Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-23
Comes as n Surprise.

The call created no little surprise yes
terday afterno II after it was noiseo
around that request had been sent to
President Bloomberg, for the meeting.
and the first question asked was: who
signed the call?"
It was known that for several days past
an attempt was being made to secure the
signature of three members Of the old
Council but that only two would sign
the paper These, it is said, were Messrs
E W. Miner, of Clay Ward. and +. ii.
CARRIER, of Marshall Ward. Efforts to Sc
cure the other signer were III vain. ana
the supporters of the resolution, gave up
and decided to let the the matter rest un-
til the regular meeting on November 8.
Not few persons were heard 10 say
last night that there was hardly doubl
that the resolutions adopted at the meet
ing at which the Law and Order League
was organized on Monday night resulted
in the request for the meeting 1t was
also claimed by some that these resolu-
tions had strengthened some of the ".weaH
and halting" members.
Members Watch the Voter
On the other hand. it has been sug-
gested that there was belief that the
resolution would stand a better show if
permitted to come up in its regular course,
than if considered at called meeting.
The impression with these seemed to be
that the longer the people had to think
over and discuss the proposed investi-
CATION the easier it would be to demon
strate to the members of the council that
the people demanded that there should
be an investigation. certainly Of the OLD
street committee The members would also
have more time to think OF their
future, because it seems certain that
aoajpSt the
vestigation will have hard time in get
ing back in another council.
The fight against the proposed inVest!-
CATION has been peculiar one from manv
view points. The action of some OF the
members of both branches of the council.
since the resolution was adopted by the
Board of Aldermen, has proven an enigma
TO more than one, and not few things
that have been done in the past week.
have not been solved by persons who
keep in close touch with the government
of the city.
It is not denied that some OF the mem
bers of the council who have been court
ing investigation, through and complete,
have left their offices and desks for hours
at a time, and time after time. in the past
week to use their influence against con-
currence by the lower branch 1t is known
that members have gone to their collea-
CUES in the council ana argued tHdt tiitN
could not afford 10 vote for the proposed
investigation.
The request was not made on personal
ground, but the advising members was
very solicitous as to the welfare OF the
member whose vote was being solicited.
In Case 1t is Defeated.
prominent member Of the Board OF
Aldermen said last night that if the re-
solution was defeated in the Common
Council in its present shape it would be
offered in the Board again without the
appropriation OF $500 for expenses of the
Joint committee, and that in the amended
form it could not be defeated. The mem
bers of the Board of Aldermen have
already placed themselves on record as
fayoring the investigation, and II one
should change and oppose it in the ru-.
ture. the voters doubtless. would. at the
next primary, demand a good and sufh-
cient reason.
In the Common Council there are
enough men who favor the investigation
10 adopt the resolution without the ap-
nroprjation. In that event. II all OF the
members were present. it would only re-
o,,ire eighteen votes to prevstl. while with
ira appropriation, twenty-four votes