Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-24

IF contract has been given out by the
city at an unreasonable price, or the PEG
pie claim that such has been the fact,
why should we. who claim to be clean,
nave 10 carry the stigma OF some ctneI
mans foul work 2?
The speaker thought the matter Sc
tioIs thing-a matter that reflected on
I the city upon every member of the City
Council. and upon every citizen.
He closed by declaring that if the Coun-
ell had been injured by the report OF the
grand jury he could not see how it could
be hurt more by fuller investigation.
Mr. Pctcr.s Position.
Mr.. Peters secured the floor next. and
said he wanted to state his position as
10 The resolution. He said that he was
not afraid of any invt stigation that could
be brought by anybody-the grand jury
LEGISLATURE OF any other body. he de-
clared for honest and clean government,
and said that if any one was guilty OF
fraud no one would desire sooner than
he TO see him brought speedily to justice
But here is special grand jury, he
went on. summoned for a purpose, and
given great power and latitude; and az
ter a long and careful investigation, II
is unable to do more than bring pre-
sentiment against one man.
Mr.. Peters recited the history OF the
resolution offered by him in the Com
mon Council declaring the willingness OF
that body to give the grand jury all as
sistance to further the inVestiga ton, and
reouesting that if it was ascertained that
any member of the Council had been
guilty of bribery or wrong-dolns, suci
information should be given the booS. lie
read these resolutions. he SAID, oeca use
he was certain that many Of the members
had not understood them at the tlme
they We're passed.
MIR, Peters claimed that the grand jury
had not given names of any guilty mem
hers of the Council. No communication
had heen sent to the Council about any
Of IFS members He said he was sure tha1
every member of the body had gwen
every rossible assistance to the EiaIu
iurv and that the same was true OF all
officials and departments.
~-Not 3, Lot of Children.
..If the grand jury had given US any
names" Mr.. Peters argued. i "oulu 'o'e
every cent the city has in its treasury
TO Investigates: but after months OF WORK
no report is made except to inslnuate tha'
certain things are wrong
Are We TO be bounded by sucil 'ac-
tics as these?" he asked. He said the
Council was not coInposcu VI ..1 ~, ~. he
children or a lot Of dogs Let Us pe
men he proclaimed, ''or turn the gov
eminent of the city over to those WIZ
are trying to run 1t now.
The s,caker said that no one couio Sd ,
that he was opposed to good government
SHOW me a reason for more lnVes'lea 'ioi
and ] will be willing to pay poitio'l ~
the cost out of my own pocket ne eoio
He ,eefed any man to show thal ne "as
opposed to any investigation II wa
necessary He offered the follo"ihe Su"'
Miner TeSOiu llOn.
RESOLUTION That Carried.
Whereas, the special grand jury, en-
paneIled by The Judge OIL tie ms .
Court OF the city oil klchliioiiu 20 ~;
,,nrpose of investigating the aileseo III
- md corrupllon eAIstnIg in me CITY
,,,,,,,,cn haly. after a most EXHAUSTIVE
iny.s,,eation and the rigid eAalh-ila eioi'
az forIy-eisht witnesses. presented pu'
one indictment; and GOOD
Whereas, an INDICTMENT can ne ioui'a
,,non much less evidence IMAM - is4"it ~
10 convict, or would JUSTIFY the Couiici'
in exercising its right to eXpel ihe'iAoeA ,
and
Whereas, it is a self-evident proposition
TO all fair minds that 1t is lmpossipi1 ~
tho Council TO accomplish more lhail'
.,ren If il can accomplish as much as. inc
Grand Jury, with all its inauisitorlal pow
ers supported by the treasury ana ponce
mowers Of the State, and guided ana III
structed by the judge of the MUSINGS
Court and the Commemorative attorney
and o,,,
Whereas. this Council did, by a resoiu-
ZION unanimously adopted on the 4'i' u"S
of August. 1902 request the salu sla'iu
nry TO make the most thorough SAamlh-
o+;or possible. to the end that every per-
son guilty might be brought to Justlce'
md should such person be then not
,rnenable to punishment, that such IN
yestigation and report be MADE as "ou'''
inform this body and the pupilc OF 'he
,,,,,es of those who have been guilty OF
bribery and corruption. and pledglns 'he
Grand Jury its hearty cooperation ny "a
pressing the Willingness OF %ach hleliioei
10 annear before the said grand jury, ana
directing all the officers Of the city 10
-nrnisb all books and papers and to rem
5ar al assistance. and instructlnS the
CITY attorney to aid the grand jury IN
tt.ir efforts. a copy of which resolution
was presented TO said grand jury. "h.In
was COMPOSED of citizens selecteu ny 'iie
;ndse of the Hastings Court on account
Of their peculiar fitness for such an III
veetiCat:on ana 49,.
whereas. concurrence in the resolution
of the Board of Aldermen can maze no
o+har effect than to cause the re-eXanllh-
.+;on IF tho witnesses who were exam
ined by the grand jury and the pnpiea,
tion of their testimony, which the grand
Jury did not deem proper. nof"i'hstal'u M
ing the unanimous request OF TINS oo'i.
for a most thorough Investigation anu
,-erort: and
Whereas the finding of the grand l''rS
g conclusive of the fact that. aIlrf q
nos, thorc,,,h investigation, no fesu-
,,,cny con'd he secured up"n which 10
h,~c ANY charyn of r7alfea ea"ce on me
,,.-+ Of any member of This body: and
v.ereaS The nrnnosed INVESTIGATION OF
,,rco,,-es nv ourselves will result IL con
+,nrir~ tho present AGITATION. when loI
,ha h.e, i,,oreets of the city sho'ria
ceas, therefore he it
Resolved. THAT WE REF1ISE 10
coNcIrR IN SAID RESOLUTION.
Clean Member.
Mr. CARRIER. of Marshall ward. said that
No had served two nreSnired terms IN 5tilee
c,ourcil and that he was now serving me-
fourth term. He said that since ne h a'.
becn a Incmber he could truthtui'y Sd =
that he knew othirg wrong against any
member. He had spent no money 70 ps
o,ccted to the Council. because he wap! .cl
To he elected without having to be under
ohiirat,on to any one. He considered M MS
M q fnrlfVg OF I04