Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-05
GRAND JURY REPORTS
PAPER MENTIONS NO NAMES TO
THE POPULAR DISAPPOINTMENT.
TAYLOR is SCORED.
Jury Thinks He is LaborinE Under
Erroneous idea MS to His Duty
More Good Feeling Needed BE-
tween officials of the City.

The special grand jury which was con-
stituted at the July term of the Hastings
Court. adjourned yesterday afternoon
after presenting report to the court
which contained no names as was expect
ed by a majority of the people of the
city. The paper declared that the city's
interests are suffering for the want o.
cordially and confidence that should
exist from the erroneous idea that the
Mayor is without power to correct evils
in the administration OF the government
of the city The report recites the trans
actions as brought out .,-iore them be-
tween the city contractors and touches
upon the lobbying N the interest of the
big corporations and tells how the work
mas been done.
TEXT OF THE REPORT.
The report is as follows:
Richmond, Va, October 4. 19Cs.
To the lion. $. B. Witt, Judge OF the
Hastings Court of the City of Rich
mond:
Your special grand jury, appointed on
the list Gay of July. 19OZ, for the purpose
OF examining into any ana all OF the de-
part,nents pertaining to the city govern
nent beg TO say that after many days
of arduous labor they have only been
able to bring to your attention one true
a former member OF the City Council, for
accepting brides from Charles GaSser ).
a. GUIDE, and J. c. Weinbrunn. But,
deeming it pertinent and tor the better
mana cement of the city affairs, they beg
to submit concise statement In regard
to certain conditions and practices in con-
nection with the management of the city's
affairs: which they deem It nEot ant TO
AS to the city paving contracts. there
have been. for a considerable length of
time, only three bidders-Messrs. Gas
SER Guide. and Weinbrunn. These men
had entered into a combination or col
lusion under a penalty bond, with each
other, to practically divide the city's
work in this line. there preventing COM
Much time was expended and a. thor
ough investigation made by the eXamin ma
ton of many witnesses: anGiuo3ng me me
leading representatives of corporations
who have applied to the Council in the
last three years for charters and iran
chises: and in addition: many any, otn e Gu GU
posed to be prvy to the methods adopted
in securing franchises, and this body has
given special consdera ton to TINS evil
dence And in this connection, they peg
to call the attention of the court to what
they deem a vicious practice which mas
been largely INDUCED in by corporations
applying to the City Council for fran
chiscS.
1t was clearly established in evidence
before us that corporations making up,
plications for such rights have placed
large sums of money in the hands of in
fuentlal men and others. who may be
called professional politicians. with the
understanding that such sums should be
expended to the best advantage IN for
warding the interests Of their proposi-
tons We have not been able to get evil
dence that this money was used in direct
bribery. but tactics were adopted which
were almost as reprehensible, certainly as
effective in securing votes in the Council
and preventing an unbiased determination
of such propositions. How powerful sGch
stood when your grand jury tells you
that the evidence before them demonstra-
ted that over two hundred thousand dol
lars was used in this indirect way,
through various channels In procuring
one franchise alone.
These promoters would distribute this
money. reserving. of course the lions
share for themselves. to the precinct
bosses or such men in different precincts
as We're supposed to be influential with
voters, and, for that reason. also influ-
entail with members Of the Council
whose election they would claim to have
secure or largely promoted. With such
claims these precinct leaders were ex-s
nected to see the members OF the City
Council and snlicit their votes. claiming
that it was of special interest to them.
The effect of such influence in some
cases was no doubt to bias. if not con-
troll. the judgment of some Conncilnen
tons.
In addition to having expended money
in this wav to further their ends. 1t was
testified that in marv instances repre-
sentatives of cornora+i lions gave work to
contra ctorS and ernn1ove! 1e~al talent
from among the members of the CcNnc'1
at mich creator prices than they, wo"11
have TO nav others. and fren,'entlv with
o''t even asking what would be The
charges therefor. and. in seNere1 cases.
+ooro ran~esa~tntives 81 cornora tons nm
',ae.tn ti,elr 80 e5 thei~ rea son for 80
1oinr. that thew wis'ed r. keen on friend
which MIGHT 10 Of -S-a -+aro to thero ~
tho Council
We are constrained to believe frO-1 evil
dence introduced before us by the Mayor
that there is more or less Of a want of
that cordialitv and confidence than
should exist. in our judgment. between
the executive head Of the CITY severn
n-ent and other CITY departments and
officials extending even to members of
the BOARD of Aldermen ard Comn,c,
Council: and that. a result. the city's
interests are suffering from the CHROME
cns idea. in o''r Judgment. of the Mavo-.
that he is without mower to correct evils
in the administration of the civ gov
o-rme-t unless chnrces arc officially
Wrought d:rectlv to hts attention nv the
loads oe denartr,e,ts. he stating tInt
he would nav attention TO rnr,orS lln-
loss so->,a sn~o;fc charges should he made
nv 2 citv official. or Il responsible party,
the latter Er1e~ oath.
]. 8. MosRv.
Foreman.