Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-18
THE. FIGHTsTO BE a HARD ONE.

| twill the Minor resolution prevail at
the November meeting Of the Common
Council?'' is an engrossing question. In
deed, it was possible yesterday to find
men on the street who were willing 10
drop the Horse Show long enough to dis
cuss the pros and cons Of the proposed
counclmanic investigation.
Nothing connected with all Of the recent
upheavals In the city. not even the grand
jury, has created so much talk as has the
proposition of Mr.. John B. Minor to in
vestigate from Alpha to Omega, from
Fulton to Lombardy street, and from the
south side Of the James to the famous
,Shockoe on the north.
Mr. Minor is in earnest. He thinks that
there are things that should be exposed,
and he is working earnestly for concur
renee by the Common Council In the reso>
luton recently passed by the Board OF
Aldermen. Mr.. Minor is not working
alone. but has the support of men in both
branches.
NO FIGHT IN THE DARK.
Just as eager to defeat the measure are
some Of the members of the lower branch.
They are not fighting the proposition In
the dark, either, because they have openly
dEOWeu TIER duldSOluSul " ohy AAoA
airing of municipal affairs, fearing, they
say, more iva ter-hauls."
Some of these councilmen admit that
things have been done that should not
have been done. and others have been
left undone that should have been done,
but the question uppermost in their minds
is: Can these things be proven, and IT
proven, will It result IN good?" Some Of
these men are honest in this opinion, just
hnr CT op eli, DC w. a
and will vote for the Minor resolution.
TREND OF SENTIMENT.
One thing that has turned several votes
against the investigation is the trend OF
public sentiment. For instance, yesterday
one weIl-known citizen was heard to re-
mark to a member Of the Council tina
'.whitewash could be purchased at much
lower rate than $780," The idea in this
gentleman's mind was that the amount
appropriated for the use OF the committee
would be expended and the people, after
the investigation, would still be of the
opinion that the commission had done
more to cover up things than to expose
them.
There is no doubt that the promoters
of the Minor resolution IN the Common
Council are worried as to it's future, be-
cause within the last day or two there
has been unusual scurrying around, AMI
not little hustling or inside lobbying
is being resorted to to get the matter
through the Council. The promoters are
leaving nothing undone to win, but do
not express themselves as sanguine OF
success.
REQUIRES "a VOTES TO PASS.
The attention of a reporter of the Dis
patch was directed last night to the fact
that in order to carry the resolution in
the Common Council, it is necessary for
the affirmative votes to number "a, be-
cause the resolution carries with it an ap-
preparation of $3.50 for the expenses OF
the commission. It will also require the
same number of votes to take the matter
up under the suspension Of the rules with
out reference to the Finance Committee,
the course the paper would have taken II
it had been passed under Suspension OF
the rules in the Board of Aldermen.
The report that called meeting OF the
Common Council would be held some time
next week for the consideration of tina
matter has been denied, and it can be
stated authcritatively that there will be
no meeting of the Common Council until
November 3d-the time for the regular
monthly meeting.
"A well-known member of the Council
said last night that he was of the opinion
that there were some of the members OF
the Common Council who had stated that
they were in favor of the investiga ton
that are leaving nothing undone to defeat
it. Another member, gentleman from
the Common Council. said that he was
positive that the resolution would not
have passed the Board of Aldermen if a
leader had arisen to combat it there; that
there were several members at least who
would have recorded their votes in the
negative If some stand had been taken
against the passage of the resolution.
WILL BE A BIG FIGHT
There is no doubt that the fight that
will come up on the final passage of the
resolution will be one of the warmest in
the council in the past year or more, and
the members who favor another airing
will give those who oppose them an OPP
portunity to place themselves on record
Such a record, it has been stated, might
make interesting matter in some future
campaign.
The outcome of the matter is being
watched all over the city. and interest III
the question will not cease as long as X
remains unsettled.