas Deell Sijltl, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
tat $4,000 #ba APPROPRIATED to the river.
bereavement account. This much was
al nounced officially.
THAT GRAND JURY REPORT.
Despite the secrecy surrounding the
ether deliberations Of the committee II
has been iearned from an authoritative
source that the bill of Mr.. John Winston
for $50 for stenosraphc work attendant
upon the investigation of alleged NUM-
.c;t3al corruption by the special grand
it.ry some two or three months ago.
Which, was presented to the city at re-
cent meeting OF the Common Council
and referred to the Finance Committee
~ consideration. was discussed at
lfngth by tbs members. AS a result. IL
& is stated that an adverse report is proba-
bic or In other words, they will recon-
mend that payment be held up
WANTED REPORT READ
One ofathe members nlovtd that City Az
torney Pollard be called upon 10 ptliis
a carbon copy#of the report TO the De
cembeI.s meeting of the Common 5Council
and read the contents. after which tae
CITY Auditor be inatructed to issue q
voucher for an amount sufficient 10 #coSer
the claim made by Mr.. Winston. ms
motion was lost or Amended by recon-
npnding to the Council that Mr. Pollard
be called upon to express his opinion as
10 Whether the city could be compelled
to pay the bill. At that time it was not
Known that the committee would meet
again before the regular meeting of the
Common Council.
Since that recommends ton vas passed
Chairman Gordon has called spaciai
meeting of the committee, and it is under
stood that City Attorney Pollard viii be.
presentato# express his legal opinion as to
the account In case he decides that
JudSe Witt can council the city TO pay
the BILL it will he recommended to the
,I,- StrtIf n
to draw a warrant in favor of Mr.. Win
ston for the amount stipulated.
From present outlook it would apnear
that the Minor investigating committee
resolution. as unanimously passed a ne
last meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
VIII not have the easy sailing that was
anticipated when the matter comes. up a t.
the meeting of the Common Council for
concurrence. A most stubborn fight8will
3 be made on the re-oli,tion. and 1t now
looks very much as if those opposed to-
further Investigation will succeed a sec
ond tima7in Killing the measure
Powerful influences have been and still
ale at work in the effort to defeat the
measure and it is extremely doubtful If
q majority of the members Of the lower
branch will so on record as favorirg the
ppestiSation. 1t has been. stated that
these who are opposed to the creation of
such a committee as proposed by Alder.
man Minor fear nothing from a public
Investigation. so far as discriminating evil
tleDce is concerned
GROUNDS OF OPPOSITION.
The grounds unon which the opposition.
are making THEIR fghtAare said to be that
such an investigation as is Econtempla ted
would EN- barrass members by bringing
before the public certain personal rather
than official matters In connection with
their habits.
It was a most significant fact that at
the special meeting of the Common Cotn-
Gil last Friday night no mention was made
of the investigation resolution, although
Alderman Minor and number of others
Interested in the matter had hoped that
an extra session would be called for the
purpose Of concurrence. The fact that
tbs matter was not even mentioned all
though it would have been competent to
concur. is regarded by those who Oppose.
the resolution as showing clearly that it
is not the intention of the lower body
20 concur with the Board OF Aldermen.
+ .4.4 q -es x