Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-23

Druggist, $40 E. Broad Street.
| Jefferson Hotel and Cary and Cherry SITS.
Committees Conclusions.
The committee concluded their report
, as to the Mayor, as follows:
after a long interview with him. we
! have come to the conclusion that the
| duties of his office. as he understands
| them are very mea geographically to
! answer the few letters received each day;
| that he does not feel called on to examine
f! the different city offices and to keep HIM
:! self thoroughly in touch with them. and
/; to be in position to make Recommended
lions and suggestion. His positive refusal
to make any tons TO US, or 10
suggest one thing that would be useful tO
your committee in carrying out this reso-
luton, we can only account for on the
ground of his failure to realize or appre-
ciate she duties and requirements of his
position.
"While under the charter the salary Of
the Mayor cannot be reduced during his
term of office, and we. therefore. cannot
recommend q reduction now, we feel sure
the salary paid the Mayor at this time is
vastly more than the benefit accruirg
therefrom. We think. though, that when
the duties Of the office shall have been
properly conducted, according to the char
! ter and ordinances Of the city. then the
salary of the Office should be increased.
| We. therefore, recommend:
Il. That the request OF the Mayor for
a special accountant be not granted, but
that the city accountant be instructed TO
provide the Mayor. from time to time,
upon his written request, such special in
formation within the scope Of his duties
as may be desired.
''2. That the Mayor be required to keep
copies Of all of his official correspondence.
'.3. That the Mayor be required to COM
ply with the provisions of the charter In
regard to furnishing the Council with
general sta tement of the condition of the
civ government finances. and improve
ments.
I'VE return herewith synopsis of the
interview with his Honor, the Mayor.
printed above).
w A CRENSHAW.
o. Imam S,-l- Committee.
fsgs JOHN 3. MINOR,
CuN>4NGHAM HALL,
W. II. ADAMS.
SAMUEL H. COTTRELL.
4 Unanimous Report.
Mr. John B. Minor followed Mr.. Cren-
shaw in support of the adoption of the
report speaking at some length and stat
ing that the report was the unanimous
opinion of the committee.
Mr.. Pollock said he thought that the
report was too harsh-too personal He
thought certain references should be
stricken out. He moved that the portion
of the report referring to the Mayor per
sonally be stricken out He thought
the committee had ex4reded its authority
Mr.. crenshaw tho II it the the duty 13 Of Of
any inability in any office. The report.
too, was not half as bad as the facts
really were.
Thought He Knew Him.
Mr.. Hall said that he was glad that no
outsider was present at the interview.
as he would have felt ashamed. He was
never more surprised in his life at the
MAYORS ignore nee 1t was impossible to
get anything from him. He said he had
known the Mayor for twenty years In a
way. but he did not know him right until
then
lIr. Pollock opposed the report and
said that the committee had not per-
formed their duty. They had not showed
what requirements Mayor Taylor had not
complied with; what duties he had failed
in, but had simply charged him with lg-
norance and mbecilitY.
Mr. Crenshaw said ne was sick and
tired Of maudlin seutimentaiity. But
when it comes to a man deliberately sit
ting down and drawing $4,000 without do
ing anything for it, and conserving to be
a burden upon the city. and then posing
as q highly righteous Individual his pa
tiencc was exhausted AS members of the
CITY Council. we are derelict in our duty
to the people to permit 1t.
What has the City Council to do with
the Mayor? asked one member
It has this much - do with him. that 1t
can impeach him if it sees fit, replied Mr.
..rcashaw.
AS to Making 1t Public.
a discussion here arose upon the sub
iect of the pronretv and competency OF
the committee to withhold the report from
the newspapers ard the public But the
ma jority of the members were apparently
not in favor CT SUPPRESSION
Mr. CrenShaw said there had been
way in which to avoid this derouement'
hut it had not been taken, and now they
would have to take the medicine.
Mr.. SPENCE moved that the recommen-
dations contained in the report of the
sub committee be adopted. and that the
City Attorney be instructed TO prepare
proper legisia ticn to carry into effect said
recommendations. and that the report OF
said subcommittee, together with their
:nterview with the e;avor, be forwarded
to the Council for its information, with
the report of this committee
Mr.. Pollocl17S Substitute.
Mr.. Pollock offered the following sub
stitute:
Whereas the subcommittee on Char
ter, Ordinance and Reform to whom was
committed the question OF investigation
rs to the duties and compensation of the
Mayor. and to make such recommends
tons as to method or system OF conduct
ing the office. and as to proper compen-
sation as they saw fit and proper, have
failed to report single instance where
the Mayor has failed to perform any duty
imposed upon him by the Charter OF
the City or Constitution of the State of
Virginia and has failed to report any
reforms or changes in the existing laws.
therefore be it
Resolved. That the report submitted
by said committee be recommitted to said
committee. with directions to report in
detail upon said Office
The substitute was defeated by vote
of to 2-Messrs. Pollock and Pollard
voting for it.
NJ motion was fhen adcnta6